Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $30,515 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($205,800 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $975/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,981)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $30,515/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
Boston
Median Income
$30,515
$89,212 vs $58,697/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
62% lower
627.9 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$479k less
$205,800 vs $684,900
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston 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 Boston to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $205,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Little Rock, AR are about 1,263 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.