Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $65,920 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Little Rock
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($205,800 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $943/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,949)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $65,920/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
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$65,920
$124,617 vs $58,697/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
90% lower
172.8 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% 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
$381k less
$205,800 vs $586,500
Little Rock
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, 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 | $586,500⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ 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 | 45 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial'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, Centennial leads 13 of 23 categories. Centennial 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 Centennial to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $205,800 median home), income ($124,617 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Little Rock, AR are about 766 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.