Median Income
$49,166
household / year
Median Home Value
$165,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$995
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100

Is North Little Rock, AR a Good Place to Live?

North Little Rock is a mid-sized city of 64,454 in Arkansas, with a median household income of $49,166 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: North Little Rock stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether North Little Rock is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All North Little Rock city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.1

North Little Rock's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in North Little Rock costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric North Little Rock, AR National Avg
Median Home Value $165,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $995 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 47.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $49,166 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

North Little Rock's violent crime rate is 1180.1 per 100,000 residents — 211% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
1180.1 /100k
Property Crime
4312.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

North Little Rock is served primarily by NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric North Little Rock, AR National Avg
School District NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT —
Elementary Schools 9 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 30.6% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 91.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

North Little Rock sees average highs of 50.5°F in January and 91.7°F in July, with 54.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricNorth Little Rock, AR
Average High — January50.5°F
Average High — July91.7°F
Annual Precipitation54.0"
Annual Snowfall3.8"

Demographics

MetricNorth Little Rock, ARNational Avg
Population64,454—
Median Age36.738.9
Unemployment Rate6.6%3.7%
Avg Commute Time20.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)47.1%59.3%
Black or African American43.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino5.0%18.9%
Asian1.1%6.3%
Under 1822.6%22.2%
65 and over16.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

McAlmont, AR 2 mi Sherwood, AR 5 mi College Station, AR 6 mi Cammack Village, AR 6 mi Sweet Home, AR 8 mi

ZIP Codes in North Little Rock

North Little Rock, AR is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

72117 72118 72114 72116

North Little Rock vs Other Cities

North Little Rock, AR vs McAlmont, AR North Little Rock, AR vs Sherwood, AR North Little Rock, AR vs College Station, AR North Little Rock, AR vs Cammack Village, AR North Little Rock, AR vs Sweet Home, AR

Frequently Asked Questions

North Little Rock's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes North Little Rock roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $165,600 and median rent is $995/month.
North Little Rock's violent crime rate is 1180.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4312.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in North Little Rock are operated by NORTH LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 30.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
North Little Rock, AR has a population of 64,454, a median household income of $49,166, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
North Little Rock averages 50.5°F in January and 91.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.0 inches with about 3.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
North Little Rock, AR is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 72117, 72118, 72114, 72116.
The population of North Little Rock, Arkansas is 64,454 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in North Little Rock: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $165,600, median household income $49,166, crime index 268 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North Little Rock side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.