City comparison
No. North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 110 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
Safety is where Houston and North Las Vegas split most clearly. North Las Vegas scores 160 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 $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and North 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 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 North Las Vegas are 1,225 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas, up $344 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $79,542 in North Las Vegas, up $14,729 (23%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 110 in North Las Vegas, down 160 points (59%).
The move
North Las Vegas and Houston are 1,225 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $344 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $79,542 in North Las Vegas to $64,813 in Houston, down $14,729 (19%).
The crime index goes from 110 in North Las Vegas to 270 in Houston, up 160 points (145%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
North Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Houston rent is 20% cheaper than North Las Vegas
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
North Las Vegas
$1,705/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas, so Houston is 20% 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 $4,128, 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 North Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
North Las Vegas's median income is 23% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
North Las Vegas
Winner$79,542
Median household income is $79,542 in North Las Vegas versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 23% higher in North Las Vegas (about $14,729 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, North 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
59% lower crime
North Las Vegas's crime index is 59% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas
Winner110 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in North 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, North 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 North Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
North Las Vegas
76°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); North Las Vegas averages about 76°F (82°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. North Las Vegas sits near 76°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 20% 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
North Las Vegas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($79,542). Start with North Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
North 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 59% lower than Houston (110 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
Houston carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 57/100 in North Las Vegas). That 27-point spread matters more than the $344 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
North Las Vegas still pays more locally ($79,542 median income vs $64,813), which can offset the lease if your field pays North Las Vegas rates.
Median income is $79,542 in North Las Vegas versus $64,813 in Houston.
Pick North Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (57/100). Otherwise, Houston's case rests on a Houston ZIP you trust at $1,361 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and North Las Vegas, plus other cities in TX and NV.
