CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

39.15° N · 119.75° W · GEOID 3209700

Carson

Carson City, Nevada · part of the Carson City, NV metro

NevadaCarson, NVCarsonCarson

The short answer

Carson is home to 58,384 people. Median household income is $72,355 a year and median rent is $1,248 a month, 20.7% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $453,000, about 6.3x annual median household income.

Carson stands out for what is close at hand. About 138 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, more than in 98% of places its size. It is the 3rd-highest of 34 Nevada places we track. Also notable: Homeowners pay a median of about 0.4% of home value a year in property tax, less than in 97% of places its size.

37OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Below average

Carson scores better than 37% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 13th of 34 in Nevada.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%30
Economy 20%39
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%61
Education 10%31
Commute 10%78
Growth 5%45

Not rated: safety, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,248
9% below the median place
Median household income
$72,355
10% below the median place
Median home value
$453,000
42% above the median place
Unemployment
5.5%
13% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Carson

  • Who lives here24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a smaller share than in 79% of the 529 places of 50,000 to 100,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Carson

Carson City loses about 2.3 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in3,553
Moved out3,663
Net−110

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within Nevada, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within NevadaOther states

Income per tax return

Arrivals$77K
Leavers$71K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Carson City; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
7.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 3.5% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Carson City report $77,000 a year in income on average; those leaving, $71,300, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$49,900 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,248 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,874 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $453,000.
Getting to work
21 minutes each way on average; 9.8% work from home; 1.4% take transit.
If it is close but not quite
Gladstone, MO matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
3.5%
77% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
7.0%
21% above the median place
Income of households moving in8
$76,996
9% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureCarsonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year17.0%21% above
Moved from another state13.5%77% above
Net movers per 1,000 people8County figure-2.3283% below
Income of households moving in8County figure$76,9969% above
Income of households moving out8County figure$71,2731% above
02

What it costs to live here

The median home costs 6.3 years of the median household's income, more than in 78% of the 530 places of 50,000 to 100,000 people we track.

Carson20.7%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$49,920
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
20.7%
1% above the median place
Home price to income
6.3x
65% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
21%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$58,500
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Carson, $1,248 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.5 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Carson, but easier on the budget

Places that match Carson on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Gladstone, MO9116.5% vs 20.7%$11,800Compare
Athens, AL9115.4% vs 20.7%$2,600Compare
Timberlake, VA9117.2% vs 20.7%$7,400Compare
Janesville, WI9117.2% vs 20.7%$4,100Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Carson.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Carson? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Property tax rate1
0.4%
55% below the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$1,870
43% below the median place
Median home value1
$453,000
42% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureCarsonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,2489% below
Rent to income120.7%1% above
Property tax rate10.4%55% below
Home price to income16.3x65% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure98.13% below
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,45310% below
HUD area median income4County figure$91,00015% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,87043% below
Median home value1$453,00042% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure0.1%95% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure38.3%26% below
Homeownership162.3%6% below
Renters paying 30%+149.6%2% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,8740% above
Vacant homes15.8%18% below
Median year built119810% above
03

Work and pay

Mean commute is 21 min, 18% below the median place.

Mean commute1
21 min
18% below the median place
Works from home1
9.8%
21% below the median place
Unemployment1
5.5%
13% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Commutes by transit1.4% +59%
Median household income$72,355 −10%
Poverty rate10.3% −4%
Income per person$39,432 −2%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureCarsonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$72,35510% below
Income per person1$39,4322% below
Unemployment15.5%13% above
Average annual pay6County figure$72,52210% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure5.0%35% above
Jobs6County figure32,57178% below
Poverty rate110.3%4% below
Mean commute121 min18% below
Works from home19.8%21% below
Commutes by transit11.4%59% above
04

Who lives here

The median resident is 42.4 years old, older than in 84% of the 529 places of 50,000 to 100,000 people we track.

No health insurance1
11.2%
75% above the median place
Median age1
42.4
9% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
23.7%
26% below the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Household size2.3 −6%
High school or higher89.2% −3%
Born abroad12.5% +41%
Homes with broadband91.5% −1%
All 9 people measures
MeasureCarsonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population158,384734th largest
Population change since 20207-0.1%below (median 1.1%)
Median age142.49% above
Bachelor's or higher123.7%26% below
High school or higher189.2%3% below
Household size12.36% below
Born abroad112.5%41% above
No health insurance111.2%75% above
Homes with broadband191.5%1% below
05

Life in Carson

The nearest National Park Service site is Yosemite Wilderness, about 82 miles away.

Founded or incorporated in 1858. 11 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark. Its history on Wikipedia

  • McKeen Motor Car #70 listed 2005Landmark
  • Old Winters Ranch/Winters Mansion listed 1974
  • Cavell, Dr. William Henry, House listed 1987
  • Olcovich-Meyers House listed 1993
  • Dat So La Lee House listed 1994
  • Sanford, George L., House listed 1994

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents12.2 +20%
Playgrounds per 10k7.5 −20%
Grocery stores per 10k2.1 −3%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k18.8 +69%
Libraries per 10k0.3 −61%
Named paths and bike trails138 km 68.8×
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.6 2.9×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Yosemite Wilderness 82 miles
  • Yosemite National Park 98 miles
  • Ansel Adams Wilderness 106 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars26.4 +27%
Shops35.6 +17%
Arts, recreation and fitness9.1 2.2×
Doctors' offices and clinics32.7 +62%
Child care centers2.7 +17%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site11
81.6
165% above the median place
Students per teacher13
16.8
9% above the median place
Public schools13
11
22% above the median place
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureCarsonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools131122% above
Public school students135,39110% above
Students per teacher1316.89% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k9County figure26.427% above
Shops per 10k9County figure35.617% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k9County figure9.1122% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k9County figure32.762% above
Child care centers per 10k9County figure2.717% above
Parks per 10k1012.220% above
Playgrounds per 10k107.520% below
Grocery stores per 10k102.13% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k1018.869% above
Libraries per 10k100.361% below
Named paths and bike trails10137.7above (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi100.6186% above
Nearest National Park Service site1181.6165% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles110below (median 2)
National Register listings121115% below
06

Safety, weather and risk

Tornado risk is 1.9, 98% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Carson. Larger places are fetched first.

Tornado risk15
1.9
98% below the median place
Annual precipitation14
14.3 in
67% below the median place
Good air days16
86.2%
26% above the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureCarsonAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high14County figure87°F0% below
January average low14County figure24°F4% below
Average temperature14County figure50°F9% below
Annual precipitation14County figure14.3 in67% below
Natural hazard risk15County figure76.118% below
Tornado risk15County figure1.998% below
Wildfire risk15County figure93.553% above
Heat wave risk15County figure54.240% below
Median air quality index16County figure422% below
Good air days16County figure86.2%26% above
08

Carson in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 21% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 21% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Carson does better than 29% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 78%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,248/mo (2024)$1,600/mo$1,320 to $1,960/mo+4.3%
Median household income$72,355 (2024)$92,000$78,000 to $109,000+4.1%
Median home value$453,000 (2024)$664,000$482,000 to $915,000+6.6%
Population58,571 (2025)58,83056,430 to 61,330+0.1%

The median home would be worth 7.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 6.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Carson

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Dallas, OR$1,209$71,549Compare
Pollock Pines, CA$1,281$74,924Compare
Hurricane, UT$1,426$75,016Compare
Mead, WA$1,445$77,045Compare
Mead, WAHurricane, UTPollock Pines, CADallas, ORCarson, NVCarsonDallasHurricaneMeadCarsonDallasHurricaneMead

Places built like Carson

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Carson performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Carson, NV20.7%5.4%/yr-0.1%
Sierra Vista, AZ19.6%3.4%/yr-0.9%Compare
Alamogordo, NM19.3%5.8%/yr3.2%Compare
Cheyenne, WY17.0%4.1%/yr1.7%Compare
Twin Falls, ID21.2%3.8%/yr8.4%Compare
Grand Junction, CO19.6%5.9%/yr9.4%Compare
Kingman, AZ20.5%4.7%/yr9.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Carson a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 37 out of 100, better than 37% of the places we rate and 13th of 34 in Nevada. 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, a smaller share than in 79% of the 529 places of 50,000 to 100,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 22 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Carson expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 20.7% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $453,000.

What salary do you need to live in Carson?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $49,920 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Carson?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Dallas, OR, Pollock Pines, CA, Hurricane, UT and Mead, WA.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. Population Estimates · US Census Bureau · Vintage 2025
  8. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  9. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  10. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  11. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  12. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  13. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  14. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  15. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  16. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Carson with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Carson itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/carson-nevada

Citytistics. “Carson, Nevada.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/carson-nevada/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.