Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Henderson, NV
🏆 Henderson leads 12 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Henderson
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $39,226 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Henderson, NV
Pros
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,641 vs $1,895)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Homes cost $31k less ($427,900 vs $458,700)
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $39,226/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$39,226
$124,537 vs $85,311/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Henderson
Median Home Value
$31k less
$427,900 vs $458,700
Henderson
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Henderson, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $85,311 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 82 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" | 6.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 318,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 20.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Henderson's 103.9 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Henderson leads 12 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 8 and Henderson wins 12. 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 Columbia to Henderson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $427,900 median home), income ($124,537 vs $85,311), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Henderson, NV are about 2,086 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.