Skyline of Carson City, NV · Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0Nevada State Capital · teofilo / CC BY 2.0Nevada State Museum · Scott Schrantz / CC BY-SA 3.0Nevada State Railroad Museum - panoramio (10) · Patrick Nouhailler's… / CC BY-SA 3.0
Carson is a mid-sized city of 58,249 in Nevada, with a median household income of $67,465
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carson stands out for an affordable cost of living, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carson city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 94.1
Carson's overall cost of living index is 94.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carson costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carson, NV
National Avg
Median Home Value
$390,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,127
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,465
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Carson's violent crime rate is 334.4 per 100,000 residents
— 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
334.4 /100k
Property Crime
1019.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carson is served primarily by Carson City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 24.1:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carson, NV
National Avg
School District
Carson City
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carson sees average highs of 45.5°F in January
and 89.5°F in July,
with 14.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 14.0 inches of snow per year.
Carson's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carson roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $390,800 and median rent is $1,127/month.
Carson's violent crime rate is 334.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1019.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carson are operated by Carson City.
The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 24.1:1. 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carson, NV has a population of 58,249, a median household income of $67,465, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Carson averages 45.5°F in January and 89.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.7 inches
with about 14.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carson, NV is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 89703, 89701, 89706.
The population of Carson, Nevada is 58,249 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carson: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $390,800, median household income $67,465, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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