Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Las Vegas leads 15 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($365,300 vs $705,000)
54% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,817)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $35,366/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $35,366 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
54% lower
429.8 vs 925.9 per 100k
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$340k less
$365,300 vs $705,000
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$35,366
$101,722 vs $66,356/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 15 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 15 and Washington wins 8. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $705,000 median home), income ($66,356 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Washington, DC are about 2,087 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.