Little Rock grades D overall, 91st of 123 graded towns in Arkansas, mostly because of safety and schools. Its crime rate is higher than 99% of U.S. towns, with 3,048 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Its public schools trail 75% of Arkansas towns on state tests and graduation. In its favor, it has 94 miles of trail. 68% of working residents work locally in Little Rock, where Arkansas’ towns sit at 21% and U.S. towns at 8%. Its National Register listings include Daisy Bates House and Old State House. Only 9 of Arkansas’ 201 towns score lower on cost of living.

StrongestA⁻History A⁻Outdoors A⁻WalkabilityWeakestD⁻Safety CSchools

What makes Little Rock stand out

Where Little Rock beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Old State House

HistoryA⁻

Settled in 1820

286 places on the National Register

A history going back 206 years.

Biggest of 5

College	Students
University of Arkansas at Little Rock	5,059
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	2,164
Philander Smith University	841

Colleges in town

5 colleges

8,949 students on campus

Students are 6% of residents.

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Little Rock14.8

Arkansas5.4

U.S.3.3

Worth knowing · SafetyD⁻

2.7 times the violent crime than AR

FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.

Old State House · National Register of Historic Places

Little Rock’s story

206 years in pictures

Old State House is one of 5 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1820, comes before those of 99% of the Arkansas towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 2,167 in 1850, 202,591 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1864 and 6 maps from 1935 on.

286 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1820Little Rock is settled

Explore the history →

How Little Rock grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Arkansas), ordered by how far Little Rock is from typical.

How grading works

SafetyMore crime per resident than almost any U.S. townD⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.9 of 20; 8% of households have no car; 2.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁻Open →SchoolsCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →Cost of livingCOpen →HealthCHI-St. Vincent Infirmary 1.8 miles awayC⁺Open →Jobs & income$63K median household incomeB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors6% conserved landA⁻Open →History30 notable people born hereA⁻Open →Civic life6.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market51 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.9; 45% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and 14 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Little Rock. Close and well known come first.

All 20 attractions →

in town National Historic SiteLittle Rock Central High School National Historic Site49K visitors a year

in town MuseumClinton Presidential Center

40 mi National ParkHot Springs National Park2.5M visitors a year

6 mi Stadium & arenaSimmons Bank Arena in town Zoo & aquariumLittle Rock Zoo in town MuseumArkansas Museum of Fine Arts

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site: Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Clinton Presidential Center: Archipreneur, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hot Springs National Park: Unknown, Public domain · Simmons Bank Arena: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0

Getting set up

Moving to Little Rock: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Little Rock, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEntergy Arkansas13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCentral Arkansas WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Little Rock’s trash rules yet

SchoolsLittle Rock School District Pulaski County Special School District2 districts serve Little Rock; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES

Register to voteIn personArkansas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections herePulaski County ClerkPulaski County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026

ZIP codes72209, 72204, 72211, 7220572209 16% · 72204 16% · 72211 12% · 72205 11%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Little Rock.

Little Rock draws workers from North Little Rock and beyond and is healthier than towns with similar incomes, but it reports violent crime at about twice the Arkansas rate.

OutdoorsA⁻

Little Rock has set aside 6.3% of its land for conservation

Its A− for the outdoors ranks #2 of 123 in Arkansas.

The trail density in Little Rock is 0.8 miles per square mile. Among 111 Arkansas towns, just 6 have a higher share of conserved land than Little Rock. Two Rivers Park, at 334 acres with 3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#13for trails in AR

	Little Rock	Arkansas towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.8 miles per square mile	0.3	0.4
Conserved land	6.3%	0.8%	4.3%

6.3%

conserved · 5,005 of 79,163 acres

94 mi

of trails · 0.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Hindman Park	5.4 mi	228
2. War Memorial Park	4.4 mi	131
3. Boyle Park	4.1 mi	228

Full pageLittle Rock’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map94 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk5.4 miles of trail · Hindman Park Conserved land6.3% conserved · 5,005 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Little Rock?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsC

Little Rock’s grade for schools is a C

Its public schools are run by the Little Rock School District. Three of its 89 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

25%of AR districts it outscoresCSchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
DR. Marian G. Lacey K-8 AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8	Grades K–8	1,252	–
Central High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	2,371	B⁻
Baker Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	407	A⁺

Full pageLittle Rock’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsLITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT Vs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors Every school89 schools · Arkansas Virtual Academy Elementary Questions“Are Little Rock’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within AR on state tests and graduation

SafetyD⁻

Little Rock stands out in Arkansas and nationally: violent crime there is higher

Violent crime runs at 14.8 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Arkansas rate; the Safety Grade counts each violent crime four times, so this weighs most on its D−. Property crime runs at 39.6 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Arkansas rate, most of it theft.

Little Rock’s violent crime rate is 14.8 per 1,000 residents. Among 108 Arkansas towns, just 1 have a higher property crime rate than Little Rock. Little Rock reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 99% report less.

1%of U.S. towns report more crimeD⁻Safety Grade

	Little Rock	Arkansas towns	U.S. towns
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	14.8 per 1,000 residents	3.6	1.6
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	39.6 per 1,000 residents	13.5	9.9

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Little Rock14.8

Arkansas5.4

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Little Rock39.6

Arkansas16.7

U.S.15.5

1st

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

4th

percentile among AR towns

3,048

violent crimes reported in 2025

8,121

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageLittle Rock’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type14.8 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsDown since 2023 Vs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors Questions“Is Little Rock, AR safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B⁻

About two in three of Little Rock’s working residents work in town

174,691 jobs are based in Little Rock, 2.2 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.

18% of residents live below the poverty line in Little Rock. Jobs based in Little Rock grew to 174,691 in 2023, 9,025 more than in 2013. 12% of workers work from home in Little Rock.

68%work in town

	Little Rock	Arkansas towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	19 minutes	21 minutes	25 minutes
Below the poverty line	18%	17%	9.6%
Work from home	12%	6.1%	11%
Median household income	$63,000	$55,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Little Rock68%

North Little Rock8%

Conway2%

Sherwood1%

Bryant1%

6 mi

median commute distance

174,691

jobs based in Little Rock

A job hub

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 77% of U.S. towns

Full pageLittle Rock’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here174,691 jobs based here · A job hub Where people work68% work in Little Rock Commute times19 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 6 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

Mild winters and hot summers in Little Rock

Little Rock has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 92°, January nights drop to 32° and about 4 inches of snow falls in a winter.

4″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter33–54°

Spring51–73°

Summer70–91°

Fall51–74°

Nov 10

typical first frost

Mar 21

typical last frost

+0.6°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageLittle Rock’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 92°, January lows 32°Rain & snow4″ of snow a winter · 53 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+0.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HealthC⁺

Little Rock is less healthy than 64% of U.S. towns

Against the 9,593 U.S. towns with household incomes like Little Rock’s, it is healthier than 53%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income. Within Arkansas it is healthier than 70% of the 123 graded towns: much of Arkansas scores lower on these measures.

Little Rock beats the Arkansas average on 8 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 41% of Little Rock adults have high blood pressure.

36%healthier than U.S. townsC⁺Health Grade

	Little Rock	Arkansas towns	U.S. towns
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	41%	41%	35%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	14%	16%	14%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	29%	34%	25%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	41%	39%	35%

32 measures vs. Arkansas

8 better20 too close to call4 worse

What stands out	Little Rock	AR
Fewer adults with COPD	6.8%	8.6%
Fewer adults with heart disease	6.3%	7.7%
More adults facing a utility shut-off	13.7%	10.4%

CHI-St. Vincent Infirmary

1.8 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental

70th

percentile among AR towns

Full pageLittle Rock’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby1.8 miles to an ER · CHI-St. Vincent Infirmary How adults are doingFewer adults in frequent physical distress Every CDC estimateBetter than AR on 8 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C

Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Little Rock

646 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 68 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 646 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Little Rock.

63risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingEarthquakesTornadoes

646

paid flood claims since 1978

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageLittle Rock’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims646 paid flood claims · Since 1978 Past disasters13 federal disasters · Paid out in Little Rock Get ready4.9 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HousingCost of living grade C

Little Rock’s typical home value is about $220K

The median property tax bill is $1,902, against $1,040 across Arkansas, another input to its cost-of-living grade.

The typical Little Rock home is worth about $220,000, up 3.5% in a year, close to the Arkansas typical home.

$220KZillow home value

	Little Rock	Arkansas towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	54%	60%	73%
Median rent	$1,106 a month	$875 a month	$1,185 a month
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent	49%	44%	48%

Typical home value

Little Rock$220K

Arkansas$224K

Market temperature

days on market

98%

sale-to-list price

+3.5%

value change, 1 year

235

homes sold in May

Full pageLittle Rock’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 3.5% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.5 years of income Rents$1,106 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Little Rock

20pages on Little Rock

The big questions

SchoolsCBehind 75% of AR districts · 89 schools SafetyD⁻14.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC⁺Better than AR on 8 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC$220K typical home · up 3.5% in a year Work & commuteB⁻$63K median household income · 174,691 jobs here Natural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 63% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁻94 mi of trails · 6% conserved land PlacesAttractions20 nearby · Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site under 1 mi LibraryBSidney Sanders Mcmath CollegesBaptist Health College Little Rock, in town

The story

HistoryA⁻Settled 1820 · 286 on the National Register Famous people30 born in Little Rock Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 70 residents Climate92° summer highs · 4″ of snow

Day to day

News13 recent stories about Little Rock WeatherHandbookZIP code 72201, 72202, 72203 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

8 within 15 miles of the center of Little Rock

University of Arkansas at Little RockUniversity or college · Public · Little RockIn town$9,748 in-state tuition Baptist Health College Little RockCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Little RockIn town$13,987 tuition University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · North Little Rock5.2 mi$6,300 in-state tuition

About 6 of every 100 Little Rock residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arkansas.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

94 miles of trails in Little Rock

6.3% of the town is conserved land, across 77 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Little Rock

ConservedTrails

Hindman Park5.4 mi of trails · 228 acres

Directions

War Memorial Park4.4 mi of trails · 131 acres

Directions

Boyle Park4.1 mi of trails · 228 acres

Directions

Landmarks

286 places in Little Rock on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Old State HouseBuilt 1800 · National Historic Landmark

U.S. Arsenal BuildingNational Historic Landmark

Joseph Taylor Robinson HouseNational Historic Landmark

Little Rock Central High SchoolBuilt 1905 · National Historic Landmark

Famous people from Little Rock

30 notable people were born in Little Rock.

See all 30 →

Douglas MacArthurUnited States Army general in WWI, WWII and Korea · 1880–1964

Chelsea ClintonAmerican author and global health advocate · born 1980

John Michael JumperAmerican chemist and AI expert · born 1985

Josh LucasAmerican actor · born 1971

Joey Lauren AdamsAmerican actress · born 1968

Joe JohnsonAmerican basketball player · born 1981

About Little Rock

Capital and largest city of Arkansas, US

Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 202,591 at the 2020 census, while the Little Rock metropolitan area with an estimated 770,000 residents is the 81st-most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city lies on the south bank of the Arkansas River close to the state's geographic center in central Arkansas. It is the county seat of Pulaski County. Little Rock was founded in 1821 as the capital of the Arkansas Territory. It is named for a rock formation along the Arkansas River named the "Little Rock" by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe in 1722. The city played a notable role in U.S. history during…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1821
Area: 121 sq mi
Elevation: 335 ft
ZIP code: 72201, 72202, 72203
Area code: 501

Little Rock’s neighbors

3 towns share a border with Little Rock.

Explore the map →

College StationNorth Little RockAlexanderLittle Rock

College Station

Visit

North Little Rock

NE · 8% of Little Rock workers commute here

Visit

Alexander

Visit

How the neighbors grade

Town	AR rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Little Rock	#91	D	C	D⁻	C	C⁺
College Station	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Little Rock	#102	D⁻	B⁻	D⁻	C	D
Alexander	#59	C	A⁻	C⁻	A	C

College Station isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Little Rock with a neighbor →

Questions about Little Rock

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Little Rock, AR a good place to live?

Little Rock grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #91 of 123 in Arkansas. It grades C+ for health, D− for safety and C for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Little Rock, AR expensive?

That is 3.3 years of the area's median household income ($67,154 across the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.

What is Little Rock, AR known for?

30 notable people were born here, including Douglas MacArthur and Chelsea Clinton.

Post to Little Rock

Check your email

Little RockAR

Is Little Rock a good place to live?

What makes Little Rock stand out

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

206 years in pictures

How Little Rock grades

Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and 14 more within 40 miles

Moving to Little Rock: who provides what

The data

Little Rock has set aside 6.3% of its land for conservation

Little Rock’s grade for schools is a C

Little Rock stands out in Arkansas and nationally: violent crime there is higher

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Property crime per 1,000 residents

About two in three of Little Rock’s working residents work in town

Where working residents work

Mild winters and hot summers in Little Rock

Typical low → high °F

Little Rock is less healthy than 64% of U.S. towns

Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Little Rock

Little Rock’s typical home value is about $220K

Typical home value

Everything we know about Little Rock

Colleges nearby

94 miles of trails in Little Rock

Landmarks

Famous people from Little Rock

About Little Rock

Little Rock’s neighbors

Questions about Little Rock