State Guide

Best Places to Live in Nevada

The most affordable, safest, and highest-income cities across 133 Nevada cities — ranked from official data.

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Choosing where to live in Nevada comes down to a few trade-offs — cost of living, safety, income, and schools. The rankings below pull those out from U.S. Census, FBI, and NCES data so you can see the standouts at a glance, then drill into any city or put two side by side.

Most Affordable Cities in Nevada

Lowest cost of living index (100 = U.S. average · lower is cheaper).

#City Cost of Living Population
1 Carson 94 58,249

Safest Cities in Nevada

Lowest crime index (100 = U.S. average · lower is safer). Limited to cities with complete FBI reporting.

#City Crime Index Population
1 Henderson 76 318,063
2 North Las Vegas 99 264,022
3 Sparks 111 108,025
4 Las Vegas 118 644,835
5 Reno 130 265,196

Highest-Income Cities in Nevada

Highest median household income (US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates).

#City Median Income Population
1 Enterprise $91,165 225,461
2 Henderson $85,311 318,063
3 Sparks $82,938 108,025
4 Reno $73,073 265,196
5 North Las Vegas $71,774 264,022
6 Spring Valley $69,341 220,114
7 Carson $67,465 58,249
8 Las Vegas $66,356 644,835
9 Paradise $55,224 189,733
10 Sunrise Manor $52,476 198,325

Best School Districts in Nevada

Highest school-quality grade (student-teacher ratio, adult attainment, and graduation data where available).

#City School Grade Population
1 Henderson B- 318,063
2 Reno B- 265,196
3 Enterprise B- 225,461
4 Spring Valley B- 220,114
5 Las Vegas C+ 644,835
6 Sparks C+ 108,025
7 Paradise C+ 189,733
8 North Las Vegas C 264,022
9 Sunrise Manor C 198,325
10 Carson C 58,249

Popular Nevada City Comparisons

Head-to-head breakdowns of the state's largest cities.

Las Vegas vs Henderson Las Vegas vs Reno Las Vegas vs North Las Vegas Las Vegas vs Enterprise Las Vegas vs Spring Valley Las Vegas vs Sunrise Manor Las Vegas vs Paradise Henderson vs Reno Henderson vs North Las Vegas Henderson vs Enterprise Henderson vs Spring Valley Henderson vs Sunrise Manor

All Cities in Nevada

Click any city for the full profile. Data from U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-Year Estimates).

City Population Median Income Median Home Median Rent Unemployment Crime Index
Las Vegas 644,835 $66,356 $365,300 $1,356 7.4% 118
Henderson 318,063 $85,311 $427,900 $1,641 7.0% 76
Reno 265,196 $73,073 $462,100 $1,360 5.0% 130
North Las Vegas 264,022 $71,774 $340,200 $1,479 8.4% 99
Enterprise 225,461 $91,165 $413,800 $1,700 6.6% 25
Spring Valley 220,114 $69,341 $375,200 $1,523 7.6% 25
Sunrise Manor 198,325 $52,476 $265,000 $1,190 9.1% 25
Paradise 189,733 $55,224 $333,800 $1,192 8.9% 25
Sparks 108,025 $82,938 $423,500 $1,526 6.1% 111
Carson 58,249 $67,465 $390,800 $1,127 4.7% 72
Whitney 44,720 $58,624 $271,700 $1,350 7.8% 25
Pahrump 44,711 $54,988 $251,100 $1,115 10.2% 94
Winchester 37,531 $45,709 $251,700 $1,097 8.4% 25
Summerlin South 29,724 $110,911 $593,800 $2,194 3.3% 25
Fernley 23,035 $84,025 $328,900 $1,351 4.6% 60
Sun Valley 22,775 $71,471 $285,600 $1,120 5.1% 117
Mesquite 20,659 $69,146 $333,400 $1,086 7.6% 39
Elko 20,513 $85,000 $275,600 $1,142 4.5% 90
Spanish Springs 16,418 $119,830 $527,800 $1,841 3.2% 117
Dayton 15,415 $85,375 $361,700 $1,298 8.4% 60
Spring Creek 15,062 $109,952 $299,500 $1,463 3.7% 71
Boulder City 14,868 $76,402 $401,100 $1,262 6.6% 42
Gardnerville Ranchos 12,057 $76,917 $441,600 $1,219 3.4% 43
Cold Springs 11,029 $85,851 $374,700 $1,838 3.3% 117
Fallon 9,243 $63,490 $234,000 $1,162 4.4% 55
Incline Village 9,163 $155,195 $1,199,700 $1,967 3.5% 117
Winnemucca 8,354 $78,161 $280,200 $899 4.4% 135
Laughlin 8,184 $44,359 $222,200 $930 11.7% 25
Moapa Valley 7,144 $82,592 $293,000 $1,050 12.1% 25
Johnson Lane 6,499 $102,477 $646,800 $1,726 0.0% 43
Gardnerville 6,147 $66,157 $405,600 $1,248 4.5% 43
Indian Hills 5,955 $77,256 $432,100 $1,416 2.5% 43
Lemmon Valley 5,221 $87,052 $325,900 $1,654 0.9% 117
Silver Springs 5,117 $47,584 $226,400 $1,308 9.0% 60
West Wendover 4,513 $80,342 $172,500 $770 3.0% 163
Nellis AFB 4,278 $67,733 $98,200 $1,774 22.4% 25
Battle Mountain 4,187 $99,962 $193,300 $867 15.2% 148
Ely 3,957 $77,076 $185,900 $982 3.9% 71
Washoe Valley 3,235 $99,018 $474,500 $1,147 4.8% 117
Minden 3,140 $87,778 $477,700 $1,548 0.5% 43
Yerington 3,108 $41,600 $226,400 $736 5.1% 60
Hawthorne 2,739 $55,847 $169,700 $1,170 2.3% 45
Carlin 2,366 $68,207 $183,500 $1,174 5.0% 56
Kingsbury 1,920 $74,424 $731,400 $1,541 1.3% 43
Sandy Valley 1,914 $86,042 $249,400 — 10.7% 25
Stagecoach 1,904 $68,417 $265,900 $1,145 7.6% 60
Tonopah 1,777 $35,931 $163,100 $763 3.0% 94
Topaz Ranch Estates 1,695 $56,250 $240,900 $1,207 8.2% 43
Ruhenstroth 1,691 $98,281 $630,600 — 0.4% 43
Lovelock 1,675 $42,955 $160,400 $696 14.2% —
Smith Valley 1,646 $49,226 $669,500 — 1.0% 60
Amargosa Valley 1,355 $53,333 $107,500 $777 0.3% 94
Mogul 1,315 $131,838 $570,500 — 2.5% 117
East Valley 1,294 $123,445 $861,100 — 8.0% 43
Jackpot 1,215 $62,692 — $610 14.4% 71
Grass Valley 1,190 $77,308 $134,200 — 12.2% —
Golden Valley 1,184 $85,242 $493,100 — 2.2% 117
Verdi 1,134 $77,212 $601,200 $1,467 3.6% 117
Pioche 1,111 $73,849 $166,800 — 15.0% —
Wells 1,057 $55,917 $168,800 $965 0.4% 71
Osino 1,051 $101,532 $180,100 — 0.0% 71
Panaca 1,039 $68,073 $243,600 $907 0.0% —
Alamo 1,019 $65,083 $121,100 $693 0.0% —
Genoa 1,013 $116,250 $971,800 — 3.8% 43
Owyhee 1,012 $56,000 $57,500 $513 5.5% 71
Bunkerville 1,008 $142,500 $320,600 — 0.0% 25
Fallon Station 938 $100,214 — $1,420 0.0% 42
Stateline 938 $41,830 $835,000 $1,456 2.0% 43
Round Hill Village 936 $171,923 $1,030,300 $2,048 4.8% 43
Virginia City 904 $106,815 $303,000 — 0.0% 96
Schurz 896 $29,583 $84,300 $541 15.8% 45
McGill 879 $62,837 $135,200 $1,167 6.9% 71
Caliente 840 $36,400 $153,900 $629 4.2% —
Indian Springs 837 $56,250 $273,700 $944 5.8% 25
Moapa Town 775 $73,182 $306,900 $753 3.4% 25
Wadsworth 716 $60,500 $106,600 $829 11.1% 117
Zephyr Cove 637 $137,500 $1,839,300 $1,681 0.0% 43
Beatty 596 — $134,100 $779 0.0% 94
Fish Springs 549 $95,795 $632,400 $2,018 1.4% 43
Mount Charleston 474 $104,489 $574,000 — 0.0% 25
Crescent Valley 456 $73,393 $58,700 — 0.0% 85
Carter Springs 450 $98,750 $305,700 $1,418 3.6% 43
Skyland 396 $82,772 $1,344,700 — 0.0% 43
Walker Lake 385 $40,481 $148,700 — 12.6% 45
Nixon 348 $67,608 $54,400 $517 36.9% 117
Dyer 343 $39,837 $104,700 $565 0.0% —
Eureka 315 $72,113 $267,600 $778 0.0% 85
Sutcliffe 291 $28,967 — $606 6.3% 117
Lakeridge 278 $86,734 $1,084,500 — 0.0% 43
Searchlight 278 — $116,600 $481 0.0% 25
Double Spring 276 $100,417 $612,100 — 13.8% 43
Cal-Nev-Ari 254 $38,929 $67,700 $788 44.0% 25
Fort McDermitt 254 $20,139 $29,200 — 17.6% 101
Blue Diamond 247 $81,023 $552,100 — 14.8% 25
Glenbrook 214 — $2,000,001 — 0.0% 43
Humboldt River Ranch 213 $56,875 $259,900 — 0.0% —
Silver Peak 213 $80,208 $38,900 — 3.2% —
Goldfield 212 — $69,500 — 9.1% —
Preston 203 — — — 0.0% 71
Topaz Lake 201 $88,125 $508,300 $1,313 4.1% 43
Ruth 189 — $68,500 — 27.7% 71
Crystal Bay 184 $201,094 $2,000,001 — 0.0% 117
Golconda 178 — — — 0.0% 101
Empire 162 — — — 0.0% 117
Kingston 142 — $114,800 — 0.0% 148
Paradise Valley 141 — — — 0.0% 101
Mina 136 $27,235 — — 0.0% 45
Lund 133 — $320,000 — 0.0% 71
Goodsprings 123 $23,989 — $761 84.0% 25
Silver City 105 $76,750 $339,100 — 0.0% 60
Orovada 89 — — — 0.0% 101
Bennett Springs 85 — $325,000 — 0.0% —
McDermitt 78 — — — 0.0% 101
Imlay 68 — — — — —
Gabbs 65 — — — 0.0% 94
Lamoille 55 — — — — 71
Valmy 35 — — — — 101
Logan Creek 28 — $2,000,001 — — 43
Montello 22 — — — — 71
Baker 21 — — — 0.0% 71
Gerlach 21 — — — 0.0% 117
Rachel 20 — — — — —
Beaverdam 18 — — — 0.0% —
Nelson 17 — — — 0.0% 25
Austin 16 — — — 0.0% 148
Denio 15 — — — 0.0% 101
Mountain City 12 — — — — 71
Hiko 11 — — — — —
Dry Valley 0 — — — — —
Mount Wilson 0 — — — — —
Oasis 0 — — — — 71
Unionville 0 — — — — —
Ursine 0 — — — — —

Frequently Asked Questions

Carson, NV is among the most affordable cities in Nevada, with a cost of living index of 94 (US average = 100) and a median home value of $390,800. See the full ranking above.
Henderson, NV ranks among the safest cities in Nevada, with a crime index of 76 (100 = U.S. average, lower is safer). Crime data from the FBI UCR Program.
Enterprise, NV has one of the highest median household incomes in Nevada at $91,165 per year. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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