City Comparison
Little Rock vs Fayetteville
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Little Rock scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Little Rock
Fayetteville
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Little Rock is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
2% lower than in Fayetteville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Little Rock's average rent is
14% lower than Fayetteville's.
| Metric | Little Rock | Fayetteville | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,200 | $1,402 | -14% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $40 | +175% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $150 | +53% |
| Monthly Total | $2,120 | $2,172 | -2% |
| Cost Index | 89 | 91 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fayetteville offers 17% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fayetteville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Little Rock is estimated at
$48,000 vs $55,000 in Fayetteville.
| Metric | Little Rock | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $57,980 | $70,000 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,146 idx | 76,923 idx |
| Household Income | $63,003 | $66,237 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Little Rock runs warmer on average — a 5.1°F difference year-round.
Winter severity differs too — Little Rock sees 1.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Little Rock | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 65.30°F | 60.20°F |
| Summer High | 92.90°F | 85.80°F |
| Winter Low | 35.10°F | 30.20°F |
| Rainfall | 46.20 in | 41.10 in |
| Snowfall | 10.10 in | 8.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 255 | 257 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Little Rock scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Fayetteville leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Little Rock | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 89.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 60.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Little Rock is the larger city
— approximately 1.9x the population of Fayetteville.
From a growth perspective, Fayetteville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fayetteville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Little Rock | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 206,427 | 106,623 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.41% | 2.10% |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 28.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 3.90% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Little Rock
Advantages
Cost of living runs roughly 11% below the U.S. national average per BEA and regional economic data.
Median home values are significantly lower than the national median, offering high housing accessibility.
Abundant outdoor recreation access, including Pinnacle Mountain State Park and the Arkansas River Trail.
Thriving healthcare sector anchored by major institutions like UAMS and Baptist Health.
Shorter average commute times compared to major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Drawbacks
Property crime rates in certain parts of the city remain higher than the national median.
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in high car dependency for daily commutes.
Summer high temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with notable humidity levels.
Poverty rates in specific urban core neighborhoods remain higher than state and national benchmarks.
Local average wages trail behind major coastal economic hubs.
Fayetteville
Advantages
Fayetteville consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the U.S..
The cost of living in Fayetteville is 8.6% lower than the national average.
The city boasts a high livability score of 81/100, ranking in the 96th percentile nationally.
Fayetteville has a strong job market, with job growth outpacing the national rate since 2011.
The city is very walkable, with a Walk Score of 89 out of 100, and extensive trail systems.
Drawbacks
Fayetteville's total crime rate is 32% higher than the national average.
The violent crime rate in Fayetteville is 18% higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, making car ownership almost a necessity.
The homeownership rate in Fayetteville (41.8% in 2024) is lower than the national average.
Traffic congestion can be an issue, particularly during major university events.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Little Rock
#380Arkansas, USA
59.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,200
Avg Salary
$57,980
Cost Index
89
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
255/yr
Avg Temp
65.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.41%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
Fayetteville
#392Arkansas, USA
58.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,402
Avg Salary
$70,000
Cost Index
91
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
89.0/100
Sunny Days
257/yr
Avg Temp
60.20°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
81
Business
75
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Little Rock and Fayetteville.
Open Cost Calculator