Big on Little Rock
Little Rock is a Great Place to Live
Little Rock has been recognized by several major institutions including:
- Kiplinger’s as Number 1 on the 10 Great Places to Live
- Number 6 on Gallup’s “America’s Happiest Cities”
- Number 2 on Moody’s Investors Services “Most Diverse Economy in the Nation”
- Number 46 in Forbes’s Top 200 “Best Places for Business and Careers”
- Number 7 on “Best Value City” by Kiplinger’s
With a population of 202,591 (2020 Census), Little Rock is a center for several major employers in a variety of industries including healthcare, aerospace, banking and finance, technology, advanced manufacturing, government, education, and agriculture. Competitive wages and Arkansas’ right-to-work environment provide an excellent workforce environment for businesses.
Little Rock has a lower cost of living than the national average, so your money will go a long way in this region. Little Rock features new multi-unit and single-family dwellings in development and under construction every day. The average cost of a home is noticeably lower than the national average, while Little Rock residents generally pay less for things like food, utilities and health care than the average American.
Little Rock is a great place to live for those who enjoy the outdoors. The region is an easy drive from Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Ouachita National Forest and the stunning Ozark Mountains. Hot Springs National Park is only an hour away. Residents can also take advantage of golf courses and trails found within the city limits.
The downtown and midtown areas feature a variety of local restaurants and breweries. The metro area also enjoys a great live music scene, which ranges from piano bars to the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. The local Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts hosts theater performances, and the region also contains a handful of art galleries. There are also local stores and boutiques for shopping. More family-oriented entertainment can be found at neighborhood pools, the year-round ice rink and the Little Rock Zoo.
Little Rock experiences all four seasons. While winters are historically mild compared to metro areas farther north, summers are characterized by a rather intensely humid heat. Severe weather can include tornadoes and hail storms, which are most likely to hit in the spring and fall. Ice storm watches tend to occur in January.