Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Little Rock leads 17 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($205,800 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $460/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,466)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 9 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 Lowell by $14,311/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $14,311 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$157k less
$205,800 vs $362,800
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$14,311
$73,008 vs $58,697/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
68% lower
532.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 17 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 17 and Lowell wins 6. 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 Little Rock to Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $362,800 median home), income ($58,697 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Lowell, MA are about 1,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.