Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($205,800 vs $293,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,214)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
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
Median income trails Providence by $2,668/yr
Providence, RI
Pros
83% less violent crime than Little Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Households earn $2,668 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Little Rock
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$87k less
$205,800 vs $293,000
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Income
$2,668
$61,365 vs $58,697/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
83% lower
276.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 16 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 16 and Providence wins 7. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $293,000 median home), income ($58,697 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Providence, RI are about 1,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.