Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Rent averages $209/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,215)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Homes cost $38k less ($205,800 vs $243,400)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $16,684/yr
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
86% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $16,684 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 92°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
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 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$38k less
$205,800 vs $243,400
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$16,684
$75,381 vs $58,697/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
86% lower
229.2 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 14 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 14 and Sterling Heights wins 9. 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $243,400 median home), income ($58,697 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Sterling Heights, MI are about 739 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.