Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($205,800 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,290)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $18,871/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
90% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $18,871 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Little Rock
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$187k less
$205,800 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$18,871
$77,568 vs $58,697/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
90% lower
174.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 12 and Orem 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $392,900 median home), income ($58,697 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Orem, UT are about 1,125 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.