Decatur receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Decatur
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Opportunity
66 · Top 29%
vs71 · Top 21%
Growth
69 · Top 21%
vs64 · Top 28%
Climate
77 · Top 12%
vs66 · Top 50%
Physical resilience
48 · Bottom 38%
vs43 · Bottom 33%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs96 · Top 45%
Access
88 · Top 29%
vs90 · Top 24%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 46%
vs56 · Top 43%
Measured values
| Metric | Decatur | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 157,747 | 758,629 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,116 | $67,154 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,213 | $38,553 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 124/sq mi | 186/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $202,500 | $214,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $847 | $1,055 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.6% | 63.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | 2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 33.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 14.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 374 | 2,773 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 3.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 67.0% | -12.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 49.5" | 50.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.5 | 37.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Decatur
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Decatur
71
Your Score
70
Area Score
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
70
Your Score
68
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Decatur, AL Metro Area · Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology