Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 13 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Huntington Beach
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $549k less ($427,900 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,318)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $29,436/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
24% less violent crime than Henderson
Households earn $29,436 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Henderson
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Median Home Value
$549k less
$427,900 vs $976,800
Henderson
Summer Heat
25.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$29,436
$114,747 vs $85,311/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
24% lower
207.3 vs 272.4 per 100k
Huntington Beach
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 93.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 11.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 197,481 |
| Median Age | 42.3 | 43.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 17.9% |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 13 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 13 and Huntington Beach wins 10. 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 Henderson to Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $976,800 median home), income ($85,311 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Huntington Beach, CA are about 232 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.