Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $31k less ($205,800 vs $236,500)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
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
New Haven, CT
Pros
68% less violent crime than Little Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$4,392
$58,697 vs $54,305/yr
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$31k less
$205,800 vs $236,500
Little Rock
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Violent Crime
68% lower
534.8 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 16 and New Haven wins 7. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $236,500 median home), income ($58,697 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and New Haven, CT are about 1,148 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.