Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $1081k less ($427,900 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1330/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,971)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $63,841/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,841 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Henderson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Henderson
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Median Home Value
$1081k less
$427,900 vs $1,508,900
Henderson
Summer Heat
31.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$63,841
$149,152 vs $85,311/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
11% lower
243.2 vs 272.4 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 15 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 15 and San Mateo wins 8. 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($85,311 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and San Mateo, CA are about 416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.