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Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS

Moving from Little Rock to Los Angeles

Based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, comparing Little Rock, Arkansas, and Los Angeles, California, reveals distinct trade-offs between affordability and economic scale. Little Rock features a population of 203,436, a median household income of $63,003, a median gross rent of $1,106, a median home value of $236,400, and a 20-minute commute. Los Angeles supports 3,857,263 residents with a higher median income of $81,939, but significantly higher housing costs, including a median gross rent of $1,933, a median home value of $921,200, and a longer 33-minute commute. Additionally, Los Angeles incorporates a 9.30% state individual income-tax reference, whereas Little Rock's profile excludes state tax data. Neither city serves as a universal winner.

Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta

Moving from Little Rock to Los Angeles

⇄ Switch to Los AngelesLittle Rock
Median Rent Impact
+$827/mo

Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$9,924 more/yr in rent.

State Tax Treatment
+9.3%

~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.

Daily Commute Difference
+13 min / day

Difference of ~108 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.

Your move

Compare the life behind the offer.

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What matters most?

Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.

LIVE VERDICTLITLAX
33/ 100

The offer needs work

The destination absorbs more of the offer.
Estimated annual life delta$7,956after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Take-home$69,208$71,176
Core costs$28,272$38,196
Commute time102 hours lost
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
See assumptions and methodology →
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The short answer

In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Little Rock is about $9,924 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.

Little Rock household income$63,003
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Little Rock gross rent$1,106
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933

Housing, income, and tax reference

MetricLittle RockLos Angeles
2024 ACS population203,4363,857,263
Median household income$63,003$81,939
Median gross rent$1,106$1,933
Median owner-occupied home value$236,400$921,200
State-tax treatmentExcluded9.3% simplified
Salary & Affordability Benchmark

How much do you need to earn to live in Los Angeles?

2024 ACS Median Income

$81,939/yr

30% Rule for RentRecommended
$77,320 / year

To afford Los Angeles's median gross rent of $1,933/mo at or below 30% of gross earnings, a household needs approximately $37.17/hour (full-time).

28% Rule for HomeownershipMedian Home
$233,571 / year

Modeled against Los Angeles's median home benchmark of $921,200 (estimated $5,450/mo ownership carrying cost at typical 7.1% baseline).

Slide to test your income against local rent, taxes, and essentials.
$81,939gross/year
Affordability Status:Balanced
Rent is 28% of gross income (45% of net pay)

Rent aligns with the standard 30% rule (28% of gross pay). Standard budgeting applies.

Monthly Budget AllocationEstimated Net Take-Home: $4,339/mo
Tax 36%
Rent 28%
Essentials 18%
Savings 18%
Taxes: $2,458/mo Rent: $1,933/mo Essentials: $1,250/mo Discretionary Margin: $1,156/mo

Time and daily routine

The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 20 minutes in Little Rock and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.

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Decision checklist

  • Little Rock offers significantly lower median gross rent
  • Los Angeles features a higher median household income
  • Little Rock provides a shorter one-way commute estimate
  • Los Angeles has substantially higher owner-occupied home values

What each city wins

Little Rock

Affordability uncertain. Watch housing costs vs income.

Los Angeles

A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.

Frequently asked questions

How do the populations of Little Rock and Los Angeles compare?

According to the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, Little Rock has an estimated population of 203,436, whereas Los Angeles is much larger with 3,857,263 residents.

What are the housing cost differences between the two cities?

The 2024 ACS data shows that Little Rock has a median gross rent of $1,106 and a median home value of $236,400, compared to Los Angeles, where median gross rent is $1,933 and median home value is $921,200.

Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.

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