Depending on who you ask, the easy access to 24/7 world-class entertainment and endless sunshine in Nevada may be called a pro or a con. But with things like tax rates, health care quality, and housing costs, you’ll get a more definitive answer from Nevada residents.

So if you’re considering moving to Nevada, it’s important to look at this pros and cons list through your own subjective experience. For example, to some people, the nightlife of Sin City presents an undeniable opportunity to live freely. But for others, it is an irresistible vice that is best avoided.

That’s why the experts at

Jerry

, the super app that can help you upgrade your

car insurance

in under a minute, has curated this (hopefully) objective list of all the biggest pros and cons of living in Nevada for your personal consideration. We’ll even throw in a few tips for saving on your

Nevada insurance costs

, so keep reading!

Pro: No income tax and low sales tax

Who doesn’t love keeping more of their hard-earned money in their pocket? Well, Nevada residents get to do just that—it is one of nine states with no state income tax!

Considering the average state income tax across the country is 9.85% (in 2022), this is one heck of a financial incentive to reside in Nevada! This is made possible thanks to Nevada’s impressive revenue generation system through its casinos, entertainment venues, and

national parks

—eliminating the financial burden on its residents.

And the financial fun doesn’t stop there. Nevada customers also pay just 4.6% for sales tax, compared to the national average of 6.35%.

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How to deduct a car accident from your taxes

Pro: More than just a desert

Isn’t Nevada just a bunch of isolated cities scattered across a desolate desert? WRONG!

Nevada’s landscape also features a wide variety of geographic phenomena that can be enjoyed year-round, like mountains, canyons, lakes—and yes, deserts too! Here are some of the most notable destinations.

Red Rock Canyon State Park: thousands of rock-climbing cliffs

Great Basin National Park: remarkable caves and scenic hiking trails

Sierra Nevada mountains: impressive peaks that border the state’s western border

Lake Tahoe: one of the world’s top lake destinations with several ski resorts

Lake Mead: stunning man-made reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam

Death Valley: test your will-power in one of the hottest places on earth

We could go on and on about Nevada's natural beauty, but we have other pros and cons to get to—let’s keep this train rolling!

Con: Face-melting heat

Nevada has over 300 days of sunshine annually, making it one of the top five sunniest states in the country!

On the surface, that sounds great—but this ain’t no Sunny and 75. The summer months have an average temperature of over 81 degrees, with plenty of days eclipsing 100 degrees.

And we’re sure you’ve heard people say it’s a dry heat.While you may have brushed it off as something locals like to say, there’s plenty of truth in the phrase. Nevada has incredibly low humidity rates and less than 10 inches of rainfall annually, which only exacerbates the heat.

But hey, many people are willing to compromise with the scorching heat if they can get out on the golf course more often or spend more time by the pool. Unfortunately, if you’re not one of those people, you may not enjoy living in Nevada.

MORE: How to do summer car maintenance

Pro: World-class entertainment

Vegas, baby! What more really needs to be said? Nevada is proud to be home to the entertainment capital of the world. Something is going on every day that ends in “Y” (just another way to say 24/7 and 365).

And there’s even more to do now! The city recently added two professional sports teams to partner with the Vegas strip's iconic hotels, casinos, and attractions. Fans can now pack the stands to watch the Raiders on the football field or the Golden Knights on the hockey rink.

As a result, Las Vegas attracts roughly 42 million tourists every year. However, residents looking for peace and quiet could consider this a con rather than a pro.

MORE:

Everything you need to know about driving in Vegas

Con: Hard to deter your vices

Lax open container laws, 24/7 liquor stores, legalized marijuana, commercialized gambling, licensed prostitution houses—are you catching our drift?

Nevada’s lenient laws around substances and illicit activities certainly make it feel like the wild, wild west at times. For some, this freedom makes Nevada the premier destination for an eccentric party lifestyle. But for others, it is a sinkhole of vices that can grab you and never let go.

Luckily, only some of Nevada is a 24/7 party of pure degeneracy (we’re looking at you, Vegas). Nevada is actually the 7th largest state in the U.S., but it only has 3 million people, so there’s plenty of space to get away from it all if the party scene isn’t your style.

MORE:

Open container laws in Nevada

Pro: Housing (legal) loopholes

There are two things about home ownership in Nevada that feel like sneaky loopholes but are actually entirely legal!

The first is that Nevada does not have state or local capital gains taxes on the sale of a home. Considering this rate can range from 15 to 25% in other states, it almost feels like you’re stealing money—even though it’s technically your money.

The second is that Nevada’s property taxes are typically around 0.50%, which is lower than 80% of states nationwide.

MORE:

How to find car and home insurance quotes online

Pro: Impressive job growth

As we mentioned earlier, tens of thousands of hospitality workers are needed to handle the ever-expanding entertainment industry of Las Vegas. In fact, this contributes to Nevada having a pretty impressive year-over-year job growth: +6.6% from 2021 to 2022.

But hospitality isn’t the only source of employment growth. It might not exactly be Silicon Valley, but Reno recently opened five new startups and created 130 new job opportunities.

MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances

Pro: We’re Surrounded

Nevada shares a border with five states:

, and

This centralized location is highly advantageous for those who like to explore everything the Mountain West and Pacific Coast have to offer.

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Does my car insurance cover me if I travel out of state?

Con: Public schools could be better

According to National Education Rankings, Nevada’s public schools regularly rank in the bottom 20% in metrics like school financing, chance for success, and teacher-student ratio.

So if you plan on raising a family in Nevada, you may want to consider the cost of private schooling in your financial budget.

Con: Healthcare inaccessibility

If you live in a major metropolitan area like Carson City, Las Vegas, and Reno, you should have no problem accessing quality healthcare facilities.

But if you’re one of the 300,000 residents that live in isolated rural communities, you may have to drive upwards of two hours to visit your primary care provider—not a good thing if there’s an emergency.

So if you have immediate health concerns, your living options may be limited to the city.

MORE:

Can I use health insurance to cover car accident injuries?

Con: High crime rate

While healthcare may be hard to come by living in the rural areas of Nevada, it is the only way to avoid the high crime rate in the urban centers.

The violent crime rate in Nevada is 5.69%, which is higher than the national rate of 4.9%. Nevada also exceeds the national property crime rate, with 27.43 incidents per 1,000 people compared to 27.11 for the United States.

MORE:

The best vehicle anti-theft devices to keep your car safe

Is Nevada a good state to live in?

Yes, Nevada is a great state to live in, but it does have its drawbacks—let’s do a quick recap:

Pros: Great tax advantages, world-class entertainment, close proximity to natural wonders (in-state or in one of the five bordering states), and endless sunshine

Cons: Poor public education system, vices everywhere you look, high crime rate in urban areas, low healthcare accessibility in rural communities, and brutal summer heat

For some lifestyles and personal preferences, the pros far exceed the cons. But it could be the complete opposite for others. It all comes down to your desired experience.

So if you’re leaning towards moving to Nevada, here are the top 5 moving companies to help you make that a reality. And if you think just a visit will suffice, here are the five best road trip destinations in Nevada to accompany all the incredible things we’ve discussed so far!

MORE: The best places to live in Nevada

How to upgrade your car insurance in Nevada

Need to recoup some lost money lost at the blackjack table? Well, finding a

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FAQs

What are the summers like in Nevada?

HOT! The average daily temperature from June to September is over 81 degrees, with little rain or humidity.

Is Nevada racially diverse?

According to 2021 data from the

U.S Census Bureau

, Nevada is one of the most racially diverse states in the nation.

Representation includes 46.6% White, 29% Hispanic, 10.6% African American, 9.1% Asian, 4.9% two or more races, 1.7% American Indian, and 0.9% Native Hawaiian (other Pacific Islander).

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