Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 13 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($205,800 vs $343,000)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,278)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Redding by $8,626/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Redding, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $8,626 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Little Rock
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$137k less
$205,800 vs $343,000
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Median Income
$8,626
$67,323 vs $58,697/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
61% lower
647.8 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Redding
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 13 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 10 and Redding wins 13. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $343,000 median home), income ($58,697 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Redding, CA are about 1,682 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.