City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Henderson is cheaper. Median rent is $1,824 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 127 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $1,824 in Henderson.
Henderson is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Henderson is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Henderson has rougher pockets and Aurora has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Aurora and Henderson are 609 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,824 a month in Henderson, down $11 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $90,138 in Henderson, up $1,770 (2%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 85 in Henderson, down 127 points (60%).
The move
Henderson and Aurora are 609 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $11 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $88,368 in Aurora, down $1,770 (2%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 212 in Aurora, up 127 points (149%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Henderson, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Henderson rent is 1% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Henderson
Winner$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,824 a month in Henderson versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Henderson is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $11, or $132 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Henderson's median income is 2% higher than Aurora
Aurora
$88,368
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $88,368 in Aurora, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Henderson (about $1,770 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
60% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 60% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% lower in Henderson. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Henderson is the easier city. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Henderson weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
Henderson
Winner74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. Henderson sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Henderson scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Aurora if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Aurora
On these five categories Henderson takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Aurora because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Aurora only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Henderson is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,824 a month. Choose Henderson if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($90,138), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Henderson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 60% lower than Aurora (85 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Henderson scores 65/100 versus 37/100 in Aurora. Typical rent is the same $1,824/month in both cities, so you are choosing streets and blocks, not a cheaper lease.
Median income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $88,368 in Aurora — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Between Aurora and Henderson, Henderson is ahead on safety — 65/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean Aurora instead when you already know the Aurora block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Aurora and 74°F in Henderson.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Henderson, plus other cities in CO and NV.
