Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Little Rock
Arkansas
16
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
74% less violent crime than Little Rock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Households earn $4,297 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Rent averages $155/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,161)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
Median income trails Columbus by $4,297/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$4,297
$62,994 vs $58,697/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
74% lower
434.9 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 7 and Little Rock wins 16. 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 Columbus to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $205,800 median home), income ($62,994 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Little Rock, AR are about 630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.