City comparison
No. North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 110 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
North Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,705 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Oakland and North Las Vegas split most clearly. North Las Vegas scores 324 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,979 in Oakland and $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
North Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Oakland makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone North Las Vegas is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. North Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Oakland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oakland and North Las Vegas are 410 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas, down $274 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $79,542 in North Las Vegas, down $22,058 (22%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 110 in North Las Vegas, down 324 points (75%).
The move
North Las Vegas and Oakland are 410 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $274 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,542 in North Las Vegas to $101,600 in Oakland, up $22,058 (28%).
The crime index goes from 110 in North Las Vegas to 434 in Oakland, up 324 points (295%).
Oakland, CA
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 Oakland and North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
North Las Vegas rent is 14% cheaper than Oakland
Oakland
$1,979/mo
North Las Vegas
Winner$1,705/mo
Typical rent runs $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas versus $1,979 in Oakland, so North Las Vegas is 14% 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 $3,288, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. North Las Vegas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Oakland.
Planning to buy in North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Oakland's median income is 28% higher than North Las Vegas
Oakland
Winner$101,600
North Las Vegas
$79,542
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $79,542 in North Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Oakland (about $22,058 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, Oakland is the stronger labor market on paper. North Las Vegas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
75% lower crime
North Las Vegas's crime index is 75% lower than Oakland
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas
Winner110 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% 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. Oakland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
North Las Vegas weather is 6% more comfortable than Oakland
Oakland
63°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 94/100
North Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland averages about 63°F (75°F highs); North Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs). Oakland averages around 63°F. North Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. North Las Vegas scores 6% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Oakland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
North Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,705 a month. Choose North Las Vegas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick North Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (71°F) beat Oakland on this page's weather index by 6%. Oakland may pay more or cost less, but North Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 75% lower than Oakland (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
Crime and safety tilt toward North Las Vegas: North Las Vegas scores 57/100 versus 15/100 in Oakland, with typical rent at $1,705 versus $1,979. I would vet the exact ZIP in Oakland before trading 42 safety points for housing savings.
North Las Vegas rent at $1,705/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,705 in North Las Vegas and $1,979 in Oakland.
North Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oakland deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oakland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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