Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ 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.
Durham, NC
Pros
63% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $16,013 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($205,800 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,296)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $16,013/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$16,013
$74,710 vs $58,697/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
63% lower
619.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$111k less
$205,800 vs $316,600
Little Rock
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 22 categories. Durham wins 10 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 Durham to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $205,800 median home), income ($74,710 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Little Rock, AR are about 763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.