Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Little Rock leads 14 of 21 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
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($205,800 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,006 vs $1,312)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Worcester by $4,314/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
99% less violent crime than Little Rock
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 92°F
Households earn $4,314 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Little Rock
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$100k less
$205,800 vs $305,600
Little Rock
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$4,314
$63,011 vs $58,697/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
99% lower
16.5 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 14 of 21 categories. Little Rock wins 14 and Worcester wins 7. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($58,697 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Worcester, MA are about 1,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.