Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($205,800 vs $304,700)
Rent averages $356/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,362)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Manchester by $15,343/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Manchester, NH
Pros
80% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $15,343 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,362/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Little Rock
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$99k less
$205,800 vs $304,700
Little Rock
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$15,343
$74,040 vs $58,697/yr
Manchester
Violent Crime
80% lower
336.0 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,362⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 78 ✓ 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 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 14 and Manchester wins 9. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $304,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Manchester, NH are about 1,257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.