Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Miami
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($205,800 vs $433,900)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,494)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
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
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Miami, FL
Pros
72% less violent crime than Little Rock
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Higher rents — median is $1,494/mo
Violent crime (473.3/100k) 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 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$3,839
$58,697 vs $54,858/yr
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$228k less
$205,800 vs $433,900
Little Rock
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.8°F
Miami
Violent Crime
72% lower
473.3 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 ✓ Higher | $54,858 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 14 and Miami 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $433,900 median home), income ($58,697 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Miami, FL are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.