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Living in
Fernley.
About
Life in Fernley
Fernley is a community of 23,631 people in Nevada. The median household income is $89,517, median rent runs about $1,570 per month, and median home values are around $366,700. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.
Fernley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Foreign-Born
7.9%
Broadband Internet
93.0%
of households
Population Growth
+14.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Fernley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fernley, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (55.9%), and 13.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.6%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.4%
of households
Married Couples
54.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.76
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 about average for NV
Rent, home values, and income in Fernley
In Fernley, home values are 16% below the NV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,964
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2001
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $405,738 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NV average
Unemployment in Fernley
Unemployment in Fernley is 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 Fernley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.9 min avg
How Fernley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fernley, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Small hub2.4M 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 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, which covers Fernley, runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
292.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
579.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Lyon County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 33 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
71.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lyon County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lyon County, which includes Fernley, the most common type is high wind, with 33 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 39 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 35 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 45 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 30 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 23 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 19 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2018 | 33 | High Wind | None reported |
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.
198 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lyon County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lyon County, which includes Fernley, is typically good — 323 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
323
per year
Moderate Days
36
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lyon County, county-wide
Climate93°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fernley has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
7.6"
Annual Snowfall
4.5"
Hot Days/Year
82
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
110
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
29
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 25°F | 0.70" |
| Feb | 53°F | 28°F | 0.50" |
| Mar | 61°F | 34°F | 0.58" |
| Apr | 67°F | 40°F | 0.28" |
| May | 76°F | 48°F | 0.62" |
| Jun | 87°F | 57°F | 0.32" |
| Jul | 96°F | 66°F | 0.09" |
| Aug | 94°F | 64°F | 0.16" |
| Sep | 86°F | 54°F | 0.16" |
| Oct | 72°F | 42°F | 0.34" |
| Nov | 57°F | 31°F | 0.38" |
| Dec | 46°F | 24°F | 0.67" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fernley
Uninsured
9.4%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education20.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fernley
Fernley's student/teacher ratio is 20.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fernley
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Fernley
Fernley Branch Library
575 Silver Lace Blvd, Fernley
Cities Near Fernley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fernley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fernley FAQ
Is Fernley, Nevada affordable?⌄
Fernley's median rent is $1,570/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $89,517/year. Median home value is $366,700.
Is Fernley, Nevada safe?⌄
Fernley is policed by the Lyon County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 293 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 579 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fernley, Nevada?⌄
Fernley has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fernley, Nevada?⌄
The cost of living in Fernley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,570/month and median household income is $89,517/year. The median home value is $366,700. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fernley, Nevada?⌄
The average commute in Fernley is 28 minutes, which is about 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