Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 12 of 22 categories
Henderson
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $1012k less ($427,900 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1200/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,841)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $80,041/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,041 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Henderson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Median Home Value
$1012k less
$427,900 vs $1,440,200
Henderson
Summer Heat
23.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$80,041
$165,352 vs $85,311/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
33% lower
182.0 vs 272.4 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 15.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Henderson leads 12 of 22 categories. Henderson wins 12 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($85,311 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Santa Clara, CA are about 395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.