City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Houston and Las Vegas split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 132 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 $1,563 in Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Las Vegas 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. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Las Vegas are 1,226 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $202 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $9,064 (14%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 138 in Las Vegas, down 132 points (49%).
The move
Las Vegas and Houston are 1,226 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $202 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $64,813 in Houston, down $9,064 (12%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 270 in Houston, up 132 points (96%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Houston rent is 13% cheaper than Las Vegas
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Houston is 13% 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 $2,424, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Houston still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 14% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Las Vegas (about $9,064 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, Las Vegas 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
49% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 49% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% lower in 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, Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Houston
77°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 77°F (85°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Houston sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas 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 13% 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
Las Vegas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($73,877). Start with Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 49% lower than Houston (138 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 Las Vegas: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 30/100 in Houston, with typical rent at $1,563 versus $1,361. I would vet the exact ZIP in Houston before trading 20 safety points for housing savings.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Median income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $64,813 in Houston.
Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Houston deserves a serious look only when you already know the Houston block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and Las Vegas, plus other cities in TX and NV.
