RANK #721 / 1001 NAT · POP 58,384
1YR FORECAST: +1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
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.
Carson City is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.5% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.2x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Carson City stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
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 1001 counties.
At 27/100, Carson City faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $72,355 combined with job growth of +2.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Carson City leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $453,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,248/month on average.
Employers in Carson City are hiring — job growth of +2.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.0% YoY). Home values moved +0.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.15% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Carson City has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.