Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Little Rock
Arkansas
13
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.
Aurora, IL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $27,246 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,462/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Little Rock
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Rent averages $456/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,462)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $36k less ($205,800 vs $241,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $27,246/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
Aurora
Median Income
$27,246
$85,943 vs $58,697/yr
Aurora
Violent Crime
84% lower
266.0 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$36k less
$205,800 vs $241,600
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 10 and Little Rock wins 13. 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 Aurora to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $205,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Little Rock, AR are about 534 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.