Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $499k less ($205,800 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $811/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.4%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $43,025/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $43,025 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Little Rock
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) 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 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$499k less
$205,800 vs $705,000
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$43,025
$101,722 vs $58,697/yr
Washington
Violent Crime
45% lower
925.9 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 244⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 12 of 23 categories. Little Rock wins 12 and Washington wins 11. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($58,697 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Washington, DC are about 895 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.