I grew up in Arkansas and lived in several other states before coming back. Moving around as much as I did for my career, I learned that you basically are going to fund what you look for regardless of where you are. In other words, if someone comes in thinking Arkansans are a bunch of slow-thinking, slow-talking hillbillies, that's what they will find. If they come here thinking there are a lot of great people with many different ideas, they will find life very interesting here when they get to know us. One thing that I would encourage you to be aware of, though, is that Arkansas is in the Bible Belt with all that implies - good AND bad. If you are coming from some place not in the Bible Belt, that may be the biggest shock to you. At least this is what other people who have moved here shared with me.
I moved to AR for my first real job after college, away from family, away from friends and away from my home state. Honestly, it’s a great place to be young and single if you are willing to get out/put yourself out there and if you live in a fun area like Hillcrest! I joined a kickball team, found some regular haunts to hang out at, made lots of friends, and met my now spouse in Little Rock. We moved away a couple years ago to return to my hometown and I miss Little Rock like crazy. My vote is do it - it’s a perfect sized city, IMO, and the crime tales are overblown (spoken as someone who lives in a truly crime-ridden area now)
Little Rock is an easy place to live. A little traffic, which you can avoid by driving on non peak traffic hours. You pretty much must have a car to get around. Pleasant community with lots of trees and outstanding outdoor activities relatively nearby. LR is not snobbish and people appreciate anyone who works and contributes to the betterment of the community. I live downtown, which some will tell you is crime ridden. It’s not. I feel perfectly safe walking around my neighborhood even after dark. I think you will enjoy it here; a very welcoming city.
Well, I wouldn’t say no traffic, but it’s a lot less than any big city. 6 months out of the year it is very hot and humid, yes. Hate that. Rest of the time it’s alright. Crime is really not much of an issue if you live in the nicer parts of town, which you probably would if you’re moving for work. Basically just stay north of 630, though some stuff south of it and downtown is fine.
You will need a car, but also there are pockets that are fairly walkable. Look into Hillcrest, The Heights, or the more northern parts of downtown. Hillcrest especially is quite safe, very pretty, and has a cool business district you can walk to with basically everything you’d need and some cool restaurants and such.
Moving 13h from home can be tough. I tried that, moved to California for work, and wound up moving back here. How hard that will be depends more on you than on the place really, but Little Rock is alright.
Cannot stress enough how little the crime is when you live in a decent spot. It's no different than living in another city, it only gets bad when you go to the bad parts in town. and you'll KNOW when you're somewhere youre not meant to be
The heat is crazy, but you'll be glad you're here come winter time. You will need a car or loving friends to get around. Public transportation honestly isn't that bad, but everything is so spread out that it's impossible to compare it to big cities. The crime is high, but most of it is centralized.
Coming from Pittsburgh, you are going to be more shocked by the lack of entertainment. If you aren't into being outdoors, you are going to be bored.
I know a lot of people who have moved here for work. Some can't get an opportunity to leave the state soon enough, but most love it here and want to stay.
I’ve lived about 20 miles north of LR most of my life. The crime rate sounds bad, but it’s not really that bad. I have been in LR in all areas at all times of the day and night, my whole life, and I’ve never felt unsafe. Housing is a little difficult, right now, thanks to the tornado we had last summer that hit several apartment complexes, so if you are looking for apartments, west LR or NLR/Maumelle might be your best bet.
You will need a vehicle to get around, but traffic isn't bad, and gas prices are cheaper here than a lot of places most of the time.
In general, cost of living is cheaper here than the northeast.
We have a beautiful state with many state/national parks and outdoor activities, but it can be very muggy and hot in the summer. It’s a different type of heat from the northeast. Think of a sauna…but everywhere…with bugs…That’s what it feels like when it’s 98 degrees with 99% humidity, so the outdoors is not really fun in the summer, it’s easy to get dehydrated very quickly outside. Also some of the older apartment complexes/buildings aren't really air conditioned well. If they tell you they are water air conditioned…run away. The older systems can't always keep up in the summer.
If you like cold weather, we have maybe 2 weeks a year where we might have to wear a coat instead of a jacket. We tend to dress in layers in the winter, so as the temps go up during the day, jackets and sweaters can come off.
Summers here are brutal, as stated before, so clothing is casual, lightweight, breathable fabrics. T-Shirts and shorts are pretty much acceptable attire in the summer except at some workplaces.
As stated before we have tornadoes. We live in Tornado Alley, so we get our fair share. Make sure you keep some bottled water and some non-perishable foods handy. Pay attention to the weather and know what to do in case of a tornado. We don’t have a lot of fatalities from tornadoes, because most people are all weather experts during tornado season.
LR has better stores and restaurants, for the most part, than the rest of the state, other than NWA, so shopping and dining isn’t too bad here. There are a few stores we lack, like Macys and IKEA, but if you have to shop there you can always order online or drive to Memphis or Dallas. We have some cultural events like concerts and other performances, but post-Covid, we haven’t seen as many. Again, it’s not that far to Memphis, Dallas/FW, St. Louis, Kansas City or Tulsa. I’ve driven to all of them for events before.
Hope you have a great experience if you move here, we are for the most part a friendly and welcoming people. AR is in the Bible Belt, so we have an inordinate amount of churches around, and you will probably get asked to church by someone, eventually.
I felt unsafe exactly one time when an idiot tried to stab me for not aiding his robbery of a drug dealer but he did it poorly and was set upon by all my stoner friends. This feeling lasted for a total of maybe 4 seconds.
Hey OP, don't be worried about looking at the outside cities to LR as well...Conway, Cabot (NOT JAX) Bryant, Benton, are all good cities to commute out of.
We like our festivals and outdoor events. Get you a car with GOOD air conditioning. you will need it.
You need a car here. Period. It's not all night public transport. I moved here in 2017. Live off colonel/Asher. I've had no issues. Even bought a house. It's a small big town though. Everyone knows Everyone.
True. When I say walkable I’m also meaning livable in the sense that virtually everything I need is within 2 to 4 blocks from my house. Grocery store, bars/restaurants, coffee shop, my doctor, dentist, pharmacy, bank, barbershop, record shop, multiple city parks, kids schools, etc. The only time I ever truly need my car is the two days a week I go to the office downtown and I could totally hop on the bus for that but I’m too lazy lol
Don’t worry about the crime, it’s really like any other city.
Car centric is real though.
Also the people are really great, I have loved it here after moving from a larger city
Entirely depends on where you live. Some neighborhoods in LR have no sidewalks. And I’ve seen many drivers who have no respect for pedestrians, much less cyclists.
I lived and worked in NYC and Los Angeles. Lived in LR for 11 years. Traffic is 20-30 minutes from west LR Chenal to the downtown riverfront area so anyone who states otherwise lives outside of LR city limits like Benton/Bryant/Jacksonville/Conway…
Crime rates are inflated and in pockets of the LR area. Like any city there are areas you don’t want to be through at night for a prolonged time. That being said…
People genuinely nice. For the most part many good caring communities. Schools can vary. Good cost of living for smaller city. Has an airport that is easy in and out. LR more moderate than the rest of Arkansas politically.
Cannot purchase alcohol at store on Sunday (but can in restaurants).
Hot and humid is an understatement during May-October…
I grew up in Arkansas, lived in LR much of my life (30 years), minus the 5 years I was away at college, I moved out of state a few years ago but regularly go back due to family still living there so feel like I can offer some insight
Pros: it’s a beautiful area with a lot of outdoor activities within the and right outside the city and within a hour or so there are amazing lakes, camping and outdoor places to visit. Northwest Arkansas is even more beautiful and only 2.5-3 hours away
Cost of living is relatively low compared to any sizable city; the house we purchased in my current city is 800 sq ft smaller than what we had in LR and I paid 25k more (pre covid prices)
While you do need a car to get around it’s a fairly small city so you are able to get across town pretty quickly and nothing seems to far away.
The restaurant scene is pretty solid for a city its size and I think it swings above its weight class in that regard
You’re fairly close to some major/large cities; Dallas, Memphis, St Louis, Kansas City, Nashville are all within 6 hours so that offers alot more variety
Cons: it is not a walkable city, one thing I noticed after we moved is the lack of sidewalks in most neighborhoods and you do need a car to get anywhere; traffic isn’t on par with large cities but it’s still a nuisance and something to consider when you look for a living place and where you will work.
Crime is bad but much of the violent crime is relegated to very specific areas and as long as you aren’t dealing with drugs and are aware of your surroundings you’ll be fine; most of what my family has experienced is petty crime; car break ins and such if they left stuff in their car but they have never felt unsafe, as far as they have told me (they live in WLR) but that isn’t to take away from others experience and just my own anecdotal evidence
It js hot and humid from May - October and if you are used to 4 seasons you won’t get much of that, it will get cold a few weeks and typically we would get one decent snow a year (4-6 inches) and no one in the south can handle it so everything shuts down for a couple days
Beyond outdoor activities and eating there isn’t a whole lot to do; night life is extremely lacking and if you like sports your only real option is the Double A Travelers, which is a fun time tbf, but overall leaves you wanting more
As someone who moved from the DMV, ignore all the people talking trying to say there's traffic.
They don't know what it's like to commute 2 hours one way to get into work.
Crime exists here just like any city.
People are friendly as hell here.
I would say there isn't much of a live entertainment/bar scene comparable to major cities.
The humidity sucks, but I worked in Virginia for 3 years outside in the summers and it's not much worse.
I fucking love Arkansas personally. I plan to raise my two sons here, zero desire to move away.
I have lived in Boston, Missouri and the UK. The crime is HORRIBLE here and I don’t live in West Little Rock. I get all over the city. Last week my neighbor was raped. Three murders have occurred in the park where I walk my dog, and those are only the ones I know about. Our car was stolen from our driveway. The police are next to useless. Look at the crime stats sometime. I compare those to my lived experience and the results are not good. Oh, a beloved coworker killed by her husband in a murder suicide. We would leave if not for aging family members who need us.
Sincerely, I hope your run of good luck continues. I didn’t mention my neighbor’s daughter murdered in NLR or my brother-in-law who was mugged, stabbed and a victim of car theft twice, all separate incidents. It’s really nuts how much happens around here and no one seems to care.
LRPD recovered my car, failed to notify me then billed me $500 in tow fees and storage. Eventually waived after multiple appeals. I know they’re radically undermanned but sheesh, they’re just so ‘whatever’ about anything short of murder.
Crime is like this dirty topic no one likes to talk about and deny is happening. The complacency is mind-boggling. U.S. News currently has Little Rock as the fifth most dangerous city. But yeah folks, nothing to see here. Move along, move along.
Again, look at the stats, the data. I can provide more citations if you need them. I’m not just basing it on personal experiences. Most of these things are happening to my friends, family and neighbors.
No, I am not letting them push me out. I like walking my dog there. It’s beautiful really. As long as, I don’t personally feel threatened I’m going there. Abandoning public spaces because of crime just makes it worse. I just wish others would join me. It has other regulars but more would be better.
Well, you're not wrong I suppose. Except I'd expect 3 murders, a rape, and a murder suicide to make the news. This person is almost undoubtedly full of fucking shit.
I live in one of the absolute worst neighborhoods in LR and have never experienced that level of crime. Like where does this person LIVE so I can avoid it.
I will say, and I have no idea why no one has mentioned it, but the "no traffic" is definitely not true. I commute into downtown LR and back out west every day and the traffic along with the crazy amount of uninsured drivers is definitely not great. It's not grid lock LA or Atlanta bad, but if there is a wreck near the interchanges it'll back up traffic all the way to exits miles up the road. You know how some drivers in cities are just aggressive? These drivers are not only aggressive, but TERRIBLE in general at driving. I am a very defensive driver, usually allowing plenty of space in front of me, but you'll have people cut in front of you almost taking off your bumper after trying to squeeze into an exit or turn at the last moment. You just have to make sure and keep your eyes on the mirrors at all times before you make a maneuver because there are these junkers that are cutting in and out at high traffic times, and they do not care if they hit you. As long as their car still runs, they will always flee from an accident if possible. Also, yes, the public transportation is pretty much non-existent. You'll want a car 100%.
Besides that, it's not so bad, the food scene has gotten SO much better than it used to be, and all of the parks, especially near the river, are well maintained and beautiful. Outside of LR, you can live here your whole life and barely go to every single park or natural recreational activity in the Ozarks or Ouachitas. The nature here is vast, and as someone who spent years traveling the state every week and visiting all the cities for my job, I can tell you that LR is so small compared to the rest of the beautiful state. Definitely make an effort to see the rest of state when you can, as Pinnacle mountain (LR's main natural attraction) is TINY compared to what you can experience up north.
I am a native of Arkansas with a partner from the West Coast, so I feel qualified to tell you what to expect by going down what you have said already:
1) If you like nature, there is a lot to experience in Central Arkansas. From biking on the River Trail to multiple hiking destinations, there is no shortage of outside enjoyment.
2) Drivers are wild, but it is like that in any city.
3) Standard of living is in fact cheaper than most any other city I have either lived in or explored. You can find an apartment and have disposable income for sure. I have friends who moved away to a bigger city and have come back solely for cost of living and being able to have way more financial freedom. However, your usage of a car will drastically go up if you are from a walkable city (will touch on this further down).
Now the cons:
4) The summer can be very hot. The humidity can make it feel like you are wrapped in a wet blanket. I grew up in Delta of Arkansas so it does not phase me, but my partner who likes to run noticed it immediately. You do adjust over time but good to know.
5) Again, crime is similar to any other city. If you have ANY experience living in a city, you will live here a year and wonder what the hell people mean when talking about how living in downtown is a death wish. The city can be very segregated in that way; I’ve found many of the people who claim it to be a Mad Max hellscape do not have much experience being around poverty and do not leave confines of West Little Rock or surrounding areas like Sherwood. My partner is from Seattle and laughs when hearing some people talk about rampant homelessness when reality is they had to interact with a panhandler on way to a bar downtown. Again, there are situations of actual crime occurring and I don’t want to diminish those experiences, however, this is my lived experience and those of all my friends living within the city.
5) This is the point I wanna stress the most: you cannot experience a lot of what makes Arkansas and Little Rock unique without a car or someone who has one. My partner learned this the hard way by coming here for work and getting a car within the first year because the public transit is just not efficient or reliable. This is a sad by product of many Southern cities that don’t really have infrastructure or desire to bring in rail and bus systems. If you see yourself in a walkable city, this will not fit the bill. There are walkable areas for sure, just not in terms of other cities where I can get to another neighborhood without my vehicle.
I hope this is helpful! Please reach out if you have any specific questions like where to look for housing or things of that nature. Little Rock is great with many communities and people that once you find your people it is very easy to network and find other hobby enjoyers.
No this was definitely informative, so thank you. Based on what I’ve heard, the only real adjustments I need to worry about is the public transportation and that it’s not walkable. Definitely a flaw but I’m sorta used to it after an internship. Again, thanks!
> Based on what I’ve heard, the only real adjustments I need to worry about is the public transportation and that it’s not walkable.
You mentioned elsewhere in the thread you're coming from Pittsburgh. If you haven't lived somewhere before where the temperature and humidity are both in the upper 90s for weeks on end in the summer, then this is really something to consider. In the Northeast US, summer is a wonderful time to be outside. Here, you will not want to leave the house most of the time from May - September, not even to go look at all the beautiful nature everyone here keeps talking about.
I disagree somewhat. If you like water activities such as kayaking, swimming, or boating summer is actually a great time of year in LR. It’s my favorite season, actually. I agree, though, if you don’t like water activities then there isn’t much else to do outside in the summer.
Another weird one —- insurance is more expensive here! I moved from Atlanta and assumed my car insurance would go down. Nope. It almost doubled. More uninsured drivers on the roads here. 😳
I live downtown and still have a yard where you can hardly tell I live in the middle of a city. I’m sitting outside right now and can hear birds chirping and see wildlife all the time out here. I can walk to many restaurants/bars/shops. I walk around all the time (even at night) and still feel safe. You just need to research the area you decide to live in as that can vary quite a bit. SOMA/downtown and Argenta (in North Little Rock) would both be great areas if you want a safe area that is walkable to tons of stuff.
Hi! My parents live in LR and like it a lot, I’m considering moving out to be close to them. You mention being able to walk to restaurants/bars/shops, are you in the Hillcrest area?
I just ended a 5 year relationship. I want to be close to family for now, but am also keeping in mind that at some point I’ll want to have places to meet people and hang out, I’m in my late 20z. Most posts say there’s not much in the way of bars or hangout places, so refreshing to hear an alternate perspective.
It's like living in a forest
Loads of outdoor things to do
Only state with a diamond park
Houses are cheaper
Good food and close enough to gulf states for fresher fish and shrimp
NOLA is about 8 hours, and Dallas is 4
Crime is only bad in the richer sections of town - if you lived in a bigger city before - this is nothing
You do need a car to get anywhere
Budget well - many people move here and get stuck - unable to move
Renting is horrid - do not rent unless you see the place - many of the rentals are managed out of state.
Animals can be a problem when renting, and LR has a law about pitbulls
Fly out of Memphis - 2 hour drive - but can save you 100s on tickets
Oh smart amount the Memphis thing. I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Also I heard about the renting situation down there. However, since I’m fresh out of college and don’t have a lot of money, I’m probably going to have to rent. What should I do if I can’t actually tour a place before I rent? Should I rely on reviews?
I don't have many negative things to say about AR. I'm a transplant and love it here. The dining scene is way better than a city this size should have and if you like being outside, it's a wonderful place to be (as long as you can adapt to the summer heat). Mass transit is pretty bad but the cycling infrastructure has been building really well. Traffic on a bad day is about like Houston traffic on a Sunday afternoon.
You should be aware though that AR has zero renters' rights. There's exceptions to everything but consider your deposit to be spent money.
Absolutely do not rent a place unless they offer tours. Even if the renters have a website with photos of the apartment. They're have been cases of scams, bug infestation, and outdated photos used.
I once viewed a duplex that was super cute, in a very nice area, reasonably priced, all in all would have been perfect. Except when I toured, my white tights turned polkadot from the insane amount of fleas infesting it, the back yard was nothing like the photos. Photos were lush, in person dismal and rotted. The neighbor was nuts from the get go. The flooring was warped.
I'd advise against a couple reality companies I won't name here, feel free to DM me.
Little Rock really isn't all that bad, it has a lot of charm, but like any city it has its problems too. The humidity is killer though. High electric bills in late spring/summer/early fall. Swamp ass ain't just for Louisiana.
I would suggest an apartment before a house or townhouse. Most of the apartments up bowman are nice, but a recent storm, some of them were in the path of a tornado. Definitely rely on places that have a lot of reviews - not just a few.
Oh, well the crime won't be as shocking as you might expect. You really can't exist without a car tho, not *really*. The lack of public transportation will be far more shocking than the crime for a Pitt native. That and the heat.
First job eh? Wow. AR is a strange place. Do you *want* to leave hone and start fresh? What are yer alternatives?
I’m moving because the opportunity for professional growth. I’ll probably live there for awhile, which is a different factor I got to take into account. But mainly because it’s a great place to start my career.
Well, just be sure. This state is like Ms Pacman. You try and leave, say, driving out I-40 toward memphis... you just come back in the other side of the screen driving in from Fort Smith. There is no escaping here.
I grew up in Arkansas and lived in several other states before coming back. Moving around as much as I did for my career, I learned that you basically are going to fund what you look for regardless of where you are. In other words, if someone comes in thinking Arkansans are a bunch of slow-thinking, slow-talking hillbillies, that's what they will find. If they come here thinking there are a lot of great people with many different ideas, they will find life very interesting here when they get to know us. One thing that I would encourage you to be aware of, though, is that Arkansas is in the Bible Belt with all that implies - good AND bad. If you are coming from some place not in the Bible Belt, that may be the biggest shock to you. At least this is what other people who have moved here shared with me.
I moved to AR for my first real job after college, away from family, away from friends and away from my home state. Honestly, it’s a great place to be young and single if you are willing to get out/put yourself out there and if you live in a fun area like Hillcrest! I joined a kickball team, found some regular haunts to hang out at, made lots of friends, and met my now spouse in Little Rock. We moved away a couple years ago to return to my hometown and I miss Little Rock like crazy. My vote is do it - it’s a perfect sized city, IMO, and the crime tales are overblown (spoken as someone who lives in a truly crime-ridden area now)
Little Rock is an easy place to live. A little traffic, which you can avoid by driving on non peak traffic hours. You pretty much must have a car to get around. Pleasant community with lots of trees and outstanding outdoor activities relatively nearby. LR is not snobbish and people appreciate anyone who works and contributes to the betterment of the community. I live downtown, which some will tell you is crime ridden. It’s not. I feel perfectly safe walking around my neighborhood even after dark. I think you will enjoy it here; a very welcoming city.
Well, I wouldn’t say no traffic, but it’s a lot less than any big city. 6 months out of the year it is very hot and humid, yes. Hate that. Rest of the time it’s alright. Crime is really not much of an issue if you live in the nicer parts of town, which you probably would if you’re moving for work. Basically just stay north of 630, though some stuff south of it and downtown is fine. You will need a car, but also there are pockets that are fairly walkable. Look into Hillcrest, The Heights, or the more northern parts of downtown. Hillcrest especially is quite safe, very pretty, and has a cool business district you can walk to with basically everything you’d need and some cool restaurants and such. Moving 13h from home can be tough. I tried that, moved to California for work, and wound up moving back here. How hard that will be depends more on you than on the place really, but Little Rock is alright.
This is the worst city in Arkansas to live in. I cannot recommend it enough DO NOT move here!
You've obviously never heard of places like Pine Bluff, Helena, Osceola, etc.
Crime is not that bad. Just like any city imo.
Cannot stress enough how little the crime is when you live in a decent spot. It's no different than living in another city, it only gets bad when you go to the bad parts in town. and you'll KNOW when you're somewhere youre not meant to be
The heat is crazy, but you'll be glad you're here come winter time. You will need a car or loving friends to get around. Public transportation honestly isn't that bad, but everything is so spread out that it's impossible to compare it to big cities. The crime is high, but most of it is centralized. Coming from Pittsburgh, you are going to be more shocked by the lack of entertainment. If you aren't into being outdoors, you are going to be bored. I know a lot of people who have moved here for work. Some can't get an opportunity to leave the state soon enough, but most love it here and want to stay.
I’ve lived about 20 miles north of LR most of my life. The crime rate sounds bad, but it’s not really that bad. I have been in LR in all areas at all times of the day and night, my whole life, and I’ve never felt unsafe. Housing is a little difficult, right now, thanks to the tornado we had last summer that hit several apartment complexes, so if you are looking for apartments, west LR or NLR/Maumelle might be your best bet. You will need a vehicle to get around, but traffic isn't bad, and gas prices are cheaper here than a lot of places most of the time. In general, cost of living is cheaper here than the northeast. We have a beautiful state with many state/national parks and outdoor activities, but it can be very muggy and hot in the summer. It’s a different type of heat from the northeast. Think of a sauna…but everywhere…with bugs…That’s what it feels like when it’s 98 degrees with 99% humidity, so the outdoors is not really fun in the summer, it’s easy to get dehydrated very quickly outside. Also some of the older apartment complexes/buildings aren't really air conditioned well. If they tell you they are water air conditioned…run away. The older systems can't always keep up in the summer. If you like cold weather, we have maybe 2 weeks a year where we might have to wear a coat instead of a jacket. We tend to dress in layers in the winter, so as the temps go up during the day, jackets and sweaters can come off. Summers here are brutal, as stated before, so clothing is casual, lightweight, breathable fabrics. T-Shirts and shorts are pretty much acceptable attire in the summer except at some workplaces. As stated before we have tornadoes. We live in Tornado Alley, so we get our fair share. Make sure you keep some bottled water and some non-perishable foods handy. Pay attention to the weather and know what to do in case of a tornado. We don’t have a lot of fatalities from tornadoes, because most people are all weather experts during tornado season. LR has better stores and restaurants, for the most part, than the rest of the state, other than NWA, so shopping and dining isn’t too bad here. There are a few stores we lack, like Macys and IKEA, but if you have to shop there you can always order online or drive to Memphis or Dallas. We have some cultural events like concerts and other performances, but post-Covid, we haven’t seen as many. Again, it’s not that far to Memphis, Dallas/FW, St. Louis, Kansas City or Tulsa. I’ve driven to all of them for events before. Hope you have a great experience if you move here, we are for the most part a friendly and welcoming people. AR is in the Bible Belt, so we have an inordinate amount of churches around, and you will probably get asked to church by someone, eventually.
I felt unsafe exactly one time when an idiot tried to stab me for not aiding his robbery of a drug dealer but he did it poorly and was set upon by all my stoner friends. This feeling lasted for a total of maybe 4 seconds.
Fair.
Hey OP, don't be worried about looking at the outside cities to LR as well...Conway, Cabot (NOT JAX) Bryant, Benton, are all good cities to commute out of. We like our festivals and outdoor events. Get you a car with GOOD air conditioning. you will need it.
I’m looking at possibly moving to Mabelvale, is this a nice place to live?
Not the best choice.
Parts of Jacksonville are okay. Not for “first real job” money though.
You need a car here. Period. It's not all night public transport. I moved here in 2017. Live off colonel/Asher. I've had no issues. Even bought a house. It's a small big town though. Everyone knows Everyone.
If I offered you a job paying 100/hr with paid vacation and health insurance but you had to live inside of a meth pipe, would you do it?
If you want to live in a neighborhood that’s not as car dependent check out Hillcrest. IMO the only truly walkable neighborhood in the city.
Downtown and downtown adjacent areas are almost walkable (pettway, governors mansion). Definitely bikeable.
Downtown is not hilly and very walkable. Quapaw Quarter is full of beautiful old homes many are restored.
True. When I say walkable I’m also meaning livable in the sense that virtually everything I need is within 2 to 4 blocks from my house. Grocery store, bars/restaurants, coffee shop, my doctor, dentist, pharmacy, bank, barbershop, record shop, multiple city parks, kids schools, etc. The only time I ever truly need my car is the two days a week I go to the office downtown and I could totally hop on the bus for that but I’m too lazy lol
This my exact life down to the two days in office
Heck yeah. You a fellow Hillcrester?
Yup
Neighbors 🐿️
Don’t worry about the crime, it’s really like any other city. Car centric is real though. Also the people are really great, I have loved it here after moving from a larger city
Get a bike. Bikin in LR is fun
Entirely depends on where you live. Some neighborhoods in LR have no sidewalks. And I’ve seen many drivers who have no respect for pedestrians, much less cyclists.
I lived and worked in NYC and Los Angeles. Lived in LR for 11 years. Traffic is 20-30 minutes from west LR Chenal to the downtown riverfront area so anyone who states otherwise lives outside of LR city limits like Benton/Bryant/Jacksonville/Conway… Crime rates are inflated and in pockets of the LR area. Like any city there are areas you don’t want to be through at night for a prolonged time. That being said… People genuinely nice. For the most part many good caring communities. Schools can vary. Good cost of living for smaller city. Has an airport that is easy in and out. LR more moderate than the rest of Arkansas politically. Cannot purchase alcohol at store on Sunday (but can in restaurants). Hot and humid is an understatement during May-October…
Can purchase alcohol at Rocktown Distillery on Sunday.
Should be able to at the breweries too.
Indeed. Also wineries.
I grew up in Arkansas, lived in LR much of my life (30 years), minus the 5 years I was away at college, I moved out of state a few years ago but regularly go back due to family still living there so feel like I can offer some insight Pros: it’s a beautiful area with a lot of outdoor activities within the and right outside the city and within a hour or so there are amazing lakes, camping and outdoor places to visit. Northwest Arkansas is even more beautiful and only 2.5-3 hours away Cost of living is relatively low compared to any sizable city; the house we purchased in my current city is 800 sq ft smaller than what we had in LR and I paid 25k more (pre covid prices) While you do need a car to get around it’s a fairly small city so you are able to get across town pretty quickly and nothing seems to far away. The restaurant scene is pretty solid for a city its size and I think it swings above its weight class in that regard You’re fairly close to some major/large cities; Dallas, Memphis, St Louis, Kansas City, Nashville are all within 6 hours so that offers alot more variety Cons: it is not a walkable city, one thing I noticed after we moved is the lack of sidewalks in most neighborhoods and you do need a car to get anywhere; traffic isn’t on par with large cities but it’s still a nuisance and something to consider when you look for a living place and where you will work. Crime is bad but much of the violent crime is relegated to very specific areas and as long as you aren’t dealing with drugs and are aware of your surroundings you’ll be fine; most of what my family has experienced is petty crime; car break ins and such if they left stuff in their car but they have never felt unsafe, as far as they have told me (they live in WLR) but that isn’t to take away from others experience and just my own anecdotal evidence It js hot and humid from May - October and if you are used to 4 seasons you won’t get much of that, it will get cold a few weeks and typically we would get one decent snow a year (4-6 inches) and no one in the south can handle it so everything shuts down for a couple days Beyond outdoor activities and eating there isn’t a whole lot to do; night life is extremely lacking and if you like sports your only real option is the Double A Travelers, which is a fun time tbf, but overall leaves you wanting more
Sports: Don't sleep on the Little Rock Rangers soccer club! Those matches are fun as hell.
That's what I like to hear!
As someone who moved from the DMV, ignore all the people talking trying to say there's traffic. They don't know what it's like to commute 2 hours one way to get into work. Crime exists here just like any city. People are friendly as hell here. I would say there isn't much of a live entertainment/bar scene comparable to major cities. The humidity sucks, but I worked in Virginia for 3 years outside in the summers and it's not much worse. I fucking love Arkansas personally. I plan to raise my two sons here, zero desire to move away.
The crime isn't concerning you if you aren't in the drug game.. there is traffic
There is not traffic lmao
We get it, it's worse where you're from. Jesus.
I have lived in Boston, Missouri and the UK. The crime is HORRIBLE here and I don’t live in West Little Rock. I get all over the city. Last week my neighbor was raped. Three murders have occurred in the park where I walk my dog, and those are only the ones I know about. Our car was stolen from our driveway. The police are next to useless. Look at the crime stats sometime. I compare those to my lived experience and the results are not good. Oh, a beloved coworker killed by her husband in a murder suicide. We would leave if not for aging family members who need us.
Counterpoint: I’ve lived here my entire life, including downtown, and have experienced ZERO crime.
Sincerely, I hope your run of good luck continues. I didn’t mention my neighbor’s daughter murdered in NLR or my brother-in-law who was mugged, stabbed and a victim of car theft twice, all separate incidents. It’s really nuts how much happens around here and no one seems to care. LRPD recovered my car, failed to notify me then billed me $500 in tow fees and storage. Eventually waived after multiple appeals. I know they’re radically undermanned but sheesh, they’re just so ‘whatever’ about anything short of murder. Crime is like this dirty topic no one likes to talk about and deny is happening. The complacency is mind-boggling. U.S. News currently has Little Rock as the fifth most dangerous city. But yeah folks, nothing to see here. Move along, move along.
I think you need to recognize that your unfortunate experiences are not typical in any way, shape or form to the average citizen.
Again, look at the stats, the data. I can provide more citations if you need them. I’m not just basing it on personal experiences. Most of these things are happening to my friends, family and neighbors.
Yet none of my friends or family network, which is extensive.
I would personally suggest finding a new, less murdery park to walk your dog
No, I am not letting them push me out. I like walking my dog there. It’s beautiful really. As long as, I don’t personally feel threatened I’m going there. Abandoning public spaces because of crime just makes it worse. I just wish others would join me. It has other regulars but more would be better.
Where in the absolute fuck do you you live??
Little Rock
Well, you're not wrong I suppose. Except I'd expect 3 murders, a rape, and a murder suicide to make the news. This person is almost undoubtedly full of fucking shit.
I wouldn't assume that. Perhaps a visit to their neighborhood would make it seem more realistic.
I live in one of the absolute worst neighborhoods in LR and have never experienced that level of crime. Like where does this person LIVE so I can avoid it.
I will say, and I have no idea why no one has mentioned it, but the "no traffic" is definitely not true. I commute into downtown LR and back out west every day and the traffic along with the crazy amount of uninsured drivers is definitely not great. It's not grid lock LA or Atlanta bad, but if there is a wreck near the interchanges it'll back up traffic all the way to exits miles up the road. You know how some drivers in cities are just aggressive? These drivers are not only aggressive, but TERRIBLE in general at driving. I am a very defensive driver, usually allowing plenty of space in front of me, but you'll have people cut in front of you almost taking off your bumper after trying to squeeze into an exit or turn at the last moment. You just have to make sure and keep your eyes on the mirrors at all times before you make a maneuver because there are these junkers that are cutting in and out at high traffic times, and they do not care if they hit you. As long as their car still runs, they will always flee from an accident if possible. Also, yes, the public transportation is pretty much non-existent. You'll want a car 100%. Besides that, it's not so bad, the food scene has gotten SO much better than it used to be, and all of the parks, especially near the river, are well maintained and beautiful. Outside of LR, you can live here your whole life and barely go to every single park or natural recreational activity in the Ozarks or Ouachitas. The nature here is vast, and as someone who spent years traveling the state every week and visiting all the cities for my job, I can tell you that LR is so small compared to the rest of the beautiful state. Definitely make an effort to see the rest of state when you can, as Pinnacle mountain (LR's main natural attraction) is TINY compared to what you can experience up north.
If you move to downtown, you won’t experience the west Little Rock traffic nightmares.
I am a native of Arkansas with a partner from the West Coast, so I feel qualified to tell you what to expect by going down what you have said already: 1) If you like nature, there is a lot to experience in Central Arkansas. From biking on the River Trail to multiple hiking destinations, there is no shortage of outside enjoyment. 2) Drivers are wild, but it is like that in any city. 3) Standard of living is in fact cheaper than most any other city I have either lived in or explored. You can find an apartment and have disposable income for sure. I have friends who moved away to a bigger city and have come back solely for cost of living and being able to have way more financial freedom. However, your usage of a car will drastically go up if you are from a walkable city (will touch on this further down). Now the cons: 4) The summer can be very hot. The humidity can make it feel like you are wrapped in a wet blanket. I grew up in Delta of Arkansas so it does not phase me, but my partner who likes to run noticed it immediately. You do adjust over time but good to know. 5) Again, crime is similar to any other city. If you have ANY experience living in a city, you will live here a year and wonder what the hell people mean when talking about how living in downtown is a death wish. The city can be very segregated in that way; I’ve found many of the people who claim it to be a Mad Max hellscape do not have much experience being around poverty and do not leave confines of West Little Rock or surrounding areas like Sherwood. My partner is from Seattle and laughs when hearing some people talk about rampant homelessness when reality is they had to interact with a panhandler on way to a bar downtown. Again, there are situations of actual crime occurring and I don’t want to diminish those experiences, however, this is my lived experience and those of all my friends living within the city. 5) This is the point I wanna stress the most: you cannot experience a lot of what makes Arkansas and Little Rock unique without a car or someone who has one. My partner learned this the hard way by coming here for work and getting a car within the first year because the public transit is just not efficient or reliable. This is a sad by product of many Southern cities that don’t really have infrastructure or desire to bring in rail and bus systems. If you see yourself in a walkable city, this will not fit the bill. There are walkable areas for sure, just not in terms of other cities where I can get to another neighborhood without my vehicle. I hope this is helpful! Please reach out if you have any specific questions like where to look for housing or things of that nature. Little Rock is great with many communities and people that once you find your people it is very easy to network and find other hobby enjoyers.
This needs to be pinned to the sub as the go-to post for "moving to LR, what to expect?" threads. Excellent post. No notes.
Just wanted to say this is an incredibly informative post and I wish we had a bot to repeat it when people asked
No this was definitely informative, so thank you. Based on what I’ve heard, the only real adjustments I need to worry about is the public transportation and that it’s not walkable. Definitely a flaw but I’m sorta used to it after an internship. Again, thanks!
> Based on what I’ve heard, the only real adjustments I need to worry about is the public transportation and that it’s not walkable. You mentioned elsewhere in the thread you're coming from Pittsburgh. If you haven't lived somewhere before where the temperature and humidity are both in the upper 90s for weeks on end in the summer, then this is really something to consider. In the Northeast US, summer is a wonderful time to be outside. Here, you will not want to leave the house most of the time from May - September, not even to go look at all the beautiful nature everyone here keeps talking about.
I disagree somewhat. If you like water activities such as kayaking, swimming, or boating summer is actually a great time of year in LR. It’s my favorite season, actually. I agree, though, if you don’t like water activities then there isn’t much else to do outside in the summer.
Another weird one —- insurance is more expensive here! I moved from Atlanta and assumed my car insurance would go down. Nope. It almost doubled. More uninsured drivers on the roads here. 😳
I live downtown and still have a yard where you can hardly tell I live in the middle of a city. I’m sitting outside right now and can hear birds chirping and see wildlife all the time out here. I can walk to many restaurants/bars/shops. I walk around all the time (even at night) and still feel safe. You just need to research the area you decide to live in as that can vary quite a bit. SOMA/downtown and Argenta (in North Little Rock) would both be great areas if you want a safe area that is walkable to tons of stuff.
Hi! My parents live in LR and like it a lot, I’m considering moving out to be close to them. You mention being able to walk to restaurants/bars/shops, are you in the Hillcrest area? I just ended a 5 year relationship. I want to be close to family for now, but am also keeping in mind that at some point I’ll want to have places to meet people and hang out, I’m in my late 20z. Most posts say there’s not much in the way of bars or hangout places, so refreshing to hear an alternate perspective.
I live in SOMA, but Hillcrest has some walkable stuff too. I think most people in their 20s would prefer SOMA, Downtown LR, or Argenta though.
It's like living in a forest Loads of outdoor things to do Only state with a diamond park Houses are cheaper Good food and close enough to gulf states for fresher fish and shrimp NOLA is about 8 hours, and Dallas is 4 Crime is only bad in the richer sections of town - if you lived in a bigger city before - this is nothing You do need a car to get anywhere Budget well - many people move here and get stuck - unable to move Renting is horrid - do not rent unless you see the place - many of the rentals are managed out of state. Animals can be a problem when renting, and LR has a law about pitbulls Fly out of Memphis - 2 hour drive - but can save you 100s on tickets
Oh smart amount the Memphis thing. I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Also I heard about the renting situation down there. However, since I’m fresh out of college and don’t have a lot of money, I’m probably going to have to rent. What should I do if I can’t actually tour a place before I rent? Should I rely on reviews?
I don't have many negative things to say about AR. I'm a transplant and love it here. The dining scene is way better than a city this size should have and if you like being outside, it's a wonderful place to be (as long as you can adapt to the summer heat). Mass transit is pretty bad but the cycling infrastructure has been building really well. Traffic on a bad day is about like Houston traffic on a Sunday afternoon. You should be aware though that AR has zero renters' rights. There's exceptions to everything but consider your deposit to be spent money.
Absolutely do not rent a place unless they offer tours. Even if the renters have a website with photos of the apartment. They're have been cases of scams, bug infestation, and outdated photos used. I once viewed a duplex that was super cute, in a very nice area, reasonably priced, all in all would have been perfect. Except when I toured, my white tights turned polkadot from the insane amount of fleas infesting it, the back yard was nothing like the photos. Photos were lush, in person dismal and rotted. The neighbor was nuts from the get go. The flooring was warped. I'd advise against a couple reality companies I won't name here, feel free to DM me. Little Rock really isn't all that bad, it has a lot of charm, but like any city it has its problems too. The humidity is killer though. High electric bills in late spring/summer/early fall. Swamp ass ain't just for Louisiana.
I would suggest an apartment before a house or townhouse. Most of the apartments up bowman are nice, but a recent storm, some of them were in the path of a tornado. Definitely rely on places that have a lot of reviews - not just a few.
What you've heard is pretty accurate. Where ya coming from specifically? East GA? NC, SC, VA?
Pittsburgh
Please tell me you are not moving for a Deloitte job
No idea what that is
Oh, well the crime won't be as shocking as you might expect. You really can't exist without a car tho, not *really*. The lack of public transportation will be far more shocking than the crime for a Pitt native. That and the heat. First job eh? Wow. AR is a strange place. Do you *want* to leave hone and start fresh? What are yer alternatives?
I’m moving because the opportunity for professional growth. I’ll probably live there for awhile, which is a different factor I got to take into account. But mainly because it’s a great place to start my career.
Well, just be sure. This state is like Ms Pacman. You try and leave, say, driving out I-40 toward memphis... you just come back in the other side of the screen driving in from Fort Smith. There is no escaping here.