Little Rock vs Memphis
Compare Little Rock, AR and Memphis, TN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $964/mo in Little Rock and $1,091/mo in Memphis, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,089/mo and $1,298/mo. State income tax also separates them — Memphis's rate is roughly 0% versus 3.9%. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (230 vs 235 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 93°F and 90°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Little Rock; if walkable daily life matters more, Memphis screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Memphis leads 71 to 68 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Little Rock leads 43 to 40 on the daily life screen.
Memphis leads 51 to 45 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Little Rock is roughly $67,065 in Memphis using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Little Rock | Memphis | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $964/mo | $1,091/mo | Little Rock |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,089/mo | $1,298/mo | Little Rock |
| Median home value | $186,000 | $208,000 | Little Rock |
| State income tax | 3.9% | None | Memphis |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 26.2 min | Little Rock |
| Safety score | 22/100 | 33/100 | Memphis |
| School score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Little Rock |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 10/100 | Memphis |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 184.0 | 166.9 | Little Rock |
| Mountain distance | 2 mi | 8 mi | Little Rock |
| Coast distance | 329 mi | 328 mi | Memphis |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 28/100 | 21/100 | Little Rock |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 77th | 28th | Memphis |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 97th | 69th | Memphis |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 67th | 44th | Memphis |
What stands out
Little Rock stronger signals
- Trail access within 27 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Mountain access within 2 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Little Rock tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Memphis stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 49 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 127 miles
Memphis tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Little Rock cheaper than Memphis?
On public benchmarks Little Rock is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $964/mo in Little Rock vs $1,091/mo in Memphis; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,089/mo vs $1,298/mo; state income tax is 3.9% vs 0%.
Is Little Rock or Memphis safer?
Memphis screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 22/100 for Little Rock and 33/100 for Memphis (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Little Rock or Memphis?
School screens show 6/10 for Little Rock vs 5/10 for Memphis, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Little Rock and Memphis?
Little Rock: summer highs near 93°F, winter lows near 27°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Memphis: 90°F / 29°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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