Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($205,800 vs $337,500)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,586)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $33,191/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
Round Rock, TX
Pros
92% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $33,191 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$132k less
$205,800 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$33,191
$91,888 vs $58,697/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
92% lower
130.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.4% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 8 and Round Rock wins 15. 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $337,500 median home), income ($58,697 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Round Rock, TX are about 423 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.