Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Little Rock
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $47,317 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Little Rock
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Little Rock
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($205,800 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $700/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,706)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $47,317/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$47,317
$106,014 vs $58,697/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
83% lower
285.6 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Little Rock
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$347k less
$205,800 vs $553,000
Little Rock
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 13 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 13 and Little Rock wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arvada to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $205,800 median home), income ($106,014 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Little Rock, AR are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.