I’m a firm believer that if you live in a city that offers a great quality of life, you’ll be happy. After all, the better the city, the happier the residents, right?
The Movoto real estate blog recently ranked the 10 best cities in Nevada to live in. While developing their ranking, they looked at 35 cities and Census-Designated Places in Nevada with populations greater than 5,000. They based their findings on factors such as total amenities, quality of life, total crimes, tax rates, unemployment rate, commute time and weather. Movoto used data from the U.S. Census Bureau and business listings to come up with their numbers.
I consider the following 10 cities to be the happiest cities in Nevada. After all, based on several different factors, they’re considered (by Movoto) to be the best cities to live in.
Note: A couple of cities tied, so their rank numbers will be the same.
- Incline Village
flickr/Ken Lund Incline Village, which is one of the most beautiful places in Nevada, came in at the top spot. This village scored an overall quality of life rank of 35th. However, its total crimes placed third, weather placed third and commute time (18 minutes) placed second. It placed first for median home price at $921,060 and median household income at $90,281.
- Gardnerville
flickr/Ken Lund According to many residents, Gardnerville’s biggest claim to fame was being a shooting location for the 1989 Nintendo infomercial/movie “The Wizard.” Gardnerville placed fourth overall for highest quality of life, 14th for total amenities and sixth for total crimes.
- Boulder City
flickr/Ken Lund Boulder City, which is located right next door to Hoover Dam, has the lowest unemployment rate in our ranking. Boulder City placed 12th for total amenities and fourth overall for safety.
- Las Vegas
flickr/Andrew Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” placed first for total amenities, seventh for employment, and placed 11th for overall quality of life. Regarding total crimes, Las Vegas has a total crime rate of (at the time of this ranking) 3,582 for every 100,000 residents.
- Arden
wikimedia commons/Neaco Because the city of Arden is surrounded by Las Vegas, they both share some of the same data. Arden also shares the same rank (4) as Nevada. The one factor that’s different from Las Vegas is total amenities. Las Vegas ranked first for total amenities, and Arden ranked third overall.
- Henderson
flickr/James Marvin Phelps Henderson, which is Nevada’s second-largest city, placed second for total amenities and fourth overall for employment. Henderson’s unemployment is low at 5%. Henderson placed 14th overall for total crimes.
- Mesquite
wikimedia commons/Stan Shebs Mesquite, which is well known for its incredible golfing opportunities, tied with Henderson for sixth place overall. Mesquite placed first overall for commute time, which is just 13 minutes. It placed 12th for total crimes, 14th for quality of life and eighth for weather.
- Elko
wikimedia commons/Famartin Elko placed first for weather in this ranking. Its cost of living is eight percent below the national average of 100, and it has a low sales tax of only five percent. Elko ranks seventh overall for amenities.
- North Las Vegas
flickr/Thure Johnson North Las Vegas is different than Las Vegas. Many people believe both cities are the same, but they’re not. North Las Vegas’ overall quality of life placed 23rd. Their total crimes placed 24th and total amenities placed fourth.
- Johnson Lane
flickr/Patrick Nouhailler Johnson Lane is located right outside of the state capitol of Carson City. It’s the second-safest town overall on our list of 10 cities. Johnson Lane’s overall quality of life placed 20th and total amenities placed 32nd.
Do you live in one of the happiest cities in Nevada?
flickr/Ken Lund
Incline Village, which is one of the most beautiful places in Nevada, came in at the top spot. This village scored an overall quality of life rank of 35th. However, its total crimes placed third, weather placed third and commute time (18 minutes) placed second. It placed first for median home price at $921,060 and median household income at $90,281.
According to many residents, Gardnerville’s biggest claim to fame was being a shooting location for the 1989 Nintendo infomercial/movie “The Wizard.” Gardnerville placed fourth overall for highest quality of life, 14th for total amenities and sixth for total crimes.
Boulder City, which is located right next door to Hoover Dam, has the lowest unemployment rate in our ranking. Boulder City placed 12th for total amenities and fourth overall for safety.
flickr/Andrew
Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” placed first for total amenities, seventh for employment, and placed 11th for overall quality of life. Regarding total crimes, Las Vegas has a total crime rate of (at the time of this ranking) 3,582 for every 100,000 residents.
wikimedia commons/Neaco
Because the city of Arden is surrounded by Las Vegas, they both share some of the same data. Arden also shares the same rank (4) as Nevada. The one factor that’s different from Las Vegas is total amenities. Las Vegas ranked first for total amenities, and Arden ranked third overall.
flickr/James Marvin Phelps
Henderson, which is Nevada’s second-largest city, placed second for total amenities and fourth overall for employment. Henderson’s unemployment is low at 5%. Henderson placed 14th overall for total crimes.
wikimedia commons/Stan Shebs
Mesquite, which is well known for its incredible golfing opportunities, tied with Henderson for sixth place overall. Mesquite placed first overall for commute time, which is just 13 minutes. It placed 12th for total crimes, 14th for quality of life and eighth for weather.
wikimedia commons/Famartin
Elko placed first for weather in this ranking. Its cost of living is eight percent below the national average of 100, and it has a low sales tax of only five percent. Elko ranks seventh overall for amenities.
flickr/Thure Johnson
North Las Vegas is different than Las Vegas. Many people believe both cities are the same, but they’re not. North Las Vegas’ overall quality of life placed 23rd. Their total crimes placed 24th and total amenities placed fourth.
flickr/Patrick Nouhailler
Johnson Lane is located right outside of the state capitol of Carson City. It’s the second-safest town overall on our list of 10 cities. Johnson Lane’s overall quality of life placed 20th and total amenities placed 32nd.
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