North Little Rock, AR vs Little Rock, AR
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Little Rock, AR and North Little Rock, AR spend within 2.4% of each other per resident — $17,625 versus $17,205 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Little Rock, AR holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 66/100 (grade B) for North Little Rock, AR — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Neither city reports outstanding debt per resident in its current Census filing, which removes debt service as a point of difference between them. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in North Little Rock, AR at $1,829 per resident and in Little Rock, AR at $2,054.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in North Little Rock, AR at 37% of total revenue, whereas Little Rock, AR relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 25%.
Summary
Little Rock spends 2.4% more per capita than North Little Rock ($420/person difference). Little Rock, AR has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $1 |
| Sales Tax | $318 | $1,239 |
| Income Tax | $218 | $1,234 |
| Intergovernmental | $910 | $5,965 |
| Other | $4,250 | $5,700 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $273 | $521 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $55 |
| Education | $23 | $39 |
| Public Welfare | $1,282 | $986 |
| Health | $532 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $46 | $427 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,829 | $2,054 |
| Housing | $4,197 | $3,902 |
| Sewerage | $195 | $82 |
| Utilities | $926 | $1,001 |
| Other | $7,901 | $8,558 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.