City profile · Nevada · Census ACS 2023

Fernley, NV

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fernley - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

23,631
Residents
$87,991
Median income
$352,600
Median home
$1,870
Median rent (state)

Fernley - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Fernley lands in the 69th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

69th
percentile, household income
72nd
percentile, home value
79th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fernley, NV

Nevada's Fernley is a small city, with 23,631 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Fernley households earn a median of $87,991 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.1%. Fernley's housing stock carries a median value of $352,600, and the median resident age is 35.8 years. Educational attainment runs 15.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 63.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 181 residential building permits were authorized in Fernley (Stable), up 3% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Nevada tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,870 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Nevada's average monthly utility costs around $190 (state average). Commute times here average 27.1 minutes, with 77.0% driving alone and 5.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 25.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

23,631 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nevada

Median Household Income

$87,991 /yr

Poverty 8.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nevada average

How does Fernley compare to other US cities?

Here's how Fernley stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 72% pricier than other cities
Median rent 79% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fernley against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nevada only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nevada-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Fernley toward the top of Nevada's cities

Among the 111 Nevada cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fernley ranks #1 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fernley only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#37 of 101
63rd percentile in Nevada
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 111
86th percentile in Nevada
Median Home Value
#46 of 97
53rd percentile in Nevada
Poverty Rate
#37 of 111
67th percentile in Nevada
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#68 of 111
39th percentile in Nevada

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Nevada only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

69thIncome percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fernley's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$352,600 28th percentile more affordable than 28% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fernley $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fernley, NV Fernley, NV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fernley, NV-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fernley, NV median $87,991/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fernley, NV's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fernley, NV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
23,631
Median Income
$87,991
Median Home Value
$352,600
Median Age
35.8
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Labor force participation
63.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.6%

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
22,000 residents23,000 residents24,000 residents25,000 residents26,000 residents27,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 23,027 residents 26,214 residents ▲ +13.8%
Fernley's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
181
housing units authorized
Single-Family
93
detached homes
Multifamily
88
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
7.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 175
2020 109
2021 478
2022 129
2023 267
2024 181

Permit volume increased 3% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
27.1 minutes
Drive Alone
77.0%
Carpool
13.0%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
5.0%
Other
1.6%

Based on 11,591 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nevada - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$30
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$190
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nevada state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nevada state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fernley sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,870/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
25.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nevada

Sun Valley
22,697 people
Mesquite
21,314 people
Elko
20,624 people
Spanish Springs
17,512 people
Summerlin South
30,075 people
Dayton
15,873 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fernley's 23,631 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Freeport, IL
23,636 people
Cartersville, GA
23,617 people
Columbus, MS
23,616 people
Marshall, TX
23,646 people
Griffin, GA
23,650 people
Ladera Ranch, CA
23,609 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fernley's $87,991 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Drexel Hill, PA
$87,993 median income
Defiance, PA
$87,986 median income
Pine Lake Park, NJ
$87,998 median income
Burnet, TX
$88,000 median income
Pendleton, IN
$87,971 median income
Grayson, CA
$87,961 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fernley, NV Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fernley, NV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.4% 12.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.1% White 77.4% Black or African American 1.7% Asian 1.7% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 5.0% Two or more races 12.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fernley compares to nearby Nevada cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fernley (this city) 23,631 $87,991
Sun Valley 22,697 $76,108
Mesquite 21,314 $74,439
Elko 20,624 $75,630
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NV NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fernley, NV?

What is the population of Fernley, NV? +

Fernley, NV has a population of 23,631 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fernley, NV? +

Median annual household income in Fernley runs $87,991, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fernley? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fernley; the closest available measure is the Nevada state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nevada vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fernley, NV? +

A typical home in Fernley is worth $352,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.