Your life in Washoe County, Nevada

What stands out

Against every county in America, Washoe County is unusual in three ways: natural-hazard risk is among the riskiest in America (99 of 100), the median home price is in the top 4% of American counties ($572K), and the home price against local income is in the top 4% of American counties (4.7 years of income). Within Nevada it ranks 2nd of 17 counties for natural-hazard risk.

Where you are

You live in Washoe County, Nevada. 486,674 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.2% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -241).

Nevada has no income tax, no estate tax and no corporate income tax, funded largely by gaming and sales taxes and a payroll tax on employers. Las Vegas and Reno account for nearly all of the population growth, much of it from California. Property taxes are low and annual increases on a primary home are capped at 3%. Water supply from the Colorado River is the long-term constraint.

Money

The typical household here brings in $81,531 a year, higher than 89% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $69,452. Unemployment runs 3.5%, higher than 52% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home.

Nevada has no state income tax, so none of that goes to the state.

Home

The median home costs $572K, pricier than 96% of American counties, about 4.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,423 a month. Property tax is 0.48% of home value, roughly $2,196 a year on that median home, lower than 90% of American counties. 59% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 52% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 38 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 77.3 years, longer than 67% of American counties. There are 1,751 active physicians in the county, about 36.0 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.6 of 5 stars. 12.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.83 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 75% of American counties. 88% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 6 points. 76% of eligible voters turned out. Under Nevada law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 52°F, highs near 65 and lows near 39, colder than 67% of American counties. About 14 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 99 out of 100, riskier than almost every county in America; the county has had 52 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 281 Mbps down, faster than 89% of American counties. There are 9 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.8 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 17 breweries, 6 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Nevada tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.