Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $239k less ($205,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $752/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $36,367/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
Thornton, CO
Pros
84% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $36,367 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Little Rock
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$239k less
$205,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$36,367
$95,064 vs $58,697/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
84% lower
273.6 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 15 and Thornton wins 8. 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($58,697 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Thornton, CO are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.