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I moved to Henderson June 2011 after living in Santa Monica, CA for five (5) years and before that being raised in Colorado. Each place is totally different and has good and bad things about living in these places. I left CA because I just got so sick and tired of the traffic, pollution and the majority of people who are missing a human compassionate chip. Nevada was the closest place to get away and within driving distance to go back and visit friends.
OK. Las Vegas/Henderson is excruciatingly HOT in the summer months. I have no idea how the average person functions. I felt like it was going to swallow me up at some point. Some people love it and for me I just know I couldn't look forward to every summer of inferno hell lol.
I live in the Green Valley Henderson area and it's beautiful and quiet and the people are very friendly. They don't really get out and talk to each other but whatever it is what it is. It is so much harder to make friends in Las Vegas/Henderson there is almost no social element other than people running to the casinos and shows and unless you have family/friends here it can be lonely.
I love the Green Valley area because it's so walk-able, clean and modern and everything is within walking distance it's great; and running trails. I can walk across the street to the store, Kohl's, CVS, Walgreen's, restaurants, Fresh and Easy, Gold Gym, fitness centers; you name it it's here. One thing about Henderson is that it was a very well planned city I just adore it here. Now people always say that Henderson is slightly higher priced than the rest of Las Vegas and well after paying $2000 in rent for 5 years in Santa Monica I will gladly pay $1000 for a 3 bedroom House any day here in Henderson. Oh and my house is just lovely; in a gated bedroom community and I will miss it but I will not miss the heat. The house sales are just amazing. There are a lot of homes for sale and they average here in Green Valley $119,000 and up; yes you read right. I would also suggest not signing a 12 month lease if you've never lived here before because during the summer I wanted to turn around and run back to CA but I'm locked into a 12 month lease. However I'm glad I stuck it out because I wouldn't have known how beautiful it gets in the winter here.
Now the negatives. The electric bill OMG. Paying like $300 a month for electricity was a shell shocker. Nevada Energy has got to be the biggest rip off and none of it's subsidized so word to the wise find a place that includes some or part of the utilities. Because after electricity, gas, phone, cable, car. I'm paying about what I was paying in living costs in California and I think slightly more. Nevada isn't supposed to have some state taxes and I'm confused about that because sometimes I'm charged tax at the stores and sometimes I'm not. My only other complaint is that it is so darn hard to meet people here. It's so quiet compared to what I left behind in Santa Monica. I remember thinking something was really wrong or the houses had ghosts in them lol. Now I don't like Las Vegas as much as Henderson but it's still friendly. However I wouldn't go strolling anywhere in North Las Vegas much of it is like projects and ghettos; just older neighborhoods more "run down" than Henderson. I do love how Nevada has much safer drivers than CA and much more considerate. I never feel as though I'm going to get run down like I always did in CA. Ahh it's so nice and calm here.
I really hope this post helps anyone who is contemplating a move to Las Vegas area. Note there just aren't a lot of jobs in Las Vegas unless you are a Professional or in the Medical field. The schools both College and Secondary just aren't that great although Henderson boasts having a better school district. The last thing I will say is that Henderson and Las Vegas are so diverse just a mecca of people from all around the country and world and I love that.
Happy Hunting!
Last edited by JadesandRoses; 11-10-2011 at 09:37 PM..
Reason: Add info and photos.
Nevada isn't supposed to have some state taxes and I'm confused about that because sometimes I'm charged tax at the stores and sometimes I'm not.
There is no state income tax. There is a sales tax on virtually anything that is not a grocery or service. There are also property taxes on land/homes and cars.
Your 300 dollar electric bill only happens in the summer.
Jan.--Feb.---march---April---May---Nov.--Dec...
That's 7 full MONTHS of no AC.
October is nice too....
Your 300 dollar electric bill only happens in the summer.
Jan.--Feb.---march---April---May---Nov.--Dec...
That's 7 full MONTHS of no AC.
October is nice too....
That, and I have a two story 5 bedroom house with 2 A/Cs and never broke $200/month set at 77-78. I'm in Summerlin where it is a bit cooler, but $300 power bills on a house renting for $1000 likely had a very cool setting or is not efficient in some other way.
Your 300 dollar electric bill only happens in the summer.
Jan.--Feb.---march---April---May---Nov.--Dec...
That's 7 full MONTHS of no AC.
October is nice too....
I know people who pay $200-300 per month in the WINTER.
Old, inefficient refrigerator. Incandescent lights on all the time. Electric water heater/oven. A pool pump. All of these can bump up the bill. It takes a little effort to have lower electricity bills. It takes quite a bit of effort, and some investment in one's home to have really low bills.
I moved to Henderson June 2011 after living in Santa Monica, CA for five (5) years and before that being raised in Colorado. Each place is totally different and has good and bad things about living in these places. I left CA because I just got so sick and tired of the traffic, pollution and the majority of people who are missing a human compassionate chip. Nevada was the closest place to get away and within driving distance to go back and visit friends.
OK. Las Vegas/Henderson is excruciatingly HOT in the summer months. I have no idea how the average person functions. I felt like it was going to swallow me up at some point. Some people love it and for me I just know I couldn't look forward to every summer of inferno hell lol.
I live in the Green Valley Henderson area and it's beautiful and quiet and the people are very friendly. They don't really get out and talk to each other but whatever it is what it is. It is so much harder to make friends in Las Vegas/Henderson there is almost no social element other than people running to the casinos and shows and unless you have family/friends here it can be lonely.
I love the Green Valley area because it's so walk-able, clean and modern and everything is within walking distance it's great; and running trails. I can walk across the street to the store, Kohl's, CVS, Walgreen's, restaurants, Fresh and Easy, Gold Gym, fitness centers; you name it it's here. One thing about Henderson is that it was a very well planned city I just adore it here. Now people always say that Henderson is slightly higher priced than the rest of Las Vegas and well after paying $2000 in rent for 5 years in Santa Monica I will gladly pay $1000 for a 3 bedroom House any day here in Henderson. Oh and my house is just lovely; in a gated bedroom community and I will miss it but I will not miss the heat. The house sales are just amazing. There are a lot of homes for sale and they average here in Green Valley $119,000 and up; yes you read right. I would also suggest not signing a 12 month lease if you've never lived here before because during the summer I wanted to turn around and run back to CA but I'm locked into a 12 month lease. However I'm glad I stuck it out because I wouldn't have known how beautiful it gets in the winter here.
Now the negatives. The electric bill OMG. Paying like $300 a month for electricity was a shell shocker. Nevada Energy has got to be the biggest rip off and none of it's subsidized so word to the wise find a place that includes some or part of the utilities. Because after electricity, gas, phone, cable, car. I'm paying about what I was paying in living costs in California and I think slightly more. Nevada isn't supposed to have some state taxes and I'm confused about that because sometimes I'm charged tax at the stores and sometimes I'm not. My only other complaint is that it is so darn hard to meet people here. It's so quiet compared to what I left behind in Santa Monica. I remember thinking something was really wrong or the houses had ghosts in them lol. Now I don't like Las Vegas as much as Henderson but it's still friendly. However I wouldn't go strolling anywhere in North Las Vegas much of it is like projects and ghettos; just older neighborhoods more "run down" than Henderson. I do love how Nevada has much safer drivers than CA and much more considerate. I never feel as though I'm going to get run down like I always did in CA. Ahh it's so nice and calm here.
I really hope this post helps anyone who is contemplating a move to Las Vegas area. Note there just aren't a lot of jobs in Las Vegas unless you are a Professional or in the Medical field. The schools both College and Secondary just aren't that great although Henderson boasts having a better school district. The last thing I will say is that Henderson and Las Vegas are so diverse just a mecca of people from all around the country and world and I love that.
Happy Hunting!
Wow sounds just like Orange County, Ca. only the houses are cheaper
My yearly total electric+gas costs here in Vegas are less than they were in Jersey City, NJ, and my house is about 50% larger here (by sqft - probably 80-100% larger in cubic feet, which is what matters for thermodynamic comparison).
Utils are perfectly reasonable here. As others have noted, if you keep it absurdly cold, yeah, you'll pay in the summer. But even so, people tend to freak out if they get a couple stiff bills, while ignoring the many months of cheap bills. Gotta look at yearly totals.
Electric bills can get expensive depending on how big your house is and how well insulated it is. Most homes in Vegas/Henderson are much larger than the typical homes in LA. I don't think I've ever paid more than $100 in electric bills since moving here over a year and half ago. I don't watch my utilities usage to save money. I do whatever is comfortable. I previously lived in 2 bedroom apt and now a large 1 bedroom apt (actually more sq ft than the 2bdrm units here so I'll consider it 2bd for utilities comparison sake). Typically paid about $80 per month. AC is always on auto with temp set to around 68-74.
I love the non-summer months too. I love commuting to work everyday without dealing with traffic. That's an extra hour or two of sleep for me. Traffic in southern CA is a nightmare.
Vegas is not really good for medical professionals contrary to above statement. Health-related fields and hospitals DO get affected by the economy. Medical groups are struggling so difficult to find a job here as well.
However I wouldn't go strolling anywhere in North Las Vegas much of it is like projects and ghettos; just older neighborhoods more "run down" than Henderson.
I was actually enjoying your take on living here until you mentioned how terrible it is where I live.
You obviously have never been to the newer part of the valley in North Las Vegas. "Projects and ghettos" part of it is in older NLV and part of it is the letter streets in Las Vegas, and part of it is Nellis blvd area that you are referring to. Which is the far northeast area next to Nellis AFB.
I go strolling in North Las Vegas every evening after dark. No projects and ghettos in my area. All nice new homes all over the place.
Come out sometime and see for yourself instead of just relying on speculation.
I was actually enjoying your take on living here until you mentioned how terrible it is where I live.
You obviously have never been to the newer part of the valley in North Las Vegas. "Projects and ghettos" part of it is in older NLV and part of it is the letter streets in Las Vegas, and part of it is Nellis blvd area that you are referring to. Which is the far northeast area next to Nellis AFB.
I go strolling in North Las Vegas every evening after dark. No projects and ghettos in my area. All nice new homes all over the place. Come out sometime and see for yourself instead of just relying on speculation.
He or she probably didn't go that far up north. Probably took Las Vegas Blvd all the way to the base.
or
Took any other street going north and turned around at Lake Mead or Cheyenne.
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Las Vegas/Henderson
