Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465
Little Rock
Arkansas
13
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $12,670 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Little Rock
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($205,800 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,576)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lancaster by $12,670/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$12,670
$71,367 vs $58,697/yr
Lancaster
Violent Crime
50% lower
834.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Lancaster
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 91.7°F
Little Rock
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$163k less
$205,800 vs $368,800
Little Rock
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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 13 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 10 and Little Rock wins 13. 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 Lancaster to Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $205,800 median home), income ($71,367 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Little Rock, AR are about 1,462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.