Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 12 of 23 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
Sunnyvale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $1253k less ($427,900 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1349/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,990)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $89,195/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $89,195 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Henderson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Henderson
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
$1253k less
$427,900 vs $1,680,700
Henderson
Summer Heat
27.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$89,195
$174,506 vs $85,311/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
10% lower
244.5 vs 272.4 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Sunnyvale, 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 | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 13.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 12 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 12 and Sunnyvale wins 11. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($85,311 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Sunnyvale, CA are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.