#1Ely
White Pine County · 3,946 peopleStrongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: health C
ACost–SafetyB−SchoolsCHealthC+JobsA−WalkB−Hazards
Ely, #1 on this list · Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 3.0Nevada rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Nevada
Ely ranks first of Nevada’s 18 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with a B+: cost of living (A) and walkability (A−) are its strongest grades; health (C) is its lowest. 0 of the 18 (0%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#1B+
Johnson Lane
unincorporated, Douglas County · 6,467 peopleStrongest: jobs & income A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk D
C+Cost–SafetyB+SchoolsB+HealthAJobsC+WalkDHazards
#3Incline Village
unincorporated, Washoe County · 9,272 peopleStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
D−Cost–SafetyBSchoolsAHealthBJobsAWalkCHazards
Where they are: Four of the top 10 are in Douglas County.
All 18 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 42 Nevada towns.
18 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1ElyWhite Pine County · 3,946 people58.7top 32.8%B+Strongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: health C
2Johnson Laneunincorporated, Douglas County · 6,467 people58.3top 33.7%B+Strongest: jobs & income A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk D
3Incline Villageunincorporated, Washoe County · 9,272 people55.2top 42.2%BStrongest: walkability A, health A·lowest: cost of living D−
5Mindenunincorporated, Douglas County · 3,707 people51.4bottom 47.3%B−Strongest: walkability A, health B+·lowest: hazard risk D
6Gardnervilleunincorporated, Douglas County · 5,486 people51.4bottom 47.3%B−Strongest: walkability A, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
7Battle Mountainunincorporated, Lander County · 3,518 people51.1bottom 46.5%B−Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability A·lowest: health D
11Indian Hillsunincorporated, Douglas County · 5,527 people48.3bottom 38.7%C+Strongest: health B+, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
12Lemmon Valleyunincorporated, Washoe County · 4,412 people47.6bottom 36.9%C+Strongest: schools B, health B·lowest: hazard risk D
14Washoe Valleyunincorporated, Washoe County · 3,315 people46.3bottom 33.7%CStrongest: schools B, health B·lowest: walkability D
15WinnemuccaHumboldt County · 8,307 people46.1bottom 33.3%CStrongest: walkability A−, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
16YeringtonLyon County · 3,227 people46.0bottom 32.9%CStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability A−·lowest: health D−
24West WendoverElko County · 4,576 people41.8bottom 22.9%C−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: health D
25Nellis AFBunincorporated, Clark County · 5,087 people41.8bottom 22.7%C−Strongest: hazard risk A+, walkability A−·lowest: cost of living D−
26FallonChurchill County · 9,570 people41.3bottom 21.6%C−Strongest: walkability A, safety C+·lowest: hazard risk C−
27Moapa Valleyunincorporated, Clark County · 6,684 people41.2bottom 21.5%C−Strongest: cost of living B, health B−·lowest: hazard risk D
39Silver Springsunincorporated, Lyon County · 5,060 people31.3bottom 6.1%DStrongest: cost of living B, schools C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
40Hawthorneunincorporated, Mineral County · 2,809 people29.7bottom 4.5%D−Strongest: cost of living B, walkability B·lowest: health D
41Laughlinunincorporated, Clark County · 8,789 people27.9bottom 3.2%D−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Nevada. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Nevada?
Among 18 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Ely (White Pine County) ranks first, with a B+; cost of living (A) and walkability (A−) are its strongest grades; health (C) is its lowest. Johnson Lane and Incline Village follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Nevada. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (18 in Nevada). 24 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Nevada page.
Go deeper
All Nevada rankings →More Nevada lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live42 towns · #1 ElyMost affordable towns42 towns · #1 Battle MountainTowns with the best schools42 towns · #1 WinnemuccaHealthiest towns42 towns · #1 Incline VillageBest towns for jobs & income42 towns · #1 Summerlin SouthMost walkable towns42 towns · #1 WinchesterTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk42 towns · #1 Nellis AFBBest towns for the outdoors42 towns · #1 Incline VillageMost historic towns42 towns · #1 ElyTowns with the most civic life16 towns · #1 ElyTowns with the least snow25 towns · #1 HawthorneDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns25 towns · #1 Incline VillageDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters42 towns · #1 LaughlinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers42 towns · #1 LaughlinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers42 towns · #1 Incline VillageDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes42 towns · #1 Incline VillageDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes41 towns · #1 Silver SpringsDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns15 towns · #1 MesquiteDescribed, no letters
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