Best overall
Eureka County
Overall score 61.2
Economy 15.3 / Affordability 81.5
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Nevada
Compare counties in Nevada by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 17 Nevada counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Nevada
Put Nevada counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Nevada rankings
Open the full Nevada ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Nevada county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Eureka County
Family score 70.9
Schools 83.7 / Safety 46.7
Best value
White Pine County
Value score 69.9
Affordability 78.4 / Taxes 74.8
Most affordable
Mineral County
Affordability 85.9
Typical home $124,347
Best schools
Eureka County
Schools 83.7
Safety 46.7 / Economy 15.3
Safest
Washoe County
Safety 93.7
Schools 49.9 / Peace 87.2
Low taxes
Eureka County
Taxes 90.4
Affordability 81.5 / Typical home $158,924
Peace & quiet
Mineral County
Peace & Quiet 92.6
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Nevada
View full- 1Eureka County
Typical home $158,924
61.2
Overall
- 2Lincoln County
Typical home $234,680
58.7
Overall
- 3Elko County
Typical home $370,492
57.4
Overall
- 4Douglas County
Typical home $693,992
56.4
Overall
- 5Humboldt County
Typical home $346,404
55.6
Overall
Best counties for families in Nevada
View full- 1Eureka County
Typical home $158,924
70.9
Family
- 2Douglas County
Typical home $693,992
59.9
Family
- 3Washoe County
Typical home $566,129
59.2
Family
- 4Lincoln County
Typical home $234,680
56.6
Family
- 5Storey County
Typical home $469,443
55.5
Family
Best value counties in Nevada
View full- 1White Pine County
Typical home $186,094
69.9
Value
- 2Elko County
Typical home $370,492
68.8
Value
- 3Eureka County
Typical home $158,924
68.8
Value
- 4Lincoln County
Typical home $234,680
68.8
Value
- 5Mineral County
Typical home $124,347
68.1
Value
Most affordable counties in Nevada
View full- 1Mineral County
Typical home $124,347
85.9
Afford.
- 2Eureka County
Typical home $158,924
81.5
Afford.
- 3White Pine County
Typical home $186,094
78.4
Afford.
- 4Esmeralda County
Typical home $108,900
74.3
Afford.
- 5Lander County
Typical home $259,279
69.5
Afford.
Best school counties in Nevada
View full- 1Eureka County
Typical home $158,924
83.7
Schools
- 2Douglas County
Typical home $693,992
67.7
Schools
- 3Storey County
Typical home $469,443
62.4
Schools
- 4Washoe County
Typical home $566,129
49.9
Schools
- 5Lander County
Typical home $259,279
46.8
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Nevada
View full- 1Eureka County
Typical home $158,924
90.4
Taxes
- 2Storey County
Typical home $469,443
88.3
Taxes
- 3Humboldt County
Typical home $346,404
83.4
Taxes
- 4Elko County
Typical home $370,492
82.8
Taxes
- 5Nye County
Typical home $359,524
82
Taxes
Quietest counties in Nevada
View full- 1Mineral County
Typical home $124,347
92.6
Quiet
- 2White Pine County
Typical home $186,094
91.6
Quiet
- 3Esmeralda County
Typical home $108,900
89.7
Quiet
- 4Churchill County
Typical home $391,209
89.1
Quiet
- 5Lincoln County
Typical home $234,680
88.1
Quiet
Safest counties in Nevada
View full- 1Washoe County
Typical home $566,129
93.7
Safety
- 2Elko County
Typical home $370,492
84
Safety
- 3Churchill County
Typical home $391,209
83.2
Safety
- 4Mineral County
Typical home $124,347
81.8
Safety
- 5Humboldt County
Typical home $346,404
80.1
Safety
Popular Nevada county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Nevada
The best county in Nevada depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Nevada
For best overall counties in Nevada, Eureka County, Lincoln County, and Elko County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Nevada
For families, Eureka County, Douglas County, and Washoe County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Nevada
For affordability-focused movers, Mineral County, Eureka County, and White Pine County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Nevada
For school-first households, Eureka County, Douglas County, and Storey County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Nevada
For lower tax-pressure searches, Eureka County, Storey County, and Humboldt County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Nevada
For quieter-living searches, Mineral County, White Pine County, and Esmeralda County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Nevada
Compare county scale carefully in Nevada; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Nevada
What is the best county to live in Nevada?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Eureka County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Nevada for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Eureka County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Nevada?
Mineral County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Nevada counties score well for schools or taxes?
Eureka County currently leads the school-score view, while Eureka County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Nevada counties
Showing all 17 Nevada counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eureka County FIPS 32011 | 61.2 | 15.3 | 81.5 | 83.7 | 46.7 | 90.4 | 83.4 | $158,924 | $70,473 |
| 2 | Lincoln County FIPS 32017 | 58.7 | 56.7 | 61.1 | 34.3 | 66.7 | 80.2 | 88.1 | $234,680 | $72,307 |
| 3 | Elko County FIPS 32007 | 57.4 | 65.4 | 48.7 | 18.5 | 84 | 82.8 | 86.2 | $370,492 | $86,487 |
| 4 | Douglas County FIPS 32005 | 56.4 | 65.7 | 17.1 | 67.7 | 69.6 | 75.7 | 82.7 | $693,992 | $90,754 |
| 5 | Humboldt County FIPS 32013 | 55.6 | 57.9 | 50.6 | 18.9 | 80.1 | 83.4 | 87.2 | $346,404 | $81,073 |
| 6 | Washoe County FIPS 32031 | 55.6 | 65.5 | 12.7 | 49.9 | 93.7 | 76.3 | 87.2 | $566,129 | $88,096 |
| 7 | Storey County FIPS 32029 | 55.5 | 54.6 | 41.9 | 62.4 | 39 | 88.3 | 83.8 | $469,443 | $93,409 |
| 8 | Lander County FIPS 32015 | 54.9 | 44.8 | 69.5 | 46.8 | 32.5 | 78.1 | 85.2 | $259,279 | $89,014 |
| 9 | White Pine County FIPS 32033 | 54.5 | 68 | 78.4 | 6.9 | 29.4 | 74.8 | 91.6 | $186,094 | $72,865 |
| 10 | Churchill County FIPS 32001 | 54.2 | 54.8 | 37.9 | 31.7 | 83.2 | 77.8 | 89.1 | $391,209 | $79,163 |
| 11 | Lyon County FIPS 32019 | 53 | 51.5 | 40 | 38.8 | 66.3 | 80.8 | 86.3 | $412,467 | $80,812 |
| 12 | Mineral County FIPS 32021 | 49.4 | 17.2 | 85.9 | 5.9 | 81.8 | 55.8 | 92.6 | $124,347 | $54,855 |
| 13 | Pershing County FIPS 32027 | 49.2 | 56.8 | 61.1 | 4.8 | 43.8 | 80.5 | 82.7 | $240,102 | $66,902 |
| 14 | Esmeralda County FIPS 32009 | 45.4 | 13.6 | 74.3 | 31.5 | 35.4 | 73.6 | 89.7 | $108,900 | $41,715 |
| 15 | Carson City FIPS 32510 | 43.3 | 56.9 | 16.2 | 30.6 | 50.7 | 78.9 | 67.3 | $492,406 | $72,355 |
| 16 | Nye County FIPS 32023 | 40.3 | 39 | 30.3 | 12.6 | 53.1 | 82 | 86.1 | $359,524 | $60,714 |
| 17 | Clark County FIPS 32003 | 36.9 | 49 | 25.7 | 26.2 | 14.4 | 73.8 | 69.3 | $431,014 | $76,472 |