Moving from San Diego to Little Rock? (North Little Rock, Fayetteville: home, job)

[mysch]

My wife and I are considering a move cross country from San Diego, CA to Little Rock, AR. We are both originally from farm country in southern Missouri/downstate Illinois. But, we have been in San Diego for over eight years. So, we don't know the midsouth that well. In fact, is AR considered midsouth or midwest?

We have three small kids. What is Little Rock and Arkansas offer for small families? Is it a good place to raise a family? Is crime a major issue? How are the schools? What areas/neighborhoods would suggest that we look at? We are looking for a slower pace, and friendlier neighbors in a moderate climate. Are we on the right track?

[Crackerjack]

Mysch, you might look into the Springfield, Missouri area. It is a nice area and my relatives from San Diego moved there and love it. As far as moderate climate, I don't think it fits here. Arkansas and Missouri both are very hot in the summer with lots of humidity and the winter it does get cold but not like the cold in the North. They had to get out of San Diego due to all the gangs coming in there and even had gunshots go through their window and had to put mattresses up in their living room window so the bullets would hit it and not them. It got too much for them and they fled San Diego to Springfield, Missouri and love it. Also a lot of Californians are moving there so you would fit in better.

[fishman]

Arkansas is ok. No crime in this little town I live in.

[Rocky8Bear]

There are some nice areas just outside Little Rock. Little Rock itself has seen a rise in crime this year- especially the murder rate. I agree that Southern Missouri would probably be a better area.

[wlynn]

North Little Rock would probably be the best area if you are set on Little Rock. I agree that Springfield is much nicer. You might look into the Springdale/Fayetteville area it's in the northwest corner of Arkansas.

[robinbird]

If you are looking to move near Little Rock I think that Maumelle is a nice little town, just close enough to Little Rock, and far enough out, to make it a much safer place to live! You might google it on the map, and see what little towns are around Little Rock, but in my opinion, going toward Conway is the safest place to go from Little Rock.....between the two.
Northwest Arkansas is booming, but unless you can speak at least English and Spanish, it isn't the place to try to find a job.......You gotta speak at least those two, up there.
NW Arkansas has over 50 languages now spoken there.......schools have a hard time there, teaching, with so many......I think Arkansas is a great place to live, and there are friendly people everywhere, and really.........if you like people where you came from, you will like people where you go. It really makes a difference which attitude you move with.

[Nicole0000]

Our family moved to Little Rock from Los Angeles due to my husband's job change and I actually think that we have seen more crime in this city than back home in L.A. The schools consist mainly of African Americans(I'm not racist) but my kids were complaining about being one of the only white kids in their classes making it harder to make friends and such. I know Arkansas in general ranked the 15th most dangerous state to live in this year(which is very sad considering its small population) I really suggest you move to Missouri but if not, West Little Rock is ok and so is some sourrounding areas such as Maumelle. We now live back in California but I would never want to move back to LR.
P.S. Arkansas is considered the midsouth

[ajf131]

Missouri is considered Midwestern. Arkansas is considered the Mid-south, and generally I agree with this statement. while both tend to get hot in the summers, for Springfield, Missouri the weather pretty much resembles Arkansas in the summer but Missouri generally is much colder than Arkansas in the winter and gets more snow. up here in St. Louis the winters easily can get as cold as areas like Chicago and winters are generally typical of the lower Midwest. Overall, if you want less severe winters, Arkansas would be a better choice I think than Southern Missouri. Many winter storms can start in the southwest generally in the texas panhandle, move northeast through Oklahoma and then into Kansas and Missouri kind of in a path roughly paralleling Interstate 44. Basically, usually only the northwest corners of Arkansas take a beating from the occasional snowstorm if even that. Missouri yes can get very hot summers. I have visited Arkansas many times in the summer it is scorchingly hot, noticeably hotter than Missouri. I guess take your pick. if you want more diversity in weather and less severe summers, choose Arkansas. If you want the least possible bad winters, Arkansas beats Missouri.

[eric1]

I have lived in Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas, I would have to say that Little Rock is a great place to live. Sure there is crime here, just like every other city, it all depends on where you live and go. I moved back to Little Rock 10 years ago and havent looked back since. I am a Residential Appraiser here so if you have any questions about neighborhoods pm me and I will try and help.

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by Rocky8Bear

There are some nice areas just outside Little Rock. Little Rock itself has seen a rise in crime this year- especially the murder rate. I agree that Southern Missouri would probably be a better area.

Take a closer look at those murder stats....I believe only one was a "stranger" killing....it's like anywhere else, the dopers and low-lifes kill each other off - personal crimes against people who are known to them.

Actually, Little Rock has an EXCELLENT police chief and the department is highly accredited and is winning a national award for compliance that the chief will accept in Norway later this month at an international convention sponsored by the FBI. The chief is a 25+ year veteran of the department and is striving hard to turn things around, but unless you have an officer in everyone's living room, unfortunately you can't stop stupidity.

We chose not to live in Little Rock because it was just to "fast" for us and are now in the River Valley after 45 years in Little Rock. If you took the state and cut it into quarters, I would definitely say the left top is the most beautiful. I personally love the delta, but not everyone can handle it all the time.

What kind of work are you looking for? I'm sorry, I might have missed that...but that might have a huge bearing on where to relocate to, as well as the school system for the ages of your children.