City comparison
No. North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 110 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
North Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,705 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Safety is where Austin and North Las Vegas split most clearly. North Las Vegas scores 52 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,729 in Austin and $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and North Las Vegas wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. North Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Austin has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Austin and North Las Vegas are 1,083 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas, down $24 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $79,542 in North Las Vegas, down $14,116 (15%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 110 in North Las Vegas, down 52 points (32%).
The move
North Las Vegas and Austin are 1,083 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $24 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $79,542 in North Las Vegas to $93,658 in Austin, up $14,116 (18%).
The crime index goes from 110 in North Las Vegas to 162 in Austin, up 52 points (47%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
North Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
North Las Vegas rent is 1% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
North Las Vegas
Winner$1,705/mo
Typical rent runs $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas versus $1,729 in Austin, so North Las Vegas is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $24, or $288 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 North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Austin's median income is 18% higher than North Las Vegas
Austin
Winner$93,658
North Las Vegas
$79,542
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $79,542 in North Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Austin (about $14,116 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. North Las Vegas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
32% lower crime
North Las Vegas's crime index is 32% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas
Winner110 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 32% lower in North Las Vegas. 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, North Las Vegas is the easier city. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and North Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
North Las Vegas
76°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); North Las Vegas averages about 76°F (82°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. North Las Vegas sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
North Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,705 a month. Choose North Las Vegas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
North Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 32% lower than Austin (110 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
Crime and safety tilt toward North Las Vegas: North Las Vegas scores 57/100 versus 45/100 in Austin, with matched rent near $1,705/month. I would vet the exact ZIP in Austin before trading 12 safety points for an identical lease.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $79,542 in North Las Vegas — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
North Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Austin deserves a serious look only when you already know the Austin block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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