RANK #843 / 996 NAT · POP 58,249
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +14%
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.
Above national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Carson City scores just 15/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #843 of 996 counties. Job growth at +1.8% and median household income of $67,465 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Carson City leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $390,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.17 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,127/month on average.
Employers in Carson City are hiring — job growth of +1.8% — but the population is close to flat (+0.5% YoY). Home values moved +0.6% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 5.21% of Carson City's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.