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Living in
Sun Valley.
Sun Valley is an unincorporated community in Washoe County, NV. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Sun Valley
Sun Valley is a community of 22,697 people in Nevada. The median household income is $77,446, median rent runs about $1,214 per month, and median home values are around $349,000. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.
Sun Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.8%
Foreign-Born
18.8%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
+7.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sun Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sun Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (83.4%), and 29.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.4%
of residents
65 and Older
12.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
40.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.7%
of households
Married Couples
45.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.21
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 24% below NV average
Rent, home values, and income in Sun Valley
In Sun Valley, rent runs 24% below the NV average, and home values are 20% below the NV average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$979
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $440,090 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1 pts below NV average
Unemployment in Sun Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Washoe County, which includes Sun Valley, is 1 percentage points lower than the NV average.
Unemployment rate
Sun Valley: Washoe County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Washoe County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Sun Valley is about 5% of Washoe County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Sun Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Reno, NV metro area
Commute25.9 min avg
How Sun Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sun Valley, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Small hub2.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 114 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 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, which covers Sun Valley, runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
286.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
581.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Washoe County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 65 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washoe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washoe County, which includes Sun Valley, the most common type is high wind, with 65 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | High Wind | $1.5M |
| 2024 | 77 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 65 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 59 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 39 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 29 | Winter Weather | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 31 | Heavy Snow | $60,000 |
| 2018 | 45 | Heavy Snow | 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.
207 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washoe County, county-wide
Sun Valley is about 5% of Washoe County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality50 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washoe County, which includes Sun Valley, is typically good — 183 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
50
Good Days
183
per year
Moderate Days
180
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Washoe County, county-wide
Sun Valley is about 5% of Washoe County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sun Valley has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
8.1"
Annual Snowfall
29.7"
Hot Days/Year
60
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
102
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
52
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 27°F | 1.27" |
| Feb | 50°F | 29°F | 1.04" |
| Mar | 57°F | 34°F | 0.87" |
| Apr | 63°F | 38°F | 0.49" |
| May | 72°F | 46°F | 0.62" |
| Jun | 83°F | 54°F | 0.50" |
| Jul | 93°F | 61°F | 0.30" |
| Aug | 91°F | 60°F | 0.23" |
| Sep | 82°F | 53°F | 0.24" |
| Oct | 68°F | 43°F | 0.61" |
| Nov | 54°F | 33°F | 0.72" |
| Dec | 45°F | 27°F | 1.20" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sun Valley
Uninsured
16.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sun Valley's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Dini-townsend Hospital at Nnmh
Psychiatric · 4.3 mi away · Sparks
Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Reno
Renown Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Reno
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.
Education18.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sun Valley
Sun Valley's student/teacher ratio is 18.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 10.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
10.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sun Valley (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 15,599 students · in-state tuition $10,300 · 61% graduate · median earnings $67,303 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 551 students · 82% graduate · median earnings $44,935 (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 & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sun Valley
Data not yet available
Cities Near Sun Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sun Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sun Valley FAQ
Is Sun Valley, Nevada affordable?⌄
Sun Valley's median rent is $1,214/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $77,446/year. Median home value is $349,100.
Is Sun Valley, Nevada safe?⌄
Sun Valley is policed by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 287 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 581 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sun Valley, Nevada?⌄
Washoe County, which includes Sun Valley, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sun Valley, Nevada?⌄
The cost of living in Sun Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,214/month and median household income is $77,446/year. The median home value is $349,100. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sun Valley, Nevada?⌄
The average commute in Sun Valley is 26 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