Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Mesa
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($205,800 vs $327,700)
Rent averages $346/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Mesa by $15,069/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mesa, AZ
Pros
71% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $15,069 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$122k less
$205,800 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$15,069
$73,766 vs $58,697/yr
Mesa
Violent Crime
71% lower
482.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Mesa
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Mesa leads 13 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 10 and Mesa 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 Little Rock to Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $327,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Mesa, AZ are about 1,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.