Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
198,096
Little Rock
Arkansas
15
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
46% less violent crime than Little Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Households earn $2,937 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,138)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Grand Rapids
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 Grand Rapids by $2,937/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Median Income
$2,937
$61,634 vs $58,697/yr
Grand Rapids
Violent Crime
46% lower
910.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $205,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids wins 8 and Little Rock wins 15. 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 Grand Rapids to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $205,800 median home), income ($61,634 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Little Rock, AR are about 673 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.