Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Henderson leads 12 of 22 categories
Henderson
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063
Phoenix
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
66% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $13,219 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,900
Higher rents — median is $1,641/mo
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($340,200 vs $427,900)
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,641)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Henderson
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Henderson by $13,219/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Median Income
$13,219
$85,311 vs $72,092/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
66% lower
272.4 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.9 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$88k less
$340,200 vs $427,900
Phoenix
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 104.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 8.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Henderson leads 12 of 22 categories. Henderson wins 12 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $340,200 median home), income ($85,311 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Phoenix, AZ are about 237 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.