Moving to Little Rock, AR

Thinking about moving to Little Rock?

You’ll be in good company. Between 2010 and 2016, more than 5,017 people have moved to Little Rock, an increase of 2.6%. New residents are attracted to Little Rock’s natural views, live entertainment, affordable housing and vibrant culinary scene.

Living

Little Rock is home to 198,541 Little Rockers. With an area of 119.2 square miles, Little Rock has a population density of 1,666 persons per square mile, which makes it less dense than many other cities of comparable size.

The Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a population of 734,622 people, of which Little Rock proper’s population makes up 27%.

Housing

One of Little Rock’s greatest strengths is its relatively affordable housing market. The median home value in Little Rock is $132,300, -34% below the US median value, according to Zillow. The median price per square foot in Little Rock is $82. Over the past 5 years, home values in Little Rock have increased by 1%.

Renters in Little Rock will also have an easy time finding affordable housing. The median rent in Little Rock is $1,039 per month, which is 27% lower than the US median. Over the past year, rental rates in Little Rock have decreased by 3.1%.

Economy

Little Rock’s economy has been a bit sluggish over the past few years. The Little Rock metro area’s GDP grew by 10% between 2011 and 2016, from $34.3 billion in 2011 to $37.7 billion in 2016, a total increase of $3.4 billion. The metro area has a per capita GDP of $51,450. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Little Rock is $49,112, 17% lower than the national median. Little Rock’s unemployment rate is 3.3%.

Weather

The average annual temperature in Little Rock is 62.65 degrees. The average annual low temperature is 52.5 degrees, while the average annual high is 72.8 degrees. Little Rock’s hottest month is August, during which the average high temperature is 93 degrees, while the coldest month is January, when the average low drops down to 32 degrees.

Little Rock sees an average rainfall of 49.57 inches per year. November is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 5.28 inches, while August is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of 2.6 inches.

Crime

Little Rock has an annual violent crime rate of 15.36 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national median of 3.8 in 1,000. Its property crime rate is 70.11 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, which is higher than the national average of 26.

Traffic & Transportation

Traffic is not as big of a problem in Little Rock as it is in many other US cities. According to a survey conducted by INRIX, the average commuter in Little Rock spends 10.2 hours in traffic each year, with about 3% of their time commuting in a traffic jam, a lower portion than average among US cities.

Walk Score gives Little Rock a walk score of 32.

Cost of Living

Little Rock is a relatively affordable place to live with a low cost of living. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis‘s Regional Price Parity survey, which takes into account cost of living metrics including the price of goods and services and housing, Little Rock has a regional price parity of 99.1, -9.5% below the average for US metro areas.

Demographics

The median age in Little Rock is 35.9 years. 48.6% of the population in the Little Rock metro area is male, while 51.4% is female. 3.9% of the metro population is foreign born.

In terms of racial demographics, Little Rock is 45.4% Non-Hispanic White, 6.9% Hispanic, 42.1% Black, and 3% Asian.

% of those over the age of 25 in Little Rock have a high school diploma, a lower rate than nationally. % of those over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, which is lower than the national rate. % of residents have an advanced or professional degree.

In the 2016 presidential election, % of Little Rock voters voted for the Republican nominee, while % voted for the Democratic nominee.