City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where Houston and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 185 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,824 in Henderson.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Henderson 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Houston at $1,361 average has pockets that run $1,161 and others at $1,761: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Houston and Henderson are 1,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $463 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $90,138 in Henderson, up $25,325 (39%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 85 in Henderson, down 185 points (69%).
The move
Henderson and Houston are 1,215 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $463 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $64,813 in Houston, down $25,325 (28%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 270 in Houston, up 185 points (218%).
Houston, TX
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 Houston and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Houston rent is 25% cheaper than Henderson
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Houston is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $463/month back in your pocket ($5,556/year). Over five years that's $27,780 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, Houston 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
39% higher
Henderson's median income is 39% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 39% higher in Henderson (about $25,325 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. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
69% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 69% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% 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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Henderson are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Henderson sits near 74°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 Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston 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
Henderson is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 39% 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 69% lower than Houston (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Henderson leads on safety (65/100 vs 30/100 in Houston). Typical rent is $1,824 in Henderson and $1,361 in Houston; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Henderson's $1,824, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,824 in Henderson.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Henderson; Houston only makes sense when you have walked the Houston ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Henderson when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Henderson, plus other cities in TX and NV.
