Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Las Vegas
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($365,300 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($1,356 vs $2,148)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $42,979/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,979 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Las Vegas
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$483k less
$365,300 vs $848,200
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
21.3°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$42,979
$109,335 vs $66,356/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
47% lower
226.1 vs 429.8 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Las Vegas wins 11 and Orange 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 Las Vegas to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $848,200 median home), income ($66,356 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Orange, CA are about 224 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.