Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
New Orleans
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($205,800 vs $281,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $156/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,162)
Households earn $7,581 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
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 Orleans, LA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Little Rock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Little Rock by $7,581/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$7,581
$58,697 vs $51,116/yr
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$76k less
$205,800 vs $281,500
Little Rock
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Violent Crime
14% lower
1444.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 316⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 380⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 12 and New Orleans 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 New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $281,500 median home), income ($58,697 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and New Orleans, LA are about 352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.