Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $387k less ($205,800 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,860)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $32,562/yr
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
Norwalk, CA
Pros
78% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $32,562 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Little Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$387k less
$205,800 vs $593,100
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$32,562
$91,259 vs $58,697/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
78% lower
374.4 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 15 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $593,100 median home), income ($58,697 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Norwalk, CA are about 1,465 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.