City Comparison
Russellville vs North Little Rock
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Russellville scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Russellville
North Little Rock
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Russellville is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in North Little Rock.
Housing costs are a major driver: Russellville's average rent is
24% lower than North Little Rock's.
| Metric | Russellville | North Little Rock | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $800 | $1,053 | -24% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $165 | $175 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $210 | $230 | -9% |
| Monthly Total | $1,665 | $1,948 | -15% |
| Cost Index | 82 | 88 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
North Little Rock offers 17% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, North Little Rock delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Russellville is estimated at
$42,000 vs $48,000 in North Little Rock.
| Metric | Russellville | North Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $47,991 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 58,526 idx | 65,909 idx |
| Household Income | $50,877 | $52,707 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
North Little Rock runs warmer on average — a 65.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, North Little Rock comes out ahead with 255 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — North Little Rock sees 10.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Russellville | North Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 65.30°F |
| Summer High | °F | 92.90°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 35.10°F |
| Rainfall | in | 46.20 in |
| Snowfall | in | 10.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 255 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Russellville scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Russellville leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Russellville | North Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | 19.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 32.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
North Little Rock is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Russellville.
From a growth perspective, Russellville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Russellville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Russellville | North Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,521 | 65,120 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.32% | 0.30% |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 38.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Russellville
Advantages
Average rent and overall cost of living are roughly 60% lower than the national average per Zillow and federal data.
Abundant outdoor recreation access, sitting directly adjacent to Lake Dardanelle and the Arkansas River.
Strong institutional anchor and cultural vitality provided by Arkansas Tech University.
Stable industrial and energy employment base anchored by major operations like Arkansas Nuclear One and Tyson Foods.
Short average commute times and easy access via Interstate 40.
Drawbacks
Poverty rate sits higher than the national average, standing at approximately 20.8% per U.S. Census Bureau data.
High car dependency with limited public transportation infrastructure for non-drivers.
Median household income trails both state and national averages.
Vulnerability to severe weather events typical of the Arkansas River Valley region.
Limited high-end entertainment and luxury retail options within city limits.
North Little Rock
Advantages
Average monthly rent of $1,053 is significantly lower than the national average, making housing highly accessible per Zillow 2026 data
Median home property values remain near $178,900, offering strong affordability for first-time buyers per U.S. Census Bureau data
Vibrant cultural scene anchored by the Argenta Arts District, offering local dining, galleries, and entertainment venues
Short average commute times of approximately 19.8 minutes facilitate easy daily travel per Census data
Abundant outdoor amenities, including direct access to the Arkansas River Trail system and Dickey-Stephens Park
Drawbacks
Poverty rate of 20.3% sits above the national average per recent U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in a high car dependency with a low transit score
Violent and property crime rates in certain specific city sectors require careful neighborhood selection
Lower median household income of $52,707 compared to national benchmarks per Census data
Local summer temperatures frequently peak above 90°F, creating high cooling energy demands during peak months
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Russellville
#250Arkansas, USA
62.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$800
Avg Salary
$47,991
Cost Index
82
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.32%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
73
Business
67
North Little Rock
#436Arkansas, USA
56.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,053
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
19.0/100
Walkability
32.0/100
Sunny Days
255/yr
Avg Temp
65.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.30%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
73
Business
69
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