City comparison
No. Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Sacramento is cheaper. Median rent is $1,779 a month versus $1,824 in Henderson.
Safety is where Sacramento and Henderson split most clearly. Henderson scores 96 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,824 in Henderson.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento 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 crime gap is citywide. Henderson has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Sacramento and Henderson are 399 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,824 a month in Henderson, up $45 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $90,138 in Henderson, up $2,817 (3%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 85 in Henderson, down 96 points (53%).
The move
Henderson and Sacramento are 399 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,824 a month in Henderson to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, down $45 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $90,138 in Henderson to $87,321 in Sacramento, down $2,817 (3%).
The crime index goes from 85 in Henderson to 181 in Sacramento, up 96 points (113%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Sacramento rent is 2% cheaper than Henderson
Sacramento
Winner$1,779/mo
Henderson
$1,824/mo
Typical rent runs $1,779 a month in Sacramento versus $1,824 in Henderson, so Sacramento is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $45, or $540 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 Henderson? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Henderson's median income is 3% higher than Sacramento
Sacramento
$87,321
Henderson
Winner$90,138
Median household income is $90,138 in Henderson versus $87,321 in Sacramento, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Henderson (about $2,817 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
53% lower crime
Henderson's crime index is 53% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Henderson
Winner85 (100 = avg)
Henderson's crime index is 85 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Sacramento and Henderson are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Henderson
74°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Henderson averages about 74°F (82°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°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 Sacramento
Sacramento is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% cheaper here at about $1,779 a month. Choose Sacramento 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 3% 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 53% lower than Sacramento (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 42/100 in Sacramento, with typical rent at $1,824 versus $1,779. I would vet the exact ZIP in Sacramento before trading 23 safety points for housing savings.
Sacramento rent at $1,779/month is still below Henderson's $1,824, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,824 in Henderson.
Henderson clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Sacramento deserves a serious look only when you already know the Sacramento block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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