Cost of Living in Washoe County, Nevada
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Washoe County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Washoe County ranks #2,933 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Washoe County Median Home Value Reaches 539900 Dollars
Washoe County's median home value was estimated at $539,900, which is $233,265 above the Nevada unweighted county mean of $306,635. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.9% for renter-occupied units. This canonical rentToIncomePct is 0.8 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 30.1%. Median gross rent was reported at $1,608 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,169. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,607, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,040. Renter-household median income was $60,940. These housing statistics are based on the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. All figures are presented according to dataVersion acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1 as of 2026-07-10. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Washoe County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.9% of renter household income in Washoe County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,608 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,607. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $64,320 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Nevada unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,169 per month. Washoe County's $1,608 median is 37.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Washoe County
Rent Burden
21.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,056
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.9%
of gross income
The median home in Washoe County may be a stretch
Median home value is $539,900. Estimated monthly cost: $4,310 vs. your max of $2,056.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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