What it's like to live in Little Rock
Little Rock is a large city in Arkansas with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Little Rock deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Below-average hospital ratings
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
How Little Rock compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Little Rock
Based on Little Rock's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,212
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,240 a year
- 45% of Little Rock renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$47,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,640
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 22% below US
$1,106/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,106 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $236,400. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $236,400 · 45% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 351% above US
1485 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3979/100k · Little Rock Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 29% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
7 hospitals
There are 7 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.6 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 24% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
69 public schools inside the boundary
There are 69 public schools inside the boundary and 16 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site (3 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Little Rock's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,106/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Little Rock
All Arkansas guides →Moving to North Little Rock →
8 mi away · pop. 64,538
Rent $1,069/mo · Income $52,707
Compare with Little Rock →Moving to Maumelle →
9 mi away · pop. 19,373
Rent $1,047/mo · Income $103,333
Compare with Little Rock →Not sure Little Rock is the one?
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