Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
St. Petersburg
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($205,800 vs $289,000)
Rent averages $404/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,410)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Petersburg by $11,636/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
63% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $11,636 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Little Rock
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$83k less
$205,800 vs $289,000
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$11,636
$70,333 vs $58,697/yr
St. Petersburg
Violent Crime
63% lower
619.6 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $289,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $70,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 9 and St. Petersburg wins 14. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $289,000 median home), income ($58,697 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and St. Petersburg, FL are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.