Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Lubbock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,093)
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
Lubbock, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Little Rock
Homes cost $24k less ($181,600 vs $205,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Violent Crime
51% lower
821.0 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$24k less
$181,600 vs $205,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 | $181,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $58,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 20.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 30.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 11 and Lubbock wins 12. 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 Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $181,600 median home), income ($58,697 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Lubbock, TX are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.