Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $456k less ($205,800 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1018/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,024)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $33,907/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
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $33,907 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Little Rock
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$456k less
$205,800 vs $661,700
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$33,907
$92,604 vs $58,697/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
80% lower
342.6 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 11. 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $661,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.