Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Norfolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $48k less ($205,800 vs $254,200)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,188)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
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
Norfolk, VA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Little Rock
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$48k less
$205,800 vs $254,200
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.7°F
Norfolk
Median Income
$2,301
$60,998 vs $58,697/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
72% lower
469.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $254,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 15 and Norfolk wins 8. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $254,200 median home), income ($58,697 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Norfolk, VA are about 914 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.