Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Santa Clarita, 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
Santa Clarita
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($427,900 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $674/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $30,875/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Henderson
Households earn $30,875 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/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
$241k less
$427,900 vs $669,200
Henderson
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 94.2°F
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$30,875
$116,186 vs $85,311/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
39% lower
165.4 vs 272.4 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Santa Clarita, 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 | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 15.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 225,850 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Santa Clarita'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 Santa Clarita 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 Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $669,200 median home), income ($85,311 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Santa Clarita, CA are about 224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.