Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Little Rock
Arkansas
7
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.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $56,482 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Little Rock
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($205,800 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $833/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $56,482/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 3.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$56,482
$115,179 vs $58,697/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
92% lower
132.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Gilbert
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.7°F
Little Rock
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$249k less
$205,800 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 16 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 16 and Little Rock wins 7. 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 Gilbert to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $205,800 median home), income ($115,179 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Little Rock, AR are about 1,113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.