Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 16 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $554k less ($427,900 vs $981,600)
43% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,100)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $12,507/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,507 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Violent Crime
43% lower
272.4 vs 480.4 per 100k
Henderson
Median Home Value
$554k less
$427,900 vs $981,600
Henderson
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$12,507
$97,818 vs $85,311/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 39.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 16 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 16 and Pasadena wins 7. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $981,600 median home), income ($85,311 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Pasadena, CA are about 217 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.