City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Henderson is cheaper. Median rent is $1,824 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Safety is where Los Angeles and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 73 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,824 in Henderson.
Henderson is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Los Angeles 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 crime gap is citywide. Henderson has rougher pockets and Los Angeles has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Los Angeles and Henderson are 230 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,824 a month in Henderson, down $109 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $90,138 in Henderson, up $8,199 (10%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 85 in Henderson, down 73 points (46%).
The move
Henderson and Los Angeles are 230 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $109 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $81,939 in Los Angeles, down $8,199 (9%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 158 in Los Angeles, up 73 points (86%).
Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Henderson rent is 6% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Henderson
Winner$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,824 a month in Henderson versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Henderson is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $109, or $1,308 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Henderson's median income is 10% higher than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$81,939
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $81,939 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Henderson (about $8,199 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
46% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 46% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Los Angeles can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Henderson are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 77°F (83°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 77°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 Los Angeles
On these five categories Henderson takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Los Angeles because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Los Angeles only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Henderson is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,824 a month. Choose Henderson if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Henderson is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% 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 46% lower than Los Angeles (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 46/100 in Los Angeles). Typical rent is $1,824 in Henderson and $1,933 in Los Angeles; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $109 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,824 in Henderson and $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Between Los Angeles and Henderson, Henderson is ahead on safety — 65/100 safety versus 46/100. Lean Los Angeles instead when you already know the Los Angeles 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
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