Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Henderson, NV
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Henderson leads 18 of 23 categories
Henderson
Nevada
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Henderson, NV
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($427,900 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,641 vs $2,141)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $21,453/yr
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,453 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Henderson
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Violent Crime
7% lower
272.4 vs 293.2 per 100k
Henderson
Median Home Value
$133k less
$427,900 vs $560,400
Henderson
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 95.0°F
Vacaville
Median Income
$21,453
$106,764 vs $85,311/yr
Vacaville
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Henderson, NV | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,311 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.5" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 318,063 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 42.3 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Henderson's cost of living index is 103.9 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 18 of 23 categories. Henderson wins 18 and Vacaville wins 5. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,900 vs $560,400 median home), income ($85,311 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Henderson, NV and Vacaville, CA are about 415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.