Sin City may cast a large shadow over nearby cities but Henderson is a wonderful city in its own right. Forbes ranked Henderson as the “2nd Safest City in America” while the website areavibes.com gave it the distinction as the “#1 Big City in Nevada. While Henderson’s colorful history started with it supplying magnesium at the height of World War II, it has since gained a reputation for being a place for thriving residential and commercial development.
If you are keen on setting your roots down in Nevada to take advantage of the state’s zero income tax, you should seriously consider Henderson. Although it is the state’s second-largest city, Henderson is unique in that it retains that small-town charm. You’ll also enjoy its many parks, reputable academic institutions, scenic hiking trails and a great quality of life.
If you’re a golf enthusiast, Henderson will certainly pique your interest as you’ll be able to play all year long on lush courses scattered all over the city and in surrounding areas. And with Las Vegas a mere 20-minute drive away, you certainly won’t lack activities to enjoy.
If you have any plans of relocating to Henderson, here are some things you should know about life in the city:
1) Summers can get extremely hot
Henderson has a hot desert climate that features summers that can get extremely toasty. The average highs for July and August hover around 100° and 103° while lows are at 69° and 70°. The coolest months in Henderson are December and January with highs reaching 55° and average lows of just 31°. There is no snowfall in Henderson but you can see some on the mountain peaks not long after a storm.
The most common natural disasters in Henderson are flash floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and drought.
2) Job opportunities are increasing
Henderson’s job market rose by 3.5% over the past year and experts expect the trend to continue in the next 10 years. They project a 42% increase during that period which is nearly 10% higher than the national average of 33.5%. However, Henderson has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is a shade higher than the US average of 3.9%.
The most prominent sectors in Henderson are the government, tourism, gaming, and healthcare. Meanwhile, the top employers in the city are the Fiesta Henderson Casino Hotel, St. Rose Dominican Hospital — Siena Campus, and the City of Henderson just to cite a few.
3) You’ll likely need a car to get around
When commuting in Henderson, you’ll likely spend an average of 23.2 minutes per trip, which is less than the country’s average of 26.4 minutes. However, a whopping 83% of commuters drive their vehicles to work while 7% carpool. There are 5% that work at home while a mere 1.4% use the mass transportation system.
You can take the bus courtesy of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, which plies numerous routes 24 hours a day. Overall, Henderson’s transit score is 24, which means having a car is recommended if you want to get from one spot to another without much fuss.
4) Lots of fun things to do in Henderson
If you crave Las Vegas-style fun but are not fond of going there, Henderson can still provide you what you want with the presence of the Sunset Station Casino, the M Resort, Green Valley Ranch Resort, and the Fiesta Henderson Hotel & Casino in the city. You can visit these spots and have your fill of the slots, tables or place some bets on your favorite sports teams. If you are an outdoors person or enjoy golf, you can head over to the nearby mountains for a leisurely, scenic stroll or one of Henderson’s many golf courses.
