Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($205,800 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $888/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $27,415/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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Little Rock
Households earn $27,415 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Little Rock
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$310k less
$205,800 vs $515,500
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$27,415
$86,112 vs $58,697/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
56% lower
739.8 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 36.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 13 and Vallejo wins 10. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $515,500 median home), income ($58,697 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Vallejo, CA are about 1,672 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.