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Living in
Carson.
About
Life in Carson
If you're considering Carson City, understand that you're moving to a government town first and foremost—state agencies and education institutions drive much of the local economy, which means steady work but also a particular flavor to the community. The cost of living is moderate for Nevada, with median home values around $453,000 and rent averaging $1,248, making it more affordable than Lake Tahoe or Reno while still reflecting mountain-adjacent pricing. Your commute will be reasonable at about 21 minutes on average, though you'll need a car; public transit is minimal and long-distance options essentially vanished when Greyhound stopped serving the city in 2006.
Carson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.3%
Foreign-Born
12.5%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
-0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Carson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Carson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (59.4%), and 17.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.4%
of households
Married Couples
41.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% below NV average
Rent, home values, and income in Carson
In Carson, rent runs 22% below the NV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,870
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.8%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts below NV average
Unemployment in Carson
Unemployment in Carson is 1.1 percentage points lower than the NV average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Carson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.5 min avg
How Carson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Carson, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Small hub2.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 103 mi
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 9% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Carson City County Sheriff's Office, which covers Carson, runs 9% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
357.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
793.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Carson City County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 46 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
76.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Carson City, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Carson, the most common type is high wind, with 46 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 67 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 51 | Heavy Snow | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 47 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 31 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 30 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 28 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 35 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
195 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Carson City, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Carson is typically good — 313 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
313
per year
Moderate Days
50
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Carson city-wide
Climate86°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Carson has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
14.7"
Annual Snowfall
14.0"
Hot Days/Year
40
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
146
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
38
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 24°F | 1.72" |
| Feb | 50°F | 27°F | 1.48" |
| Mar | 56°F | 32°F | 1.24" |
| Apr | 62°F | 36°F | 0.51" |
| May | 70°F | 43°F | 0.51" |
| Jun | 81°F | 49°F | 0.37" |
| Jul | 90°F | 55°F | 0.18" |
| Aug | 88°F | 53°F | 0.14" |
| Sep | 81°F | 46°F | 0.24" |
| Oct | 68°F | 36°F | 0.55" |
| Nov | 55°F | 28°F | 0.90" |
| Dec | 45°F | 24°F | 1.50" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Carson
Carson has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center · 1600 Medical Parkway
- Hospital campus: Carson Tahoe Specialty Medical Center · 775 Fleischmann Way, Carson City
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Incline Village Community Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 13.1 mi away · Incline Village
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education17.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Carson
Carson's student/teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
13
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Carson
Public · 2-year · 1,910 students · in-state tuition $4,445 · 37% graduate · median earnings $47,506 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Yosemite National Park, 91 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Carson
Carson has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Yosemite National Park (91 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Yosemite National Park
National Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Carson
Carson City Library
900 North Roop Street, Carson City
Cities Near Carson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Carson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Carson FAQ
Is Carson, Nevada affordable?⌄
Carson's median rent is $1,248/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,355/year. Median home value is $453,000.
Is Carson, Nevada safe?⌄
Carson is policed by the Carson City County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 358 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 794 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Carson, Nevada?⌄
Carson has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Carson, Nevada?⌄
The cost of living in Carson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,248/month and median household income is $72,355/year. The median home value is $453,000. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Carson, Nevada?⌄
The average commute in Carson is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from