The Town FilesLittle Rock, Arkansas
City in Pulaski County · population 202,591 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,400
- Household income
- $63,003
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 35.9
Little Rock is a city of 202,591 people in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $236,400, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 99% of Arkansas towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Arkansas towns.
How Little Rock ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Little Rock is worth $236,400, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $63,003, which is more affordable than 12% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $1,106 a month. 53.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Little Rock | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,400 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $1,106 | $792 |
| Median household income | $63,003 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.5% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Little Rock
| People | Little Rock | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.6% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 84.4% |
Weather in Little Rock
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 30.9°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Little Rock since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 20 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 1, 1997 about 5.4 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 24 deaths and 457 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 224 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on January 21, 1999.
Severe weather in Pulaski County since 1996
Pulaski County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 2, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4698: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
Jobs and pay in Pulaski County
Pulaski County had 261,631 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,505 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Little Rock itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Little Rock
73 public schools with 30,696 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 8-12 | 2,260 | 14.0 |
| PARKVIEW MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,063 | 13.5 |
| DON ROBERTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 1,020 | 20.0 |
| JOE T. ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 845 | 10.8 |
| ESTEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (charter) | K-6 | 839 | 16.1 |
| PINNACLE VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 817 | 13.8 |
| J.A. FAIR K8 PREPARATORY SCHOOL | K-8 | 801 | 13.4 |
| FOREST HEIGHTS STEM ACADEMY | K-8 | 782 | 15.3 |
| EXALT ACADEMY OF SOUTHWEST LITTLE ROCK (charter) | K-8 | 749 | 11.5 |
| ESTEM EAST VILLAGE ELEMENTARY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-6 | 701 | 15.2 |
| MILLS UNIVERSITY STUDIES HIGH SCHOOL | 8-12 | 671 | 12.7 |
| CLOVERDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 655 | 13.6 |
Towns near Little Rock
- Shannon Hills, AR7.9 mi · 4,490 people · home $170,900
- North Little Rock, AR8.0 mi · 64,591 people · home $178,900
- Landmark, AR8.3 mi · 3,585 people · home $156,600
- Alexander, AR9.1 mi · 3,385 people · home $174,000
- Maumelle, AR9.1 mi · 19,251 people · home $291,700
- Bryant, AR10.7 mi · 20,663 people · home $223,200
- East End, AR11.9 mi · 7,137 people · home $223,900
- Sherwood, AR12.4 mi · 32,731 people · home $199,500
Little Rock questions
Is Little Rock, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Little Rock scores better for retirees than 22% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 4%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Little Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Little Rock is valued at $236,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,003, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,106 a month.
What is the weather like in Little Rock?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 30.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3.8 inches of snow.
Does Little Rock get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Little Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 1, 1997. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)