Best Places to Live in Nevada

Nevada may be known as the “Silver State,” but it’s definitely not a second-rate destination. With its ample sunny skies and tons of economic opportunities, Nevada is a great place for anyone to call home. It’s a state with both the romance of the West and the glitz of big-city life.

Nevada (pronounced “ne-VAD-uh” and not “ne-VAUH-duh”) is 90% desert. That means it’s dry—the driest state in the U.S.—with low humidity, perpetually sunny skies, and high desert winds.¹ The good news for allergy sufferers is that the dry climate promotes low allergens in the air. But it’s not all deserts. Northwestern Nevada has a more mountain-forest climate courtesy of the Sierra Nevada range (Nevada is the most mountainous state in the lower 48 as well).² This gives the area four distinct seasons with hot summers (“It’s a dry heat”), as well as a dusting of snow in the winter (“nevada” is Spanish for “snowy”).

Nevada is spread out over all that desert—with miles and miles between cities, as well as lots of space within cities. See, the federal government owns 80% of the entire state’s land, most of it through the Bureau of Land Management.³ Which means nearly all of Nevada’s residents live in two main metro areas. And that means you’re going to need a car to get anywhere and anything you need no matter where you land.

As you have probably heard, gambling is legal in Nevada and accounts for a huge chunk of the state’s economy (slot machines are everywhere—even in grocery stores!). In fact, gaming taxes make up about a third of all state revenue.⁴ Because of the regular gaming taxes, personal property taxes are pretty low in most areas of the state. There’s also no state income tax and no tax on food (the sales tax and car insurance rates are a bit steep, though). Nevada’s lack of corporate income tax makes it a very business-friendly state (but there is a gross receipt tax).⁵ Many big companies have been setting up shop in the Silver State over the last decade to take advantage of all these perks.

Maybe you’re looking for a nice place to raise your little buckaroos, or you’re a young techie moving to the second Silicon Valley. Or you’re a retiree on the lookout for some peace and quiet (and a little slot action now and then).

Ready to try your luck in the Silver State? Let’s look into some of the best places to live in Nevada.

The Best Places to Live in Nevada

So, before we get started on our list, let’s get one thing out of the way: All “best places” lists are subjective, including this one. While we did use some data (population, home and rent prices, etc.), a “best place to live” remains purely opinion and will ultimately depend on your personal likes and dislikes. But to add some more street cred and authenticity to our list, we got the inside scoop from some current Nevadans.

Carson City

Carson City, the Nevada state capital, is nestled in a valley about 30 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Though centers of state government are usually pretty busy and fast-paced, Carson City is an exception. The city may have a more relaxed pace of life . . . but don’t let the laid-back lifestyle fool you! The people of Carson City are just as hardworking and independent as the rest of the state. In fact, they’re so independent, Carson City is one of the few communities in America that’s designated as an independent city—not under the control of a county government.

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Even though Carson City is small, it has lots to offer new arrivals. The living options consist of everything from suburban homes to multiacre land tracts. Jobs are also plentiful in the city—since it is the state capital, you probably won’t be surprised that the top industry is government (state and local), followed by manufacturing.⁶ And annual community events like the Nevada Day Parade capture the community spirit (October 31 isn’t just Halloween, but the day that Nevada achieved statehood).

Carson City is also a hotbed of Nevada history. It was founded in 1858 and named for legendary frontiersman Kit Carson. The Nevada State Railroad Museum preserves both Carson City’s and the state’s longtime link to the railroads. You can even live some of that train history by riding on a re-creation of the Virginia & Truckee Railway from Carson City to Virginia City.

Metro Area Population*	58,1307
Median Household Income	$67,6458
Median Home Price	$552,1119
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,95010
Average Annual Rainfall	20"11
Unemployment Rate	4.8%12

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a total of all apartment types.}

Elko

Located near the northeastern corner of Nevada along the Humboldt River, Elko is a city at the crossroads of the past and the future. Built up in the 1860s as a railroad hub, Elko was even supposedly named by a railroad executive (the guy had a thing for adding “O” to the ends of animal names). This frontier spirit still exists today in Elko, where modern cars share the roads with men on horses. And the Silver State Stampede, the oldest rodeo in the Nevada, is still held in Elko every year.

The railroad continues to be an important part of Elko’s economy (supported by the Northeastern Nevada Regional Railport), and a commercial airport and Interstate 80 make Elko a shipping and transport center for the region. Mining is also big in Elko, with Nevada Gold Mines (one of the world’s biggest producers of gold) based in the city. Agriculture makes up another chunk of the local industry—if your neighbor isn’t in the mining, education, health care or gaming business, chances are he’s a rancher.¹³

Elko prides itself on being neither a big city nor a small town, but somewhere in the middle—centered around hard work and unique community. The city has a sizable Basque population (going back to the Basque migration during the 1840s Gold Rush), which has manifested in great Basque restaurants and the National Basque Festival. Other local events include the Elko County Fair, Elko Pop Con and the Ruby Mountain Balloon Festival.

Metro Area Population*	55,22214
Median Household Income	$85,00015
Median Home Price	$390,42516
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,20017
Average Annual Rainfall	15.9"18
Unemployment Rate***	3.8%19

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a total of all apartment types.
***Unemployment rate is for all of Elko County, Nevada.}

Gardnerville

Founded in 1879, Gardnerville is one of the oldest communities in Nevada and the state’s first hub for agriculture and mining. The city is located in the Carson Valley—a lush, rural and very green place (when compared to neighboring cities like Carson City and Reno) with a Mediterranean climate and great views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains no matter where you land. If you’re looking for a place with acreage to homestead, Gardnerville could suit your needs (just make sure it’s in your budget). But if you’re more of a city slicker, other options like condos and conventional tract homes are also available.

One of the hallmarks of the Carson Valley community is the welcoming atmosphere. Since Gardnerville is a relatively small town, you’ll be able to get to know lots of people at the many community events in town—farmers markets, Carson Valley Days, the Eagles & Ag Tour, the Parade of Lights, and more. One of the most well-known local meeting places is the J.T. Basque Bar & Dining Room, which was founded in 1896 and is famous for its multicourse, family-style Basque meals.

Many of the jobs in town are in the retail/tourism and agricultural sectors (the top employer in Gardnerville is the Topaz Lodge & Casino).²⁰ So, most Gardnerville residents commute to their jobs outside the town in more populated areas like Reno or Lake Tahoe—both of which are less than an hour away. And if you’re looking for nightlife, most of the city shuts down around 8 p.m., so Reno or Tahoe would be your best bet.

Metro Area Population*	49,47621
Median Household Income	$66,15722
Median Home Price	$791,00023
Median Monthly Rent**	$2,30024
Average Annual Rainfall***	22.8"25
Unemployment Rate****	4.6%26

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a total of all apartment types.
***Rainfall number is for the adjacent city of Minden (no rainfall data was available for Gardnerville).
****Unemployment rate is for all of Douglas County, Nevada.}

Las Vegas

If there is one place Nevada is best known for it’s Las Vegas. Called “Sin City” and “America’s Playground,” among other names, the Las Vegas (Spanish for “the meadows”) area is home to 75% of the state’s population.²⁷ Vegas was built up in the early and mid-20th century as a place for adults to have fun (and spend lots of money—hence the other nickname, “Lost Wages”). It’s a different world from the more rustic and independent attitude of those Nevadans outside the Las Vegas Valley.

Vegas is famous for its glitzy, neon-covered casinos, epic resort hotels, award-winning restaurants, and world-class shows and entertainment (some of it very adult-oriented). Elvis Presley sang the city’s praises, and Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack often played the casinos. Today, Vegas attracts headliners from Garth Brooks to Justin Timberlake and Cirque du Soleil. There are also sporting events like pro boxing and UFC matches, as well as pro team sports games from the Raiders (NFL) and the Golden Knights (NHL). All these attractions make Vegas a premiere destination, and every major airport in the country has a direct flight to the city’s Harry Reid International Airport.

Needless to say, you won’t be bored living in Las Vegas. But there is more to Vegas than the Strip. Locals say there are two different Vegases (or is it Vegasi?): the glitzy part and suburban Las Vegas. In fact, you could live in Las Vegas and completely avoid the Strip. Vegas is also a college town and a military town—home to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Nellis Air Force Base. And the city has a lot of outdoor adventure, such as Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon, as well as over 50 golf courses.

There is also more to Las Vegas’ industry and workforce than hospitality, gaming and tourism (though Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts are among the city’s top employers).²⁸ Because of the state’s pro-business tax laws and proximity to entertainment, many tech companies are moving to the Vegas area. In addition to technology, Vegas also has large health science and manufacturing sectors.²⁹

Metro Area Population*	2.3 million30
Median Household Income	$66,35631
Median Home Price	$474,29332
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,39733
Average Annual Rainfall	6.2"34
Unemployment Rate	5.1%35

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a two-bedroom apartment.}

Great Las Vegas Suburbs

Want to be in the middle of the growing Las Vegas economy but far enough away from the neon lights? Take a look at some of these Las Vegas suburbs that might strike a good balance for you.

Boulder City
Henderson
Mesquite
North Las Vegas

Pahrump

One of the biggest beneficiaries of all the growth in the Las Vegas Valley over the last 70 years has been the town of Pahrump, even though it’s located an hour to the west, near the California border. Pahrump is what’s known as an “exurb”—a community that’s outside of the normal proximity of a suburb, but still benefits directly from the nearby metro area. In fact, Pahrump didn’t get any paved roads until the 1950s and phone and electricity services didn’t get there until the 1960s!

Despite its reliance on Vegas, Pahrump maintains that it’s very different from Sin City—calling itself “true Nevada.” It’s much more rural compared to Vegas, in line with the spirit of the rest of the state (even though gaming and retail are among the city’s top industries).³⁶ For example, all the homes run on septic systems (no central sewer), and there’s no natural gas service (which means all your cooking needs to be done on electric appliances or with propane). Mobile homes are more widespread in Pahrump because of the abundance of relatively cheap land, but new traditional home construction has increased significantly in the past few years.

With its more rural nature, it might be easy to give Pahrump a big harumph when it comes to moving there. But the town does have all the basics of life, like grocery stores. Pahrump even has country clubs and wineries! A lot of the city’s recreation is aimed squarely at the outdoors—from hot air balloon rides to motorsport fun at the Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club. Pahrump is also within driving distance of two national parks over the California border: Death Valley and Yosemite.

Metro Area Population*	51,69837
Median Household Income	$54,98838
Median Home Price	$416,24939
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,40040
Average Annual Rainfall	6.5"41
Unemployment Rate***	6.7%42

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a total of all apartment types.
***Unemployment rate is for all of Nye County, Nevada.}

Reno/Sparks

The most populated area in Nevada outside of Las Vegas belongs to two cities: Reno and Sparks. Reno is the OG, founded in 1868, named for Civil War hero John Reno, and known as “The Biggest Little City in the World.” Sparks came along in 1908 and was named for Nevada governor John Sparks. The younger Sparks has started to catch up with her sister city in terms of size in the last 10 years. The two cities are now inseparable and interconnected thanks to a shared technology industry that’s been growing by leaps and bounds (manufacturing and distribution also make the list).⁴³ Tech giants like Microsoft, Tesla, Amazon, Google, Apple and Panasonic have all built facilities in the Reno/Sparks area—making a kind of second Silicon Valley!

With all the tech activity infused into the area, the culture of Reno/Sparks is young and vibrant. Also helping with the youthful vibe are the students from University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Downtown Reno does have all the old-school Vegas-y draws like casinos and resort hotels, but the rest of the city feels like a small town (that’s very spread out). Besides the casinos, there are traveling shows and headliners, an amazing food scene, and lots of local events to keep you busy. Be sure to check out the Great Reno Balloon Race, the Hot August Nights car events, the month-long Artown event at the Truckee Riverwalk, and the Nugget Rib Cook-Off.

Thanks to an amazing number of sunny days each year (Reno is one of the sunniest places in America), Renoites love their outdoor activities. The beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains provide much of the outdoor fun, as does Lake Tahoe, which is only 40 minutes from downtown. And because Reno experiences all four seasons, there’s always something to do like off-roading, boating, hiking or skiing.

Metro Area Population*	501,20644
Median Household Income	$80,33345
Median Home Price	$663,94446
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,43847
Average Annual Rainfall	17.3"48
Unemployment Rate	4.2%49

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a two-bedroom apartment.}

Great Reno/Sparks Suburbs

Besides Reno and Sparks, there are other great spots in the area that deserve “honorable mentions” on our list. These places can be found both in the Truckee River Valley and along the shore of Lake Tahoe.

Incline Village
Mogul
Spanish Springs

Winnemucca

About two hours due west of Elko on I-80 is Winnemucca—“The Friendliest Town in Nevada.” The town’s unique (and fun to say) name came from Chief Winnemucca, whose Northern Paiute tribe originally inhabited the area. Founded in the 1850s, Winnemucca is a railroad town that became a central shipping point for mining and agriculture. It was a Wild West town for sure, and those Wild West roots are still very much alive today.

Gold and silver mining, ranching and agriculture are still Winnemucca’s largest industries. Mining is about to get an even larger shot in the arm, thanks to a humongous deposit of lithium found at the nearby Thacker Pass and McDermitt Caldera. Lithium is used in making batteries for electric vehicles. With potentially over $1 trillion worth of lithium in the ground out there, Winnemucca is expecting to grow a lot over the next few years as they become one of the largest lithium hubs on the planet!

Winnemucca’s local culture is also steeped in its frontier heritage. The town is home to the Buckaroo Hall of Fame & Heritage Museum, a celebration of exceptional cowboys. Modern buckaroos participate in western-themed events like Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Weekend. The Run-a-Mucca Motorcycle and Music Festival brings hundreds of “steel horses” to town, along with a poker tournament and free concerts. Winnemucca is another Nevada town that has a Basque connection—a few restaurants in town serve Basque food and they have their own Basque Festival. And the local outdoor adventure is all about getting down and dirty with dirt bikes and ATVs at the Winnemucca Sand Dunes, hiking, biking and camping in the Water Canyon Recreation Area, and watersports on the Humboldt River.

Metro Area Population*	17,26650
Median Household Income	$78,16151
Median Home Price	$378,72552
Median Monthly Rent**	$1,30053
Average Annual Rainfall	12.1"54
Unemployment Rate***	4%55

^{*Metro area population numbers include the city together with the surrounding urban and suburban areas.
**Median monthly rent number is based on a total of all apartment types.
***Unemployment rate is for all of Humboldt County, Nevada.}

Best Places to Live in Nevada for Families

Sunny skies, great weather, and lots of outdoor activities make Nevada a great place to raise a family. Though the public schools aren’t great (usually in the bottom half of many surveys), homeschooling has been on the rise in Nevada because of the state’s simple regulations. And University of Nevada campuses accept homeschool grads. Here are some family-oriented cities to consider for your home:

Henderson
Incline Village
Kingsbury
Minden
Mogul
North Las Vegas
Reno

Best Places to Live in Nevada for Young Adults

Young singles will find lots to see and experience in Nevada. The Las Vegas metro area alone has one of the most famous nightlife scenes on Earth. Here are a few places that a young adult might find interesting:

Enterprise
Henderson
Incline Village
Las Vegas
Paradise
Reno
Spring Valley

Best Places to Live in Nevada for Retirees

Nevada is a great place to retire—good weather, peaceful surroundings, lots of golf (including PGA courses), and did we mention gambling? One of the few drawbacks is probably a lack of health care accessibility if you’re thinking of a more remote place to call home. So it’s probably best to stay somewhere big enough to have a health care infrastructure.

Gardnerville
Incline Village
Indian Hills
Laughlin
Mesquite
Reno
Winchester

Ready to Move to Nevada?

Got a hankering for the battle-born cowboy lifestyle, or are you more of a “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” type? A real estate agent can make the transition to the Silver State a smooth one—guiding you through the process from start to finish. But you don’t want just any real estate agent. For a fast and easy way to find local Nevada agents, look no further than our network of RamseyTrusted agents.

We only recommend agents who know the area and are completely dedicated to helping you find the perfect place. And we trust them to take care of you the Ramsey way—with honesty and integrity.