Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $642k less ($205,800 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1142/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,148)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $50,638/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
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,638 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/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
$642k less
$205,800 vs $848,200
Little Rock
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$50,638
$109,335 vs $58,697/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
86% lower
226.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 14 and Orange wins 9. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $848,200 median home), income ($58,697 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Orange, CA are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.