Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $446k less ($205,800 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $762/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,768)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $45,500/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
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $45,500 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Little Rock
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$446k less
$205,800 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$45,500
$104,197 vs $58,697/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
91% lower
152.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.4% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($58,697 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.