Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Henderson, NV
🏆 Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Henderson
Nevada
15
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($304,500 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $327/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,641)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Henderson by $13,638/yr
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 7.0%)
Henderson, NV
Pros
50% less violent crime than Chicago
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Households earn $13,638 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$123k less
$304,500 vs $427,900
Henderson
Median Income
$13,638
$85,311 vs $71,673/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
50% lower
272.4 vs 539.8 per 100k
Henderson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Henderson
Summer Heat
23.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Henderson, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $427,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,641⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $85,311 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 6.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 318,063 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 20.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Henderson's 103.9 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Henderson wins 15. 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 Chicago to Henderson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $427,900 median home), income ($71,673 vs $85,311), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Henderson, NV are about 1,517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.