Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Henderson, NV
🏆 Henderson leads 14 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Henderson
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($246,000 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $627/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,641)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Henderson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Henderson by $23,808/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Henderson, NV
Pros
77% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $23,808 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Albuquerque
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$182k less
$246,000 vs $427,900
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Henderson
Median Income
$23,808
$85,311 vs $61,503/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
77% lower
272.4 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Henderson
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 94.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Henderson, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $427,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,641⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $85,311 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" | 6.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 318,063 |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 20.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Henderson's 103.9 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 14 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 9 and Henderson wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Henderson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $427,900 median home), income ($61,503 vs $85,311), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Henderson, NV are about 476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.