Want to know where you can live the retirement dream in Nevada?
Nevada’s best places to retire do not disappoint. The state is after all one of the fastest growing states in America so there has to be something that’s drawing the country to this Western state. And for many of Nevada’s retirees, that takes on the form of great skiing in Carson City’s Lake Tahoe and gambling anywhere from Winnemucca to Henderson.
Many people think that Las Vegas and Reno are the only places in Nevada worth your time. But to make our list, a place had to be affordable, safe, and close to an international airport. And because we know that’s not all that keeps the 65 and older crowd happy and entertained, we also looked at amenities and commute times for each city.
Want to know the places in Nevada where you where you can experience the best that retirement has to offer? Grab a coffee and follow along.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Nevada For 2026
Where is the best place to retire in Nevada? According to the latest Census, the best place to retire in Nevada is Mesquite.
Since you have spent a majority of your life working towards retirement that you should be privy to the best places to retire in each state. And in Nevada’s case, we looked at 9 places with at least 4,000 residents to find the best of the best.
We don’t want you to take a gamble with your golden years, so continue on to learn more about the best places to retire in Nevada.
Why did Mesquite take the top spot? And where are Henderson and North Las Vegas?
For more Nevada state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Nevada
- Cheapest Places To Live In Nevada
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Nevada
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Nevada For 2026
/10
Population: 22,059
Median Income: $75,227
Median Home Price: $380,205
Median Rent: $1,181
Distance to Closest Airport: 76 miles
More on Mesquite: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,463
Median Income: $73,389
Median Home Price: $391,150
Median Rent: $1,230
Distance to Closest Airport: 52 miles
More on Fallon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 332,141
Median Income: $90,138
Median Home Price: $486,156
Median Rent: $1,824
Distance to Closest Airport: 8 miles
More on Henderson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,361
Median Income: $81,824
Median Home Price: $349,753
Median Rent: $965
Distance to Closest Airport: 147 miles
More on Winnemucca: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
/10
Population: 273,212
Median Income: $80,760
Median Home Price: $567,856
Median Rent: $1,556
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Reno: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,696
Median Income: $79,036
Median Home Price: $360,730
Median Rent: $1,267
Distance to Closest Airport: 198 miles
More on Elko: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 110,024
Median Income: $89,056
Median Home Price: $529,282
Median Rent: $1,716
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Sparks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 278,595
Median Income: $79,542
Median Home Price: $407,047
Median Rent: $1,705
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on North Las Vegas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Silver State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Nevada to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Silver State — 124 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 4,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 9 places from across the state.
For these 9, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 9, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Mesquite, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Nevada.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Nevada Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Nevada goes to Mesquite.
The best places to retire in Nevada are Mesquite, Fallon, Henderson, Winnemucca, West Wendover, Reno, Elko, Sparks, and North Las Vegas.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- North Las Vegas
- Sparks
- Elko
For more Nevada reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Nevada
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesquite | 22,059 | $75,227 | $380,205 | $1,181 |
| 2 | Fallon | 9,463 | $73,389 | $391,150 | $1,230 |
| 3 | Henderson | 332,141 | $90,138 | $486,156 | $1,824 |
| 4 | Winnemucca | 8,361 | $81,824 | $349,753 | $965 |
| 5 | West Wendover | 4,514 | $49,013 | $295,976 | $611 |
| 6 | Reno | 273,212 | $80,760 | $567,856 | $1,556 |
| 7 | Elko | 20,696 | $79,036 | $360,730 | $1,267 |
| 8 | Sparks | 110,024 | $89,056 | $529,282 | $1,716 |
| 9 | North Las Vegas | 278,595 | $79,542 | $407,047 | $1,705 |