Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Little Rock
Arkansas
10
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $89,530 more per year on average
92% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Little Rock
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($205,800 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1347/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,353)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $89,530/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 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$89,530
$148,227 vs $58,697/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
92% lower
138.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Little Rock
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$432k less
$205,800 vs $637,400
Little Rock
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 13 and Little Rock wins 10. 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 Highlands Ranch to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $205,800 median home), income ($148,227 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Little Rock, AR are about 769 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.