City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where Raleigh and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 57 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,824 in Henderson.
Henderson is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Raleigh 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 Raleigh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Raleigh and Henderson are 2,022 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $252 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $90,138 in Henderson, up $4,743 (6%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 85 in Henderson, down 57 points (40%).
The move
Henderson and Raleigh are 2,022 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $252 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $4,743 (5%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 142 in Raleigh, up 57 points (67%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 14% cheaper than Henderson
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Raleigh 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 $3,024, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Henderson.
Planning to buy in Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Henderson's median income is 6% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh
$85,395
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Henderson (about $4,743 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
40% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 40% lower than Raleigh
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Henderson
Winner74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). Raleigh 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 Raleigh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Raleigh
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 6% higher ($90,138), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Henderson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 40% lower than Raleigh (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 49/100 in Raleigh, with typical rent at $1,824 versus $1,572. I would vet the exact ZIP in Raleigh before trading 16 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (65/100 in Henderson vs 49/100 in Raleigh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,824 in Henderson.
Pick Henderson when you want the stronger safety signal (65/100). Otherwise, Raleigh's case rests on a Raleigh ZIP you trust at $1,572 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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