City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 85 in Henderson, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 72, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Henderson is cheaper. Median rent is $1,824 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where Henderson and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 38 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,824 in Henderson and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. Henderson wins on cost of living and Gilbert wins on the job market 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. Gilbert has rougher pockets and Henderson has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Henderson and Gilbert are 260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $286 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $32,413 (36%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 47 in Gilbert, down 38 points (45%).
The move
Gilbert and Henderson are 260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,824 a month in Henderson, down $286 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $90,138 in Henderson, down $32,413 (26%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 85 in Henderson, up 38 points (81%).
Henderson, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Henderson and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Henderson rent is 14% cheaper than Gilbert
Henderson
Winner$1,824/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,824 a month in Henderson versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so Henderson is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,432, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Henderson still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Gilbert.
Planning to buy in Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
36% higher
Gilbert's median income is 36% higher than Henderson
Henderson
$90,138
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $90,138 in Henderson, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Gilbert (about $32,413 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, Gilbert is the stronger labor market on paper. Henderson can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 45% lower than Henderson
Henderson
85 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 85 in Henderson (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert is the easier city. Henderson can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Henderson and Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
Henderson
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). Henderson sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Henderson
Henderson is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 36% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Henderson (47 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Gilbert leads on safety (83/100 vs 65/100 in Henderson). Typical rent is $2,110 in Gilbert and $1,824 in Henderson; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Henderson rent at $1,824/month is still below Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,824 in Henderson and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Gilbert; Henderson only makes sense when you have walked the Henderson ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,824 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Henderson and Gilbert, plus other cities in NV and AZ.
