What’s the best part of Little Rock?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Little Rock are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Little Rock neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Arkansas and Little Rock is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Little Rock for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Heights looks to be the best Little Rock neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Little Rock that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Little Rock.
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Little Rock
Population: 5,151
Median Home Value: $370,000 (best)
Median Income: $81,906 (Second best)
More on Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,054
Median Home Value: $210,583 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $67,187 (Sixth best)
More on Midtown: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,671
Median Home Value: $286,780 (Second best)
Median Income: $73,968 (Fifth best)
More on Hillcrest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 13,859
Median Home Value: $246,800 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $79,200 (Third best)
More on Rock Creek: Data | Real Estate
Population: 13,802
Median Home Value: $284,525 (Third best)
Median Income: $96,832 (best)
More on River Mountain: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,104
Median Home Value: $184,325 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $78,665 (Fourth best)
More on Reservoir: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,043
Median Home Value: $150,520 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $40,185 (14th best)
More on Capital View-Stiff: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,130
Median Home Value: $190,440 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $51,613 (Seventh best)
More on Otter Creek Crystal: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,214
Median Home Value: $175,340 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $50,886 (Eighth best)
More on Walnut Valley: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,995
Median Home Value: $146,400 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $45,068 (12th best)
More on Westwood-Pecan Lake: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Little Rock, AR Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Little Rock, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 27 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Little Rock.” We’re lookin’ at you, Heights.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Little Rock, Arkansas has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Little Rock.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Little Rock
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Little Rock where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Little Rock are Heights, Midtown, Hillcrest, Rock Creek, River Mountain, Reservoir, Capital View-Stiff, Otter Creek Crystal, Walnut Valley, and Westwood-Pecan Lake.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Little Rock aren’t all good. Wakefield takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Little Rock.
The worst neighborhoods in Little Rock are Wakefield, Big Dickinson Lake, 65th Street West, South End, and Central High.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Little Rock For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heights | 5,151 | $370,000 | $81,906 |
| 2 | Midtown | 9,054 | $210,583 | $67,187 |
| 3 | Hillcrest | 5,671 | $286,780 | $73,968 |
| 4 | Rock Creek | 13,859 | $246,800 | $79,200 |
| 5 | River Mountain | 13,802 | $284,525 | $96,832 |
| 6 | Reservoir | 7,104 | $184,325 | $78,665 |
| 7 | Capital View-Stiff | 3,043 | $150,520 | $40,185 |
| 8 | Otter Creek Crystal | 7,130 | $190,440 | $51,613 |
| 9 | Walnut Valley | 7,214 | $175,340 | $50,886 |
| 10 | Westwood-Pecan Lake | 4,995 | $146,400 | $45,068 |
| 11 | John Barrow | 12,336 | $111,127 | $40,153 |
| 12 | South Geyer Springs | 1,711 | $122,250 | $50,150 |
| 13 | Briarwood | 2,140 | $140,250 | $48,726 |
| 14 | West Markham | 2,565 | $139,540 | $49,271 |
| 15 | Downtown | 6,391 | $137,400 | $30,291 |
| 16 | Boyle Park | 4,661 | $117,640 | $40,050 |
| 17 | Cloverdale Watson | 6,314 | $94,467 | $41,717 |
| 18 | Upper Baseline | 11,175 | $77,567 | $35,028 |
| 19 | East Of I-30 | 1,801 | $94,080 | $32,768 |
| 20 | Chicot West | 8,651 | $95,686 | $38,423 |
| 21 | Oak Forest | 8,070 | $83,662 | $30,444 |
| 22 | Stephens | 4,723 | $101,391 | $36,465 |
| 23 | Central High | 1,859 | $109,300 | $34,319 |
| 24 | South End | 2,787 | $69,925 | $31,969 |
| 25 | 65th Street West | 3,738 | $79,650 | $35,436 |
| 26 | Big Dickinson Lake | 750 | $78,300 | $38,607 |
| 27 | Wakefield | 3,017 | $74,850 | $33,180 |