Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories
Downey
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,052
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $25,539 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Little Rock
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($205,800 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $808/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,814)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $25,539/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
Downey
Median Income
$25,539
$84,236 vs $58,697/yr
Downey
Violent Crime
72% lower
460.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$473k less
$205,800 vs $679,000
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Downey 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 Downey to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $205,800 median home), income ($84,236 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Little Rock, AR are about 1,467 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.