Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Overland Park
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($205,800 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $372/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,378)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Overland Park
Cons
Median income trails Overland Park by $42,179/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
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.2%)
Overland Park, KS
Pros
89% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $42,179 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,378/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$156k less
$205,800 vs $361,800
Little Rock
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.2°F
Overland Park
Median Income
$42,179
$100,876 vs $58,697/yr
Overland Park
Violent Crime
89% lower
184.4 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Overland Park
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $361,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,378⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 19.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 196,676 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 9 and Overland Park wins 14. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $361,800 median home), income ($58,697 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Overland Park, KS are about 315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.