Best counties to retire to in Nevada
Best counties to retire to in Nevada
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Nevada based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Nevada.
#16. Mineral County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 4,557
- Median household income: $50,584
- Median home value: $175,000
- Top places to live: Hawthorne (C), Schurz (C+), Walker Lake (D)
#15. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 4,452
- Median household income: $69,496
- Median home value: $208,900
- Top places to live: Pioche (B-), Caliente (B-), Alamo (C+)
#14. Eureka County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 1,660
- Median household income: $73,095
- Median home value: $177,400
- Top places to live: Crescent Valley (B-), Eureka (C)
#13. Storey County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 4,139
- Median household income: $96,000
- Median home value: $393,100
- Top places to live: Virginia City (B)
#12. Esmeralda County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 962
- Median household income: $40,694
- Median home value: $102,500
- Top places to live: Goldfield (B+), Dyer (B)
#11. Lander County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D-), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 5,745
- Median household income: $84,474
- Median home value: $210,500
- Top places to live: Battle Mountain (C+)
#10. Elko County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D+), cost of living (C), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 53,852
- Median household income: $83,427
- Median home value: $282,400
- Top places to live: Spring Creek (C+), Elko (C+), West Wendover (C)
#9. Humboldt County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 17,299
- Median household income: $79,946
- Median home value: $256,800
- Top places to live: Winnemucca (B-), McDermitt (unavailable)
#8. Churchill County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 25,614
- Median household income: $73,268
- Median home value: $298,000
- Top places to live: Fallon (B-)
#7. White Pine County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (B-), weather (C), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 8,856
- Median household income: $72,294
- Median home value: $196,700
- Top places to live: Ely (B), McGill (C), Ruth (C-)
#6. Pershing County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C-)
- Population: 6,505
- Median household income: $72,007
- Median home value: $166,200
- Top places to live: Lovelock (B-)
#5. Washoe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D), weather (A+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 491,770
- Median household income: $85,600
- Median home value: $496,600
- Top places to live: Incline Village (A), Mogul (B+), Reno (B)
#4. Nye County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 53,207
- Median household income: $55,975
- Median home value: $266,000
- Top places to live: Pahrump (C-), Beatty (C-), Tonopah (C-)
#3. Lyon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 60,630
- Median household income: $73,460
- Median home value: $342,600
- Top places to live: Yerington (C+), Fernley (C+), Dayton (C)
#2. Clark County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (D), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 2,293,764
- Median household income: $73,845
- Median home value: $400,800
- Top places to live: Green Valley Ranch (A), MacDonald Ranch (A-), Enterprise (B+)
#1. Douglas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (D+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 49,624
- Median household income: $88,018
- Median home value: $587,400
- Top places to live: Kingsbury (A-), Gardnerville (B), Minden (B)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
