Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Oakland, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
202,218
Oakland
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $678k less ($205,800 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $843/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,849)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
13% less violent crime than Oakland
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $35,692/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,692 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Little Rock
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Violent Crime
13% lower
1672.0 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$678k less
$205,800 vs $883,800
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$35,692
$94,389 vs $58,697/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 15 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $883,800 median home), income ($58,697 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Oakland, CA are about 1,670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.