Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco 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
San Francisco
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $1143k less ($205,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1310/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,316)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $77,992/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
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,992 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Little Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Little Rock
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$1143k less
$205,800 vs $1,348,700
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
29.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$77,992
$136,689 vs $58,697/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
64% lower
596.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 187⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 10 and San Francisco 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and San Francisco, CA are about 1,714 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.