Best Counties in Nevada — 2026 Rankings
17 of 17 counties scored across 12 dimensions
17
17 scored
48/100
composite score
74.7/100
31.3—74.7
lowest to highest
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Nevada
Nevada Sits Just Below the National Median
Nevada posts an average composite score of 48.2, placing it slightly behind the national median of 50.0. While all 17 counties provide data, the state's overall ranking is weighed down by a sharp divide between rural affordability and urban expense.
Low Taxes and Strong Income Drive Appeal
The state shines in fiscal policy with a high Tax Score of 82.5, reflecting its status as a zero-income-tax haven. This financial advantage is bolstered by an Income Score of 72.2, suggesting that residents often enjoy higher earning potential relative to the national average.
High Living Costs and Health Metrics Lag
Nevada’s Cost Score of 33.6 reveals a significant affordability hurdle, particularly in its populous metropolitan corridors. The state also struggles with a Health Score of 42.2, indicating that healthcare access and outcomes trail behind many other regions.
Rural Counties Lead the Pack in Livability
Lincoln County takes the top spot with a score of 74.7, followed by Pershing at 72.3 and Esmeralda at 67.0. These areas outperform the state average by balancing the state's tax advantages with much higher affordability than the urban centers of Clark or Washoe.
A Tax-Friendly Haven for Rural Seekers
Nevada is an ideal destination for individuals who prioritize a low tax burden and can settle in its high-scoring rural counties. While urban centers offer strong income potential, the best overall livability is currently found in the state’s less populated interior.
All County Rankings in Nevada
Search, sort, and filter all 17 ranked counties
Showing 1–17 of 17 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln County | 74.7 | 81.3 | 69.5 | 65.1 | 97.5 | 49.8 | 77.6 | 74.1 | 86 | 38.6 | 31.1 | ||
| 2 | Pershing County | 72.3 | 63.6 | 65.3 | 71.4 | 88.6 | 51.3 | 89.6 | 94 | 86 | 31.6 | 39 | ||
| 3 | Esmeralda County | 67 | 75.4 | 53.8 | N/A | 97.5 | 13.1 | 97.3 | 97.9 | 14.6 | 38.6 | 34.3 | ||
| 4 | White Pine County | 59.8 | 86.8 | 64.7 | 71.9 | 56.5 | 51.9 | 32.6 | 87.5 | 52.9 | 40.6 | 27.2 | ||
| 5 | Storey County | 53.9 | 93.9 | 20.1 | 94.2 | 25.6 | 63.8 | 60.3 | 74.9 | 86 | 59.9 | 54.9 | ||
| 6 | Douglas County | 50.2 | 90.5 | 7.4 | 90.9 | 53.9 | 74 | 38.8 | 15.6 | 37.7 | 37.9 | 47.3 | ||
| 7 | Mineral County | 47.9 | 62.9 | 53.5 | 16 | 53.6 | 19.8 | 46.1 | 90.2 | 43.5 | 47.1 | 27 | ||
| 8 | Eureka County | 44.9 | N/A | 67.5 | 74.2 | 8.3 | 40.8 | 51.6 | 94.8 | 23.3 | 30.8 | 22.1 | ||
| 9 | Elko County | 42.7 | 85 | 19.3 | 87.3 | 29 | 50.4 | 28.6 | 12.1 | 86 | 35 | 24 | ||
| 10 | Humboldt County | 42.6 | 84.8 | 23.6 | 83.8 | 12.9 | 30.5 | 62.6 | 59.2 | 38.6 | 30.6 | 44 | ||
| 11 | Lyon County | 42.4 | 89.4 | 13.3 | 74.8 | 49.3 | 36.7 | 24.7 | 28.6 | 47.3 | 33 | 31.8 | ||
| 12 | Churchill County | 42.1 | 79.3 | 21.8 | 74.5 | 49.6 | 39.3 | 14.8 | 52.8 | 30.6 | 36 | 33.3 | ||
| 13 | Lander County | 39.6 | 70.4 | 24.8 | 88.1 | 13.6 | 42.7 | 34.3 | 83 | 29.6 | 39.8 | 33.8 | ||
| 14 | Carson City | 37.8 | 92.8 | 16.3 | 71 | 38.2 | 29.4 | 10.6 | 23.9 | N/A | 43.1 | 51.6 | ||
| 15 | Nye County | 36.1 | 88.6 | 35.3 | 27.6 | 21.1 | 32.4 | 18.2 | 21.7 | 14.5 | 41 | 30.7 | ||
| 16 | Washoe County | 34.2 | 89.5 | 6.8 | 89 | 11.1 | 50.5 | 18.8 | 3.3 | 35.4 | 39.9 | 46.6 | ||
| 17 | Clark County | 31.3 | 86.4 | 7.8 | 75.2 | 6.5 | 41.3 | 18.6 | 0.4 | 64.4 | 27.1 | 5.4 |
Lincoln County
Pershing County
Esmeralda County
White Pine County
Storey County
Douglas County
Mineral County
Eureka County
Elko County
Humboldt County
Lyon County
Churchill County
Lander County
Carson City
Nye County
Washoe County
Clark County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Nevada
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Nevada.
What is the best county in Nevada?
Lincoln County is the top-ranked county in Nevada with a CountyScore of 74.7/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets.
How many counties are ranked in Nevada?
Nevada has 17 counties in total. Of those, 17 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to eight data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, and Water Quality. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever dimensions have data. Currently available dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate, Soil Quality, Lawn Care, Farmers Markets. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Nevada?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Nevada is 48/100. The national average is 50/100, so Nevada counties score 2 points below the national average.
How does Nevada compare to other states?
Nevada's average county score of 48/100 is 2 points below the national average of 50/100. You can compare Nevada counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Nevada.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.