Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Little Rock
Homes cost $35k less ($170,700 vs $205,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Households earn $3,681 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
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 Des Moines by $3,681/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$3,681
$62,378 vs $58,697/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
58% lower
703.0 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$35k less
$170,700 vs $205,800
Little Rock
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,006 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 11 and Little Rock wins 12. 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 Des Moines to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $205,800 median home), income ($62,378 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Little Rock, AR are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.