City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Portland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,655 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where Portland and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 180 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland and $1,824 in Henderson.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Portland is the easier city on typical rent, but Henderson can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Henderson has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Portland and Henderson are 768 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $169 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $90,138 in Henderson, down $781 (1%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 85 in Henderson, down 180 points (68%).
The move
Henderson and Portland are 768 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,655 a month in Portland, down $169 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $90,919 in Portland, up $781 (1%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 265 in Portland, up 180 points (212%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Portland rent is 9% cheaper than Henderson
Portland
Winner$1,655/mo
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,655 a month in Portland versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Portland is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $169, or $2,028 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 Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Portland's median income is 1% higher than Henderson
Portland
Winner$90,919
Henderson
$90,138
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $90,138 in Henderson, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Portland (about $781 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
68% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 68% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Henderson weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Henderson
Winner74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Henderson sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Henderson scores 16% 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 Portland 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
Portland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 9% cheaper here at about $1,655 a month. Choose Portland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland 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
Pick Henderson if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Henderson is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Henderson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 68% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland, with typical rent at $1,824 versus $1,655. I would vet the exact ZIP in Portland before trading 35 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (65/100 in Henderson vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,655 in Portland and $1,824 in Henderson.
If safety drives your move, Henderson is the stronger match (65/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Portland, treat $1,655/month rent and $90,919 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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