Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $75,442 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Little Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $865k less ($205,800 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1471/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,477)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $75,442/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
Carlsbad
Median Income
$75,442
$134,139 vs $58,697/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
88% lower
199.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$865k less
$205,800 vs $1,070,500
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and Little Rock wins 9. 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 Carlsbad to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $205,800 median home), income ($134,139 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Little Rock, AR are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.