Little Rock, AR Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Little Rock, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Little Rock →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Little Rock, Arkansas has a population of about 202,218. Typical household income is $58,697 per year, below the median across the cities in our dataset (-19%).
Little Rock's housing market shows a median home value of $205,800, below the multi-city benchmark (-37%), alongside median rent of $1,006 per month. Both figures matter for anyone weighing a move here.
Home prices in Little Rock run about 3.5× median household income — a middle-of-the-road ratio, neither a bargain nor a stretch by our tracked standards. Prices in the area have gained 1.1% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Little Rock. Little Rock carries a Relatively High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,006/mo in Little Rock would take 20.6% of your income.
$461/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($205,800) would take 22.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$271/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Little Rock
Median home value is $205,800 and median gross rent is $1,006/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Pulaski rose 1.1% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,147/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Little Rock's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Little Rock reported a violent crime rate of 1485 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Little Rock
Planning a move to Little Rock? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Little Rock, AR?
- In Little Rock, the median home value is $205,800 and median rent is $1,006 per month, against a median household income of $58,697. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Little Rock?
- Little Rock's median rent of $1,006/month works out to roughly $40,240 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Little Rock.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Little Rock?
- Renting in Little Rock at the median $1,006/month calls for about $40,240 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $205,800 takes roughly $47,086 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Little Rock safe?
- In 2025, Little Rock reported 1485 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Little Rock →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Little Rock's.