Con: Nevada Has A High Cost Of Living
While housing in Nevada is reasonably affordable and available, the overall cost of living there is about 10% more expensive than the national average. So, if you plan to move to this state, you must either have a really excellent retirement fund or a plan to lower your standard of living.
Many people make it affordable to live in Nevada by living in rural areas and looking for higher-paying jobs. However, as someone looking to retire, you probably dont want to have to work anymore.
Things like gas, groceries, and household goods will likely cost you more in Nevada than your current state, depending on where you live now.
Best Places To Retire In Nevada
Explore the best places to retire in the U.S. based on number of retirees, weather, and access to healthcare and entertainment. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, CDC, and other data sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.
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Current Resident: After living in Las Vegas for 40 years the move to Mesquite has been the best decision ever!It is safe, uncrowded, and we can see the stars at night. Housing is less than in Las Vegas and someone with just an average income can live quite comfortably.We have 95% of everything one could possibly need and if you want more variety St. George, Utah is just a few miles up the road.If you are looking DO NOT neglect to look here.Read 53Reviews
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Current Resident: I loved growing up in Boulder City. It’s a small community with lots to do and Las Vegas is only 30 minutes away. Since it is a small community, but growing rapidly, everybody knows everybody! The schools are all near each other along with the city pool and recreational center. All of the kids grow up from preschool to high school and graduate together 12 years later. It is a very safe town to live in and was once referred to as the safest town in the United States! Because of this, many families wanted to move here which made real estate prices increase but not completely unaffordable.Read 39Reviews
Con: Nevada Is Very Hot
In many cases, folks like to retire to warmer areas. Its tough on retirees to withstand long, cold, and brutal winters, so the warmth is usually an attractive feature. However, Nevada gets more than just warm it gets hot.
Nevada sees temperatures that far exceed 100 degrees during the summer, with record highs reaching above 110 in the late summer months. Not only do these temperatures make it challenging to get outside, but its the cause of some pretty high electricity costs due to blasting air conditioners.
Winter doesnt offer much relief, either. Even though the state is often sweltering, it can still reach below freezing temperatures in the winter. Some areas may see an average in the 50s for the colder months, but others offer the extreme at the other end of the thermometer.
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Con: Nevadas Education Is Poor
As someone retiring, youre likely not bringing any school-aged children along with you to your new state of residence. However, if youre the caretaker for a grandchild, still have kids in school, or plan on bringing family along for the move, you may need to consider private schooling.
The education system in Nevada ranks very low on the national charts. In 2017, Nevada ranked 49th out of 50 states for education. The score for the countrys entire education system gets a C from Education Week, and even this organization gave Nevada a solid D.
Various factors play into the states scores, such as school financing and opportunities for success. But if you plan on taking children with you wherever you retire, you may need to reconsider based on this fact.
Con: Nevada Can Be Tempting For Recovering Addicts
Nevada is a state that seems to be overflowing with vices. From drugs and alcohol to women and gambling, theres a little bit of everything that can lead to some serious issues in an individuals life.
If you struggle with any kind of vice or addiction, the state of Nevada may offer up too much temptation. A recovering gambling addict, for example, probably shouldnt put themselves smack in the middle of the gambling capital of the country. Other things like smoking, alcohol, and other drugs can pose a temptation.
While these things are prevalent throughout the state, there are plenty of places you can live to get away from these activities. Be sure to do your research and choose a location based on your preferences and interests.
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The 10 Best Places To Retire In Nevada For 2021
Why did Yerington take the top spot? And where are Henderson and Reno?
HomeSnacks thinks that since you have spent a majority of your life working towards retirement that you should be privy to the best places to retire in each state. And in Nevada’s case, we looked at 10 places with at least 1,000 residents to find the best of the best.
So, where is the best place to retire in Nevada? According to the latest Census, that would be Yerington.
To see a list of the rest of Nevada’s places to retire, hit that down arrow. And because we don’t want you to take a gamble with your golden years, we suggest you take a look at Nevada’s worst places before you make any life changing decisions.
For more Nevada state reading:
We then ranked each of these places for each criteria from one to 10, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Yerington, with the lowest average rank was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second careers. .
Cost Of Living In Arizona Vs Nevada
While its always nice to have some extra cash in pocket from tax savings, it wont add up to much if you live in a prohibitively expensive place. To see the real difference between living in Arizona vs. Nevada, you have to look at what youll be spending on the day-to-day. Heres an overview of Nevada vs Arizona cost of living.
Arizona Arizona has a cost-of-living rate below the national average. This means that food, gas, and other necessities wont cost you an arm and a leg. However, the cost-of-living peaks in the capital area, which unless youre particularly drawn to the desert is likely where youll end up.
Nevada Nevada also has a cost-of-living rate thats below the national average, but it also has more variance in cost depending on where you live. If youre right next to the action in Vegas, for instance, you can expect things to cost a little bit more. Move a few miles out, and you can enjoy dramatically lower prices than Arizona.
If youre not set on living in the most expensive neighborhoods, you can save a lot on goods and services by living in Nevada. This means that its much easier to stretch your dollar in this state, giving it a distinct advantage over its neighbors.
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Pro: Nevada Offers Plenty Of Sunshine
Its not uncommon for people to retire to warm climates that see a lot of sunshine. Nevada is one of those places, as it experiences tons of sun throughout the year. It ranks in the top 10% of states for days with sunshine.
Major cities like Elko, Reno, and Winnemucca get over 200 days of sunshine each year on average, and the famous city of Las Vegas gets a whopping 292. Thats something to put in the pro column for your retirement.
Good Reasons To Retire In Nevada
Is Nevada a good place to retire? The answer can be summed up in two words: Vegas, baby!
Actually, we know Sin City isnt everybodys cup of tea…and while nearly three-quarters of the people living in Nevada reside in the Las Vegas area, the Silver State offers many other great places to live. Like Reno, Henderson, and Paradise, off the top of our head.
Regardless of the particular city, baby boomers are attracted to Nevada for its year-round sunshine, outdoor recreational opportunities, casinos, golf courses, low cost of living, and slower-paced lifestyle with plenty of wide-open space for peace and quiet.
Lets take a look at the top five reasons to retire in Nevada.
1. Tax-Friendly. Not only does Nevada have relaxed gambling laws, but also some of the best tax benefits for retirees. Property tax rates are low and there is no state income tax, estate tax, or inheritance tax. Withdrawals from retirement accounts and public and private pension income are also not taxed.
2. Low Cost of Living. According to Zillow, the median home value in Nevada is $291,800, While that may still be a tick above the national average, retirees who choose Nevada will still pay far less for a home than they would in other retirement havens like Scottsdale, Palm Springs, and parts of Florida. As far as other expenses, things like grocery, health, and utilities are at or below average statewide, with much lower cost of living in smaller towns.
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Top 5 Cities To Retire In Nevada
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Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.8%
Median Home Value: $221,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 66
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 214
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 1
Fernley is a beautiful suburb of Reno and the best city in Nevada for retirees. Enjoy an active lifestyle in a booming metropolitan area that still gives you easy access to sublime desert scenery. Start your golden years off on the right foot when you start your retirement in Fernley.
Pro: Nevada Has More Flexible Laws
Were not saying that you should move to Nevada so that you can do things that might be illegal in your current state of residence, but some folks may find the states laws to be a bit lax compared to others.
For one, recreational marijuana is legal in Nevada. While many states are hopping on board with medical marijuana legalization, not as many accept recreational use. If thats a hobby that interests you, you may be happy to hear youre free to participate in Nevada.
Many people look forward to retiring in Nevada because gambling is legal throughout the whole state. Its not uncommon to see casinos in almost any town you roll into. And finally, open container laws are not nearly as restrictive as they are in other states, making it perfectly legal for you to walk down the road with a beer in your hand.
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Pro: Nevada Has A Great Economy
Its always a great idea to retire someplace that has its economy all sorted out. Nevada just so happens to be one of those places. While its hard to predict precisely what will happen with the economy in any given area, Nevada has a few staples it can rely on to keep it ahead of the curve.
Nevadas economy is based on three primary industries: entertainment and gambling , mining, and cattle ranching. Not only do cities like Las Vegas and Paradise City draw crowds in the millions every year, but the state itself was founded on silver and gold mining.
These industries, coupled with cattle ranching and agriculture, allow Nevada to thrive financially with plenty of money coming in.
Con: Nevada Has Insufficient Healthcare
If you live in one of the more populated portions of the state, such as Las Vegas or Reno, you shouldnt have any trouble with your healthcare. However, theres a large population of people who live in more rural settings, and they often encounter issues with their medical care.
While Nevada has a state-based Office of Rural Health that works tediously to recruit doctors for the area, its difficult for them to find many.
For this reason, residents of rural areas often have to drive as far as an hour away just to see their primary care physician. If you rely heavily on medical care, this could cause some grave problems.
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Pro: Nevada Offers Great Food
Nevada especially Las Vegas has some truly high-quality food options. Not many people know this, but the city has excellent pizza that is usually available all night long .
Las Vegas has also been home to world-famous chefs Gordon Ramsey and Wolfgang Puck, so you know youre going to run into some tasty options.
While there are tons of world-class restaurants in Las Vegas and beyond, dont discount the little guys. Even the tiny, hole-in-the-wall restaurants offer excellent, authentic, and cultural food that will knock your socks off.
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Con: Nevada Has Strict Smoking Laws
Depending on your views, the smoking laws in Nevada could be either a pro or a con. If youre a smoker, you would certainly see the states strict smoking laws as a con.
Through the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act, the laws on smoking dictate that individuals cannot smoke in the workplace or most public places.
Considering the relaxed laws surrounding sex work, marijuana, alcohol, and gambling, its pretty surprising to see the authorities crack down on cigarettes. People who spend a lot of time in bars, casinos, and other entertainment facilities may not love the restrictions on their smoking.
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Best Small Towns In Nevada
Known as The Silver State, Nevada became the 36th state on October 31, 1864. Nevada is known for legalizing gambling and prostitution in certain parts of the state. Las Vegas is the most well known city with over two-thirds of the states population living in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. But there is much more to Nevada than Las Vegas. Sure, Sin City is a great place to visit, but there are some great small town treasures within its borders.
Pro: Nevada Has Plenty Of Property
Housing is readily available in Nevada in many towns and cities. Many areas were initially overbuilt, so theres always someone on the market for newcomers to buy. You can even find starter homes at surprisingly affordable prices.
Plus, due to Nevadas government structure and tax laws, you dont have to worry about state, city, or county taxes when you purchase a home. You can find a stellar deal on a house and finance it seamlessly.
Oftentimes, there are even homes available right in Las Vegas if youre looking to retire in the city. The average price for a decent piece of property is around $270,000, while many areas will rent for about $1,200 per month.
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The 10 Best Places To Retire In Nevada In 2021
Nevada is a great state for retirees who want to stay active and enjoy an exciting life during their golden years. Start your next adventure when you explore Nevadas breathtaking natural scenery, hiking, biking, and motocross are popular here.
NewHomeSource found the top cities to retire in Nevada. You can find the perfect place to make your new home and start living the life you always dreamed about while you were stuck in an office.
Con: Nevada Has High Crime Rates
The state of Nevada as a whole has significant violent crime rates. On a list of the United States and territories, Nevada sits in the rankings of top ten highest crime rates in the country at number ten.
While the state has seen a drop in some violent crimes like rape and robbery, it has also seen an uptick in others, such as murder and aggravated assault. In fact, the number of willful murders rose by almost 30% from 2019 to 2020.
These statistics do not necessarily mean that there are no nice places to live in Nevada, but it is something to consider.
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Nevada Named One Of Worst States To Retire Again
Nevada just cant seem to catch a break this year when it comes to rankings for retirement.
After being named one of the worst states for retirement by a report in February, the state ranked poorly in yet another list that came out this month.
Nevada was the ninth-worst state in the nation for retirement according to a report by personal finance company Bankrate.com. The state received a favorable top 10 ranking in only one out of seven categories: taxes. Nevada earned the fifth best rating in the nation for its favorable tax climate.
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Nearly every other category, however, saw the state place in the 40s and 30s. Nevada ranked especially bad in health care quality a long-running issue for the state. Nevada tied with Arkansas for 47th, with only Arkansas and New Mexico scoring worse. South Dakota ranked No. 1 overall as the best place to retire.
The report pulled from various sources, including data from the FBI, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Gallups well-being index. Heres how the state ranked in all seven categories of the Bankrate.com report. Metrics such as taxes and cost of living accounted for a higher share of the overall score at 20 percent each.
- Health care quality: 47
- Weather: 27
- Taxes: 5
When looking at the ranking, its important to note that states are not one single homogenous entity, said Taylor Tepper, an analyst with Bankrate.com.
