Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Gainesville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414
North Las Vegas
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,774 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($216,600 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $328/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,479)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails North Las Vegas by $27,991/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Households earn $27,991 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Gainesville
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Higher rents — median is $1,479/mo
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 101.9 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$124k less
$216,600 vs $340,200
Gainesville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
North Las Vegas
Median Income
$27,991
$71,774 vs $43,783/yr
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
47% lower
388.9 vs 738.0 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 101.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,479⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $71,774 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 60.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 | 264,022 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Gainesville wins 11 and North Las Vegas wins 11. 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 Gainesville to North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $340,200 median home), income ($43,783 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and North Las Vegas, NV are about 1,942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.