City comparison
Yes. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 233 in Stockton, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Stockton is cheaper. Median rent is $1,577 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where Henderson and Stockton split most clearly. Henderson scores 148 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 $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. Henderson wins on the job market and safety and Stockton wins on cost of living. 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. Henderson has rougher pockets and Stockton has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Henderson and Stockton are 372 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,577 a month in Stockton, down $247 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $79,907 in Stockton, down $10,231 (11%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 233 in Stockton, up 148 points (174%).
The move
Stockton and Henderson are 372 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $247 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $90,138 in Henderson, up $10,231 (13%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 85 in Henderson, down 148 points (64%).
Henderson, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Henderson and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Stockton rent is 14% cheaper than Henderson
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Stockton
Winner$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,577 a month in Stockton versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Stockton 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 $2,964, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Stockton still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Henderson.
Planning to buy in Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
13% higher
Henderson's median income is 13% higher than Stockton
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Stockton
$79,907
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $79,907 in Stockton, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Henderson (about $10,231 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. Stockton can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
64% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 64% lower than Stockton
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Stockton
233 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 233 in Stockton (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Stockton 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
Henderson
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Henderson sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°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
Henderson is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($90,138). Start with Henderson if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Henderson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 64% lower than Stockton (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 Stockton
Stockton is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,577 a month. Choose Stockton if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Stockton carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 65/100 in Henderson). That 31-point spread matters more than the $247 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Henderson still pays more locally ($90,138 median income vs $79,907), which can offset the lease if your field pays Henderson rates.
Median income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $79,907 in Stockton.
If safety drives your move, Henderson is the stronger match (65/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Stockton, treat $1,577/month rent and $79,907 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Henderson and Stockton, plus other cities in NV and CA.
