City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Henderson.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where New Orleans and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 265 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,824 in Henderson.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans 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. New Orleans at $1,251 average has pockets that run $1,051 and others at $1,651: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
New Orleans and Henderson are 1,499 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $573 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $90,138 in Henderson, up $33,507 (59%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 85 in Henderson, down 265 points (76%).
The move
Henderson and New Orleans are 1,499 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $573 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $33,507 (37%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 350 in New Orleans, up 265 points (312%).
New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 31% cheaper than Henderson
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,824 in Henderson, so New Orleans is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $573/month back in your pocket ($6,876/year). Over five years that's $34,380 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, New Orleans 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
59% higher
Henderson's median income is 59% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 59% higher in Henderson (about $33,507 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. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
76% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 76% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 76% 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. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
New Orleans and Henderson are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°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 New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans 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 59% 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 76% lower than New Orleans (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
Safety is the widest gap: Henderson scores 65/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,824/month in Henderson and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Henderson's $1,824, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,824 in Henderson.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Henderson; New Orleans only makes sense when you have walked the New Orleans ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,251 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Henderson when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Henderson, plus other cities in LA and NV.
