Knoxville vs Little Rock
The short version
- Little Rock is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Knoxville area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $236,400 in Little Rock and $239,700 in Knoxville.
- Households earn more in Little Rock ($63,003 vs $54,039 median).
- Little Rock has more scorching days: 76 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 37.
- Knoxville is growing faster: +6% since 2020 vs +1.9%.
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages; Arkansas's top rate is 3.9%.
Side by side
| Knoxville, TN | Little Rock, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 202,021 | 206,427 |
| Growth since 2020 | +6% | +1.9% |
| People per square mile | 2,046 | 1,703 |
| Median age | 33.5 | 35.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35% | 45% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $54,039 | $63,003 |
| Median home value | $239,700 | $236,400 |
| Home value to income | 4.4× | 3.8× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,191 | $1,106 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 92.6 | 89.4 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 82.8 | 68.3 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $69,400 | $67,000 |
| Homeowners | 47% | 54% |
| Top state income tax | None | 3.9% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.61% | 9.48% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.2 | 18.5 |
| Work from home | 13% | 12% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.5% | 4.1% |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | 17.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 48° / 30° | 51° / 31° |
| July high / low | 88° / 69° | 92° / 71° |
| Precipitation per year | 52 in | 50 in |
| Snowfall per year | 5 in | 4 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 37 | 76 |
| Nights below freezing | 67 | 50 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 92.1 | 96.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 56% | 31% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.9% | +2.3% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +63.5% | +37.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Knoxville: May to June and September to October. Little Rock: September to October.
Full monthly tables: Knoxville weather by month and Little Rock weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,400 in Knoxville and $67,000 in Little Rock. Moving from Knoxville to Little Rock, you would need about $72,400 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.