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Carson City, NV

RANK #564 / 996  ·  POP 58,249  ·  NV

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.5%

Carson City shows below-average economic momentum. Growth signals are flat or softening.

[01] Why Carson City?

Nevada's capital, Carson City, is often recognized for its unique position as a consolidated city-county, offering a blend of civic life and natural beauty. Located in Eagle Valley, on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, it sits about 30 miles south of Reno. The commute to Reno typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. The community maintains a small-town feel despite its capital status. Residents have access to extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking and biking trails in the Sierra foothills and at Prison Hill Recreation Area, fishing in the Carson River, and winter sports a short drive away at Lake Tahoe.

Carson City offers a quality of life that attracts families, retirees, and remote workers. The Carson City School District includes above-average public schools. The economy is driven by state government, healthcare, education, and retail. Manufacturing is also a significant sector, with Carson City having a notable concentration of light industry. The city's economic development efforts have focused on diversification into areas like clean energy and advanced manufacturing. Public transit options include local bus services and a commuter bus to Reno.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.5x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+5.7%

Well above national median

Home Prices
+0.6%

Well below national median

Climate & Terrain
7.3

Favorable climate & terrain

Price/Rent
18x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.5x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Carson City U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
58,249
+0.5% YoY
Median Household Income
$67,465
Median Home Value
$390,800
+0.58% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,127
Average Annual Pay
$69,100
+8.3% YoY
Employment
31,895
+1.8% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1726
Less affordable than average
Migration Inflow
5.21%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$537,500
Days on Market
62
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.0
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
99.0%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
30.0%
Listings w/ Price Drops
15.3%
Building Permits (2024)
264
Single-Family Permits
183

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$2,950M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Redwood Materials Nevada Campus Expansion
Redwood Materials
$2,000M Under Construction
Winston Solar & Battery Storage Facility (400 MW solar + BESS)
Winston FC Solar LLC (EDF)
$400M Under Construction
Google Data Center Campuses Expansion (Storey and Clark counties)
Google
$400M Under Construction
The Marlette (140-unit multifamily development)
Kingsbarn Capital & Development / Neeser Construction
$50M Completed
Carson City Townhome Development (51 units)
NV Capital Corporation
$50M Planned
New City Hall
Carson City (in negotiation with Hop & Mae Adams Foundation)
$50M Proposed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +5.7% 89 percentile
Population Growth +0.5% 52 percentile
Income Growth +8.4% 48 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.7% 80 percentile
Home Price Change +0.6% 39 percentile
Rent Growth +5.2% 81 percentile
Price/Rent 18x 13 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carson City, NV a good place to move to?

Carson City has a Boom Town Index score of 43/100, ranking #564 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.8% and a median household income of $67,465, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Carson City affordable?

The median home value in Carson City is $390,800 with median rent at $1,127/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1726, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Carson City growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.8%. Home values changed +0.6% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Carson City?

Yes — 5.21% of Carson City's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Bronx County, NY 53 Carter County, TN 53 Portsmouth city, VA 53 Madison County, ID 53 Missoula County, MT 53 Bibb County, GA 53 Pulaski County, KY 53 Howard County, MD 53