City comparison
Henderson is safer than Memphis. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where Memphis and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 410 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis and $1,824 in Henderson.
This is a genuine split. Memphis 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Henderson are 1,398 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $643 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $90,138 in Henderson, up $38,402 (74%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 85 in Henderson, down 410 points (83%).
The move
Henderson and Memphis are 1,398 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $643 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $51,736 in Memphis, down $38,402 (43%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 495 in Memphis, up 410 points (482%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Memphis rent is 35% cheaper than Henderson
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Memphis is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $643/month back in your pocket ($7,716/year). Over five years that's $38,580 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, Memphis 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
74% higher
Henderson's median income is 74% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 74% higher in Henderson (about $38,402 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
83% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 83% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 83% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Memphis and Henderson are about even on typical weather.
Memphis
69°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 69°F (80°F highs); Henderson averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Memphis sits near 69°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Henderson sits near 73°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 Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 35% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis 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 74% 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 83% lower than Memphis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Henderson: Henderson scores 65/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,824 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 54 safety points for housing savings.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Henderson's $1,824, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,824 in Henderson.
Pick Henderson when you want the stronger safety signal (65/100). Otherwise, Memphis's case rests on a Memphis ZIP you trust at $1,181 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 Memphis and Henderson, plus other cities in TN and NV.
