Las Vegas, NV vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Las VegasLas Vegas, NV | PhoenixPhoenix, AZ | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 38.5 years, the median age in Las Vegas, NV is 3.7 years older than in Phoenix, AZ, where the median age is 34.8, according to 2023 Census figures. Unemployment in Las Vegas stands at 5.6%, which is 2.4 points higher than Phoenix’s 3.2%, placing Las Vegas in the 96th percentile for unemployment versus Phoenix’s 29th. Work-from-home rates also diverge: 10.5% of Las Vegas workers telecommute, while 16.9% do in Phoenix, a 6.4-point gap that puts Phoenix in the 76th percentile and Las Vegas in the 49th.
Healthcare access scores differ notably, with Phoenix at 83/100 versus Las Vegas at 67/100, a 16-point difference that places Phoenix in the 47th percentile and Las Vegas in the 29th. Summer dew points also separate the two: Phoenix averages 57°F, which is 13°F higher than Las Vegas’s 44°F, with Phoenix in the 22nd percentile and Las Vegas in the 4th. Distance to the international border is 239 miles from Las Vegas, which is 2.1× higher than Phoenix’s 113 miles. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 16 in Phoenix versus 12 in Las Vegas, a 29% higher rate in Phoenix, which sits in the 49th percentile compared to Las Vegas’s 34th.
Other 2023 figures show Phoenix’s median household income at $77,041, which is 9% higher than Las Vegas’s $70,723, while median rents are nearly identical at $1,458 and $1,456. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 694 in Phoenix versus 400 in Las Vegas, a 74% higher rate, though property crime is 16% higher in Las Vegas at 2,371 per 100,000 versus 2,036. Phoenix’s population of 1,624,832 is 2.5× larger than Las Vegas’s 650,873, and its air quality index of 77 is 20% higher than Las Vegas’s 64.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13168th pctl | 12967th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $395,30071st pctl | $381,90069th pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,45668th pctl | $1,45868th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $70,72347th pctl | $77,04155th pctl | Median household income: Las Vegas, NV $70,723; Phoenix, AZ $77,041; Phoenix is 9% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $76,80072nd pctl | $74,19770th pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $112,89672nd pctl | $109,06970th pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | Housing affordability: Las Vegas, NV C-; Phoenix, AZ B-; Phoenix is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Phoenix needs about
$73,900
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 131 vs 129). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.6%96th pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | Unemployment: Las Vegas, NV 5.6%; Phoenix, AZ 3.2%; Las Vegas is 2.4 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.4%84th pctl | +2.1%78th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $38,42152nd pctl | $40,30958th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 14.2%63rd pctl | 14.3%63rd pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.8 min66th pctl | 25.7 min65th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 10.5%49th pctl | 16.9%76th pctl | Work from home: Las Vegas, NV 10.5%; Phoenix, AZ 16.9%; Phoenix is 6.4 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Las Vegas, NV B-; Phoenix, AZ A+; Phoenix is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 40078th pctl | 69493rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Las Vegas, NV 400; Phoenix, AZ 694; Phoenix is 74% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,37185th pctl | 2,03678th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Las Vegas, NV 2,371; Phoenix, AZ 2,036; Las Vegas is 16% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Fair | Tap water: Las Vegas, NV F; Phoenix, AZ C+; Phoenix is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Prime | Homesteading potential: Las Vegas, NV B-; Phoenix, AZ A-; Phoenix is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 9 mi9th pctl | Nearest large city: Las Vegas, NV 0 mi; Phoenix, AZ 9 mi; Phoenix is 9 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Las Vegas, NV F; Phoenix, AZ C+; Phoenix is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 239 mi29th pctl | 113 mi12th pctl | Distance to international border: Las Vegas, NV 239 mi; Phoenix, AZ 113 mi; Las Vegas is 2.1 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 237 mi48th pctl | 163 mi38th pctl | Distance to coastline: Las Vegas, NV 237 mi; Phoenix, AZ 163 mi; Las Vegas is 46% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 650,87399th pctl | 1,624,832100th pctl | Population: Las Vegas, NV 650,873; Phoenix, AZ 1,624,832; Phoenix is 2.5 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,58890th pctl | 3,13479th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Las Vegas, NV 4,588; Phoenix, AZ 3,134; Las Vegas is 46% higher. |
| Median age | 38.554th pctl | 34.824th pctl | Median age: Las Vegas, NV 38.5; Phoenix, AZ 34.8; Las Vegas is 3.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3%37th pctl | 32.3%50th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Las Vegas, NV 27.3%; Phoenix, AZ 32.3%; Phoenix is 5.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.671st pctl | 2.773rd pctl | About the same |
More about Las Vegas's residents · Phoenix's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Las Vegas and Phoenix
- Median rent: $1,456 in Las Vegas, $1,458 in Phoenix
- Median home value: $395,300 in Las Vegas, $381,900 in Phoenix
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 131 in Las Vegas, 129 in Phoenix
- Median household income: $70,723 in Las Vegas, $77,041 in Phoenix
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $112,896 in Las Vegas, $109,069 in Phoenix
- Unemployment: 5.6% in Las Vegas, 3.2% in Phoenix
- Average commute: 25.8 min in Las Vegas, 25.7 min in Phoenix
- Violent crime per 100k: 400 in Las Vegas, 694 in Phoenix
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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