No.
1
in the U.S. for relative value of $100
Arkansas
Arkansas
No.
1
for Net Migration of People
Arkansas
No.
2
Most Affordable State to Live in U.S.
Arkansas
No.
3
3rd lowest cost of living among all U.S. states
Arkansas
No.
5
Housing markets people are moving to (Little Rock)
Arkansas
No.
8
Lowest Union Membership Rate in U.S.
Arkansas
No.
8
Least Energy-Expensive States
Arkansas
No.
10
Highest Manufacturing Employment in U.S. by Percentage of Workforce
Arkansas
No.
10
State that More People Are Moving To
Average Home Price
$163,100
BestPlaces
Cost of Living
11%
Lower than the National Average LittleRock-North Little Rock-Conway
Housing Cost
26%
Lower than the National Average Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Total Population
1,074,060
EMSI
Median Age
37
Two years below the national average. EMSI
International Companies located in Metro Little Rock
68
Total Regional Employment
520,101
EMSI
Millennials in the region
210,417
EMSI
Veterans in the region
72,862
EMSI
Total Higher Education Enrollment
50,600
EMSI
People that move to Metro Little Rock annually
19,346
EMSI
People that move to Metro Little Rock daily
53
EMSI
Percentage of the U.S. population within a day’s drive
40%
Progressive job opportunities and a dynamic environment are part of Metro Little Rock’s attractiveness, and the low cost of living – 10.8 percent below the national average – drives the appeal home. Metro Little Rock residents pay less than people in other areas nationwide for housing, healthcare, groceries, and utilities.
Balanced Budget since 1945
Income Tax Cuts signed in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
The region’s skilled engineering and production workforce is bolstered by 20 colleges and universities, many of which offer manufacturing-focused programs.
Race and Ethnicity:
White or Caucasian: 65%
Black or African American: 24.6%
Hispanic: 5.25%
Asian: 1.81%
(EMSI)
Established in 1955, the Little Rock Air Force Base is the world’s premier C-130 training facility, training all Department of Defense and 31 allied nation’s air crews. With over 7,500 active duty military and civilian members and over 5,000 family members working on and around the Base, the Little Rock Air Force Base plays a significant economic role. With approximately 53,000 retirees in the area, the Little Rock Air Force Base provides one pathway for a workforce development pipeline within the region.
Metro Little Rock is served by two class-one railroads: Union Pacific and BNSF with short line operators serving various industrial sites throughout the region.
Metro Little Rock is served by 5 interstate highways, 6 US highways, and 20 Arkansas state highways
Metro Little Rock is home to two ports, including the Foreign Trade Zone 14 – designated Port of Little Rock, enabling the flow of manufactured goods with ease.
The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport offers 16 direct flights to locations across the United States, serving over 2 million passengers annually. The airport is served by Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Southwest, United and Via Air. There are more than 120 flights into and out of Little Rock every day.
