Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 North Las Vegas leads 17 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
North Las Vegas
Nevada
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,774 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 98°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than North Las Vegas
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
53% less violent crime than Lancaster
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Homes cost $29k less ($340,200 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,479 vs $1,576)
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.5%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
North Las Vegas
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
53% lower
388.9 vs 834.7 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$29k less
$340,200 vs $368,800
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 97.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,479⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $71,774 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 81.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 60.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 264,022 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 26.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
North Las Vegas is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, North Las Vegas leads 17 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 5 and North Las Vegas wins 17. 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 Lancaster to North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $340,200 median home), income ($71,367 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and North Las Vegas, NV are about 205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.