Detroit, Michigan, and Las Vegas, Nevada are two very different cities with distinctive offerings. Detroit, known for its robust automotive history and cultural diversity, contrasts with Las Vegas, famed for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment sector. Key factors such as crime and safety, weather, cost of living, education, and work economy vary significantly between the two cities, so understanding these differences can help you decide which city suits your lifestyle the best.
Distance between
Detroit, MI and
Las Vegas, NV : 1,758.6 miles
Las Vegas's population is larger by 2%. Its population has grown by 168,356 people (35.2%) since 2000. The population of Detroit has decreased by 318,806 people (33.5%) during that time.
Detroit has faced significant challenges with crime rates in the past, but recent years have seen continuous efforts to improve public safety. Still, it's important to research neighborhoods thoroughly before moving. Las Vegas also has areas of higher crime, particularly around the Strip, where incidents are often related to tourism. However, several suburban neighborhoods have lower crime rates.
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
City-data.com crime index counts serious crimes and violent crime more heavily. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. (higher means more crime, U.S. average = 301.1)
Sex Offenders
According to our data, there are 3,446 registered sex offenders living in Detroit and 4,789 registered sex offenders living in . The ratio of residents to sex offenders in Detroit is 195 to 1; the ratio in Las Vegas is 132 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents is a smaller in Detroit than in Las Vegas.
Cost of Living
Detroit tends to have a lower cost of living compared to Las Vegas. Housing is generally more affordable in Detroit, but other costs like utility and transportation can vary. Las Vegas has higher living costs, particularly for housing, but no state income tax slightly offsets this.
Income Tax
Detroit has a city income tax of 2.4% for residents and 1.2% for non-residents. Additionally, Michigan's state income tax is a flat rate of 4.25%. Nevada does not have a state income tax which can benefit Las Vegas residents.
Property Tax
In Detroit, property taxes tend to be relatively high compared to other cities. Las Vegas property taxes, however, are considerably lower, though higher house prices may cancel out this advantage.
Sales Tax
Michigan's statewide sales tax rate of 6% applies in Detroit. Nevada has a statewide rate of 6.85%, but with local taxes, the total sales tax rate in Las Vegas is 8.375%.
Income
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Estimated median household income
$36,140
$59,746
Estimated per capita income
$22,122
$33,825
Cost of living index (U.S. average is 100)
94.1
99.1
If you make $50,000 in Detroit, you will have to make $52,657 in Las Vegas to maintain the same standard of living.
Geographical Conditions
Detroit offers proximity to the Great Lakes and numerous outdoor activities. Las Vegas, in the desert, offers unique landscapes with ample hiking and exploration opportunities in nearby Red Rock Canyon and Lake Mead.
Each city has a range of educational opportunities. Detroit is home to well-regarded schools, such as Wayne State University and the University of Michigan nearby. Las Vegas hosts the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and other institutions, offering opportunities for higher education.
Detroit’s economy is anchored by the automobile industry, with the 'Big Three' automakers as key employers. Healthcare and technology are growing sectors. Las Vegas' economy is heavily reliant on tourism and hospitality, though it's also diversifying into technology and aerospace industries.
Biggest Employers
The big three automakers (General Motors, Ford, Chrysler) and health systems (Henry Ford Health, Detroit Medical Center) are Detroit's largest employers. In contrast, Las Vegas' largest employers are MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment.
There were 10 building permits issued in Detroit in 2012 (8 less than in 2011) compared to 2,700 building permits issued in Las Vegas in 2012 (1886 more than in 2011).
In Detroit (Wayne County), 73.1% voted for Democrats and 26.2% for Republicans in 2012 Presidential Election. In Las Vegas (Clark County), 56.4% voted for Democrats and 41.8% for Republicans.
Elections
Type
Democrats
Republicans
Other
Year
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
2020
68.6%
53.7%
30.4%
44.3%
1.0%
2.0%
2016
66.6%
52.4%
29.4%
41.7%
4.0%
5.8%
2012
73.1%
56.4%
26.2%
41.8%
0.6%
1.8%
2008
74.4%
58.5%
24.7%
39.5%
0.9%
2.0%
2004
69.7%
51.8%
29.9%
46.9%
0.4%
1.3%
2000
69.1%
51.4%
29.1%
44.8%
1.8%
3.8%
1996
69.0%
75.5%
24.0%
18.8%
7.0%
5.7%
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregation
Type
Adherents
Congregations
Religion
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
CATHOLIC CHURCH
16.3%
18.1%
11.2%
4.0%
MUSLIM ESTIMATE
3.7%
0.1%
2.9%
0.6%
AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA
1.5%
0.2%
2.4%
1.4%
LUTHERAN CHURCH
1.2%
0.2%
3.9%
1.2%
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
0.7%
0.4%
2.8%
1.6%
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
0.4%
0.1%
2.5%
1.1%
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
0.4%
0.2%
1.4%
1.6%
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
0.4%
1.6%
3.2%
11.2%
Weather
The climates are starkly different. Detroit experiences a full range of seasons, with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers. Las Vegas is located in the desert, so residents experience hot summers with minimal rainfall and mild winters with occasional chilling overnight lows.
Weather and climate
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Temperature - Average
50°F
65.5°F
Humidity - Average morning or afternoon humidity
75.3%
30.7%
Humidity - Differences between morning and afternoon humidity
33%
42%
Humidity - Maximum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
86%
52%
Humidity - Minimum monthly morning or afternoon humidity
53%
10%
Precipitation - Yearly average
33.6 in
5.7 in
Snowfall - Yearly average
86.5 in
1.6 in
Clouds - Number of days clear of clouds
12.7%
35.1%
Sunshine amount - Average
56.8%
91.8%
Sunshine amount - Differences during a year
38%
16%
Sunshine amount - Maximum monthly
69%
92%
Sunshine amount - Minimum monthly
31%
76%
Wind speed - Average
10.2 mph
9.2 mph
Average climate in Detroit, Michigan
Average climate in Las Vegas, Nevada
Air pollution
Type
AQI
CO
NO2
OZONE
PB
PM10
PM25
SO2
Year
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
Detroit
Las Vegas
2018
90
100
0.44
0.42
12.9
13.1
25.8
37.2
N/A
N/A
24.4
N/A
10.1
6.0
1.1
0.7
2017
87
101
0.56
0.29
12.7
13.0
20.9
38.5
N/A
N/A
20.3
N/A
10.1
7.3
1.3
0.8
2016
86
97
0.47
0.38
13.2
11.2
22.0
36.5
N/A
N/A
20.6
N/A
10.9
8.7
0.8
0.8
2015
95
92
0.49
0.36
14.8
12.4
26.5
35.6
N/A
N/A
18.9
N/A
11.9
8.4
1.2
1.2
2014
95
91
0.48
0.40
14.2
10.8
24.2
36.5
N/A
N/A
21.1
N/A
12.0
9.2
1.7
1.4
2013
80
103
0.53
0.45
14.4
9.6
24.5
36.9
N/A
N/A
22.1
N/A
11.0
8.6
1.3
1.5
2012
99
94
0.49
0.49
14.6
5.9
25.7
38.5
N/A
N/A
21.5
N/A
6.6
8.3
1.7
1.4
2011
94
85
0.32
0.40
12.9
5.3
24.3
37.5
N/A
N/A
18.2
N/A
6.5
7.8
1.6
1.2
2010
96
86
0.28
0.50
11.8
5.7
24.7
36.6
0.006
N/A
16.1
N/A
12.1
7.1
1.6
N/A
2009
68
87
0.27
0.56
12.7
6.0
23.4
33.3
N/A
N/A
20.9
N/A
N/A
8.3
1.9
N/A
2008
67
82
0.27
0.66
12.8
8.2
N/A
33.0
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
9.2
2.0
N/A
2007
81
97
0.29
0.61
13.7
11.7
25.8
32.4
0.017
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.6
N/A
0.1
2006
63
102
0.31
0.75
14.0
13.4
19.8
32.7
0.022
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
8.3
3.2
0.8
2005
83
100
0.36
0.76
17.4
15.1
22.6
30.2
0.019
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
7.8
4.0
5.3
2004
70
85
0.43
0.71
15.0
16.0
N/A
30.6
0.014
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
3.7
1.6
2003
86
99
0.40
0.67
18.5
15.9
N/A
29.8
0.013
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.8
1.0
2002
88
94
0.36
0.73
18.3
15.7
N/A
30.6
0.019
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.3
0.7
2001
83
95
0.36
0.76
19.0
15.0
N/A
29.4
0.020
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4.4
1.1
2000
71
95
0.35
0.88
18.2
14.7
N/A
29.7
0.027
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
5.2
0.4
Natural disasters
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Tornado activity compared to U.S. average
128.5%
2.1%
Earthquake activity compared to U.S. average
53.2%
6,093.4%
Natural disasters compared to U.S. average
14%
12%
Transportation
Detroit's public transit includes buses and a limited light rail system. Car ownership is common due to large distances between areas. In Las Vegas, public transit is mainly bus-based. Commuting can be congested, especially during major events or conventions.
Transport
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Amtrak stations
1
1
Amtrak stations nearby
3
1
FAA registered aircraft
93
1
FAA registered aircraft manufacturers and dealers
3
81
Means of transportation to work
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Bicycle
0.5%
0.1%
Bus
4%
2.2%
Carpooled
7.5%
10.3%
Car alone
83.4%
82.7%
Motorcycle
0%
0.4%
Taxicab
0.5%
0%
Walked
2.7%
1.4%
Average travel time to work
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Average
30.6 min
26.3 min
Other means
26 min
24 min
Public transportation
47.7 min
49.9 min
Private vehicle occupancy
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Average
1.2
1.2
Drove alone
87.1%
88.9%
In 2 person carpool
10.5%
8.2%
In 3 person carpool
1%
2.1%
In 4 person carpool
1%
0.2%
In 5-6 person carpool
0.3%
0.4%
In 7+ person carpool
0.2%
0.2%
How many people usually rode to work in the car, truck or van.
Real Estate
Real estate is generally more affordable in Detroit but could involve investments in renovations or repairs. In contrast, Las Vegas' housing market is more expensive, but properties are often newer and require less maintenance.
Neighborhoods
Detroit has a mix of neighborhoods like the historic Corktown or Midtown, bustling with shops, restaurants, and cultural institutions. Meanwhile, Las Vegas features a range of living environments, from the vibrant downtown to peaceful suburban communities like Summerlin.
Houses and residents
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Houses
322,906
269,602
Average household size (people)
2.6
2.7
Median year apartment built
1953
1991
Median year house/condo built
1946
1995
Length of stay in the house since moving in
16.7 years
10.1 years
Houses occupied
251,729 (78%)
250,350 (92.9%)
Houses occupied by owners
129,084 (51.3%)
138,677 (55.4%)
Houses occupied by renters
122,645 (48.7%)
111,673 (44.6%)
Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units
$798.06
$1,176
Median monthly housing costs
$755
$1,255
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos
$86,452
$989,410
Estimated median house or condo value
$69,300
$362,400
Median numbers of rooms
5.7
5.2
Median number of rooms in apartments
5
4.1
Median number of rooms in houses and condos
6.3
6.1
Median house price - detached houses
$96,752
$439,169
Median house price - in 2-unit structures
$72,631
$161,204
Median house price - in 3-to-4-unit structures
$183,952
$201,871
Median house price - in 5 or more unit structures
$242,851
$327,174
Median house price - mobile homes
$43,864
$113,235
Median house price - Townhouses or other attached units
$128,652
$274,961
Median house price - All housing units
$101,554
$417,434
Median house age
74
27
Renting percentage
48.9%
43.5%
Housing density (houses/condos per square mile)
2,326.9
2,379.4
House value disparities
48.4%
27.1%
Household income disparities
49.3%
47.1%
Median household income for houses/condes with a mortgage
$61,259
$90,388
Median household income for apartments without a mortgage
$38,901
$62,287
Housing units without a mortgage
2,599 (5.6%)
1,172 (1.2%)
Housing units with both a second mortgage and home equity loan
2,270 (4.9%)
4,450 (4.6%)
Housing units with a mortgage
43,675 (94.4%)
95,992 (98.8%)
Housing units with a home equity loan
357 (0.8%)
178 (0.2%)
Housing units with a second mortgage
3,466 (7.5%)
5,092 (5.2%)
House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago)
16
7
House/condo renter moved in on average (years ago)
4
2
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities
17.1%
1.3%
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities
13.6%
1%
Housing units in structures
Housing units in structures
Detroit
Las Vegas
One, detached
66.0%
61.5%
One, attached
6.1%
5.3%
Two
6.5%
1.3%
3 or 4
2.7%
7.7%
5 to 9
2.2%
8.4%
10 to 19
2.7%
4.8%
20 to 49
3.9%
2.8%
50 or more
9.4%
6.8%
Mobile homes
0.5%
1.4%
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.
0.0%
0.1%
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units
Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business
11,725
18,990
State government workers
8,763
6,950
Unpaid family workers
441
614
Industries and Occupations
Detroit's major industries include automotive, technology, and health care. Meanwhile, Las Vegas' dominant sectors are tourism, gaming, and entertainment, though its tech industry is growing.
Detroit has a robust healthcare sector with numerous high-ranking hospitals. Las Vegas, while having several well-equipped hospitals and healthcare facilities, has a lower ranking in healthcare.
Health (county statistics)
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
General health status score of residents in this county from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
Detroit has seen efforts to improve its infrastructure, especially post-bankruptcy, with new developments downtown and public transit enhancements. Las Vegas boasts well-maintained infrastructure, with effective road networks and an international airport, crucial for its bustling tourism industry.
Infrastructure
Type
Detroit
Las Vegas
Hospitals
41
39
TV stations
16
12
Arenas or stadiums
4
2
Bank branches located here
98
281
Bank institutions located here
12
34
Main business address for public companies
11
57
Drinking water stations with no reported violations in the past
5
32
Drinking water stations with reported violations in the past
HMDA - Conventional home purchase loans - Applications denied
Year
Detroit
Las Vegas
1999
2,901
2,657
2000
4,079
579
2001
3,815
371
2002
3,247
380
2003
5,511
3,590
2004
9,068
5,908
2005
13,958
7,894
2006
16,654
6,914
2007
10,742
3,733
2008
2,823
1,431
2009
484
813
Culture and Food
Detroit has rich culture and history, well-known for Motown music and a food scene featuring diverse cuisine and Detroit-style pizza. Las Vegas is renowned for its world-class entertainment, including shows, concerts, and a range of global cuisine available 24/7.
Sports Teams
Sports fans will enjoy Detroit, home to four major league sports teams. Las Vegas also offers professional sports, having recently welcomed the NFL's Raiders and being home to the NHL's Golden Knights.
Detroit, MI
Las Vegas, NV
Detroit, MI and 
Las Vegas, NV : 1,758.6 miles
