Elko, NV

Census place 3222500 · pop 20,696

D−44/ 100
🫤 Rough
C
in NV
📍 Nevada ranks #50 of 50 states →
🏆 Air23 AQI · top 3%
🚽 Education17.2% · bottom 15%
Taxes
0.43% property · US 0.99%8.24% sales · US 7.00%None income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Bachelor's degree or higher17.2%15

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

17.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Poor mental health19.4%17

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Uninsured adults14.8%18

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

14.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult smoking16.4%23

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

16.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Violent crime rate398/100k25

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

398 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Commute time27 min33

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Adult obesity37.5%34

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

37.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level93/10039

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

93/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poverty rate13.8%39

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

13.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.9%39

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

3.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)+1.9%43

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

+1.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Broadband access90.8%43

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

90.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property crime rate1457/100k44

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1457 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Housing cost$309,10045

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$309,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Homeownership62.6%46

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

62.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Physical inactivity25.6%47

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

25.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Median household income$79,03655

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$79,036 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.4264

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$1,505/mo68

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,505/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Property-tax burden0.43%94

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.43% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Air quality (AQI)County-level23 AQI97

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

23 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Elko, NV a good place to live?
By the numbers, Elko scores 44/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is bachelor's degree or higher. Nevada overall ranks #50 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Elko, NV?
Elko reports 398 violent crimes per 100k and 1457 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Elko, NV expensive to live in?
Elko has a median home value of $309,100 and typical rent around $1,505/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Elko, NV?
Its weakest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (17.2%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Elko, NV best at?
Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (23 AQI) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.