Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Modesto
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($205,800 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $491/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,497)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Modesto by $14,678/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Modesto, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $14,678 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$176k less
$205,800 vs $381,800
Little Rock
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Income
$14,678
$73,375 vs $58,697/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
61% lower
655.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Modesto
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 12 and Modesto wins 11. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $381,800 median home), income ($58,697 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Modesto, CA are about 1,604 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.