City comparison
Yes. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 91 in Madison, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 68, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Madison is cheaper. Median rent is $1,413 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Henderson and Madison. Henderson averages 74°F while Madison averages 52°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,824 versus $1,413.
Henderson is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Madison 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Madison at $1,413 average has pockets that run $1,213 and others at $1,813: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Henderson and Madison are 1,440 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,413 a month in Madison, down $411 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $78,050 in Madison, down $12,088 (13%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 91 in Madison, up 6 points (7%).
The move
Madison and Henderson are 1,440 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,413 a month in Madison to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $411 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $78,050 in Madison to $90,138 in Henderson, up $12,088 (15%).
The crime index goes from 91 in Madison to 85 in Henderson, down 6 points (7%).
Henderson, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Madison, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Henderson and Madison? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Madison rent is 23% cheaper than Henderson
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Madison
Winner$1,413/mo
Typical rent runs $1,413 a month in Madison versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Madison is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $411/month back in your pocket ($4,932/year). Over five years that's $24,660 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Henderson, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Madison is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Henderson's median income is 15% higher than Madison
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Madison
$78,050
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $78,050 in Madison, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Henderson (about $12,088 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, Henderson is the stronger labor market on paper. Madison can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
7% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 7% lower than Madison
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Madison
91 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 91 in Madison (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Henderson. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Henderson, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Madison. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Henderson weather is 56% more comfortable than Madison
Henderson
Winner74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Madison
52°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 64/100
Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs); Madison averages about 52°F (62°F highs). Henderson sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Madison averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Henderson scores 56% 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 Madison if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 15% 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 7% lower than Madison (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Madison
Madison is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,413 a month. Choose Madison if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Henderson runs 74°F typical weather against 52°F in Madison (comfort scores 100 vs 64). Housing is $1,824/month versus $1,413/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Henderson still pays more locally ($90,138 median income vs $78,050), which can offset the lease if your field pays Henderson rates.
Median income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $78,050 in Madison.
Madison clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Henderson deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 74°F than optimize for Madison's comfort score.
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