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Skyline of Carson City, NV
Nevada›Carson City
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Carson CityNV

2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Photo of Carson City

Carson City, NV · Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Source ↗

Population
58,571
2025 Census estimate · −0.1% since 2020
Typical home
$501K
+1.2% in a year
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
42.4
years
Jobs based here
27,534
Balanced
TownGrade
C
#20 of 42 in NV

Is Carson City a good place to live?

Carson City's standout: it has 511 miles of trail. Overall it grades C, 20th of 42 graded towns in Nevada. It is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 81% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 81% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. 46% of working residents work locally in Carson City, where Nevada’s towns sit at 16% and U.S. towns at 8%. Its National Register listings include Gov. James W. Nye Mansion and Sears-Ferris House.

StrongestA+OutdoorsA−WalkabilityWeakestDHazard riskC−Cost of living

What makes Carson City stand out

Where Carson City beats most towns.

McKeen Motor Car #70
History
Settled in 1850
43 places on the National Register
A history going back 176 years.
10of 20 on EPA’s indexCar-dependentWalkable
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 81% of U.S. towns
3.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
McKeen Motor Car #70
McKeen Motor Car #70 · National Register of Historic Places
Carson City’s story

176 years in pictures

McKeen Motor Car #70 is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1850, is the earliest of any Nevada town we grade.

Census counts: 714 in 1850, a low of 714 in 1850, 58,639 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1850 and 5 maps from 1956 on.

43 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1850Carson City is settled
Explore the history →

How Carson City grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Nevada), ordered by how far Carson City is from typical.

How grading works

Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10 of 20; 6.8% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →SchoolsBOpen →Jobs & income$72K median household incomeC+Open →HealthCarson Tahoe Regional Medical Center 4 miles awayC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors20% conserved landA+Open →History14 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life2.1 library visits per resident; 3.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market42 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.4–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Carson City: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Carson City, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerNV Energy13.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCarson City Public WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers91% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Carson City’s trash rules yet
SchoolsCarson City School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Nevada you can register online until 5 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 28 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereCarson City County ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026
ZIP codes89701, 89706, 8970389701 50% · 89706 32% · 89703 18%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Carson City.

Carson City is one of Nevada’s best towns for the outdoors, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Nevada.

OutdoorsA+

Carson City has set aside 20.3% of its land for conservation

Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #1 of 42 in Nevada.

Carson City’s trail density is 3.3 miles per square mile. Spooner Lake & Backcountry State Park, at 2,631 acres with 17.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.

#11for trails in NV
20.3%
conserved · 20,305 of 99,955 acres
511 mi
of trails · 3.3 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Spooner Lake & Backcountry State Park17.3 mi2,631
2. Silver Saddle Ranch9.4 mi807
3. Riverview Park1.4 mi108
Full pageCarson City’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map511 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk17.3 miles of trail · Spooner Lake & Backcountry State ParkConserved land20.3% conserved · 20,305 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Carson City?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsB

Public schools in Carson City beat 58% of Nevada districts

Its public schools are run by the Carson City school district. Three of its 14 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

58%of NV districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Eagle Valley Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8Grades 6–8854B−
Carson High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–12––
Edith W. Fritsch ElementaryTop results in townGrades PK–5Grades PK–5500A−
Full pageCarson City’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsCarson CityVs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighborsEvery school14 schools · Fremont ElementaryQuestions“Are Carson City’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NV on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D

Carson City faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes

Since 1982, 46 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Carson City.

81risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
81Very high riskLowerHigher
EarthquakesInland floodingWildfire
46
paid flood claims since 1982
Full pageCarson City’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims46 paid flood claims · Since 1982Past disasters11 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet readyReady for earthquakes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Carson City has four seasons and hot summers

Carson City has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. The July high in Carson City is 90°F.

14″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter23–47°
Spring35–64°
Summer51–87°
Fall36–69°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
Full pageCarson City’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 90°, January lows 23°Rain & snow14″ of snow a winter · 11 inches of rain and snow a yearHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.3° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+

About half of working residents work right in Carson City

Since 2013, Carson City has added 2,363 jobs, to 27,534 in 2023. The top destinations are Reno (17%), Sparks (4%) and Indian Hills (2%). Half commute less than 8 miles.

46%work in town
Carson CityNevada townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work21 minutes24 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$72,000$78,000$80,000

Where working residents work

In Carson City46%
Reno17%
Sparks4%
Indian Hills2%
Dayton2%
8 mi
median commute distance
27,534
jobs based in Carson City
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns
Full pageCarson City’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here27,534 jobs based here · BalancedWhere people work46% work in Carson CityCommute times21 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 8 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HousingCost of living grade C−

Carson City’s typical home value is about $501K

At 6.9 years of the Carson City metro’s $72K median household income, the typical home (about $501K) costs more against local pay than in 85% of Nevada towns; that ratio is one input to its C− for cost of living.

The typical Carson City home is worth about $501,000, up 1.2% in a year, 14% above the Nevada typical home. 62% of households own their home in Carson City.

$501KZillow home value
Carson CityNevada townsU.S. towns
Households that own their home62%70%73%
Median rent$1,248 a month$1,419 a month$1,185 a month
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent50%53%48%

Typical home value

Carson City$501K
Nevada$441K
Market temperature
BalancedA seller's marketBuyer’sSeller’s
42
days on market
99.6%
sale-to-list price
+1.2%
value change, 1 year
60
homes sold in May
Full pageCarson City’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 1.2% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 6.9 years of incomeRents$1,248 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Who lives here

Older than Nevada overall

People 65 and older are 21% of residents (17% statewide). 24% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 28% across Nevada.

42.4median age · NV 39.1
Carson CityNevada townsU.S. towns
Aged 65 or older21%17%18%
Median age42.4 years39.9 years40.5 years
Under 1820%21%22%
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+24%22%29%
Carson CityNevadaUnited States

Ages · share of residents

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma11%
High school28%
Some college27%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s15%
Graduate9%

Women and men · all residents

48.0% women, 52.0% men

About 109 men for every 100 women. Across Nevada, 49.6% of residents are women. Median age: women 43.5, men 41.7.

Ages and education in Carson City
Carson CityNVU.S.
Under 1010.6%11.4%11.6%
10 to 179.3%10.3%10.3%
18 to 247.8%8%9.1%
25 to 3413%14.4%13.7%
35 to 4412.2%13.9%13.2%
45 to 5411.8%12.6%12.2%
55 to 6414.2%12.4%12.7%
65 to 7412.7%10.3%10.2%
75 and older8.6%6.7%7%
No diploma10.8%12.5%10.4%
High school27.7%27.6%26%
Some college26.9%23.3%19.1%
Associate’s10.8%8.8%8.8%
Bachelor’s14.6%18.1%21.6%
Graduate9.2%9.8%14.1%
Full pageCarson City by the numbersOpen the page
Ages42.4 median age · 21% are 65 or olderSchooling24% have a four-year degreeHomes62% own their home · HomeownersIncome$72K a year · Median household income

U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

HealthC+

Health in Carson City trails 56% of U.S. towns

Carson City beats the Nevada average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 73% of Carson City adults had a checkup this year.

45%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
Carson CityNevada townsU.S. towns
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)73%74%79%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)36%35%33%
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)13%12%8.1%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)35%38%36%
32 measures vs. Nevada
2 better25 too close to call5 worse
What stands outCarson CityNV
Fewer adults facing housing insecurity12.9%15.6%
More adults screened for colon cancer65%58.6%
More adults who have had cancer9.6%7.4%
Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center
4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
49th
percentile among NV towns
Full pageCarson City’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsFewer adults sleeping under 7 hoursHospitals & doctors nearby4 miles to an ER · Carson Tahoe Regional Medical CenterHow adults are doingFewer adults lacking emotional supportEvery CDC estimateBetter than NV on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Nearby attractions

Lake Tahoe and 30 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Carson City. Close and well known come first.

All 33 attractions →
Big draw16 mi LakeLake Tahoe30 mi LakeDonner Lake27 mi Ski areaPalisades Tahoe Olympic Valley122 runs · 2,542 ft verticalin town MuseumNevada State Railroad Museum14 mi Ski areaMount Rose Ski Tahoe57 runs · 1,625 ft vertical28 mi Stadium & arenaMackay Stadium
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Lake Tahoe: Lara Farhadi, CC BY 2.0 · Donner Lake: J.smith, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Palisades Tahoe Olympic Valley: Jonnyboyca at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Mount Rose Ski Tahoe: Beesmill, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mackay Stadium: Lanski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Carson City

19pages on Carson City
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of NV districts · 14 schoolsHealthC+Better than NV on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$501K typical home · up 1.2% in a yearWork & commuteC+$72K median household income · 27,534 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 81% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
OutdoorsA+511 mi of trails · 20% conserved landPlacesAttractions33 nearby · Nevada State Railroad Museum under 1 miLibraryC−2.1 library visits per residentCollegesWestern Nevada College, in town
The story
HistoryB−Settled 1850 · 43 on the National RegisterFamous people14 born in Carson CityTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 83 residentsClimate90° summer highs · 14″ of snow
Day to day
News3 recent stories about Carson CityWeatherHandbookZIP code 89701, 89702, 89703Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Carson City

Western Nevada CollegeCommunity college · Public · Carson CityIn town$4,168 in-state tuition

About 4 of every 100 Carson City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Nevada.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

511 miles of trails in Carson City

20.3% of the town is conserved land, across 27 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Carson CityConservedTrails
1
Spooner Lake & Backcountry State Park17.3 mi of trails · 2,631 acres
2
Silver Saddle Ranch9.4 mi of trails · 807 acres
Directions
3
Riverview Park1.4 mi of trails · 108 acres
Directions
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US

Landmarks

43 places in Carson City on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →
McKeen Motor Car #70National Historic Landmark
Gov. James W. Nye Mansion
Nevada State Capitol
U.S. MintBuilt 1863

Famous people from Carson City

14 notable people were born in Carson City.

See all 14 →
Mark AmodeiAmerican politician · born 1958
Maurice E. McLoughlinUS tennis player · 1890–1957
Lauren WoodlandAmerican actress · born 1977
Bryan NamoffAmerican soccer player · born 1979
James C. NeedhamAmerican politician · 1864–1942
N
Nancy AngeloOrganizational psychologist/formerly(performance/video artist) · born 1953

About Carson City

Capital city of Nevada, United States

Official town website ↗

Carson City is an independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,639, making it the 6th most populous city in the state. The majority of the city's population lives in Eagle Valley, on the eastern edge of the Carson Range, a branch of the Sierra Nevada, about 30 miles (50 km) south of Reno. The city is named after the mountain man Kit Carson (1809–1868). The town began as a stopover for California-bound immigrants, but developed into a city with the Comstock Lode, a silver strike in the mountains to the northeast. The city has served as Nevada's capital since 1861, when it was still a territory. For much of its history, it was a hu…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1858
Area
157 sq mi
Elevation
4,800 ft
ZIP code
89701, 89702, 89703
Area code
775

Carson City’s neighbors

2 towns share a border with Carson City.

Explore the map →
Johnson LaneIndian HillsJohnson LaneIndian HillsCarson City
Johnson Lane
S
Visit
Indian Hills
SW · 2% of Carson City workers commute here
Visit
How the neighbors grade
TownNV rankOverallCostSafetySchoolsHealth
Carson City#20CC−—BC+
Johnson Lane#2B+C+—B+B+
Indian Hills#11C+C—B+B+

Carson City, Johnson Lane and Indian Hills report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Carson City with a neighbor →

Questions about Carson City

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Carson City, NV a good place to live?

Carson City grades C overall, better than 28% of U.S. towns and #20 of 42 in Nevada. It grades C+ for health and B for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.

Is Carson City, NV expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Carson City, NV known for?

14 notable people were born here, including Mark Amodei and Maurice E. McLoughlin.