Census-designated place · Nevada

Tonopah, Nevada

Tonopah, census-designated place, in Nye County, Nevada. Tonopah had 2,179 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,910 (±395). GEOID 3273600.

Residents, 2020 Census

2,179

Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 1,910 ±395

Median household income

$47,031

±$23,835 (90% margin)
Nevada: $78,260

Median home value

$143,900

±$7,224 (90% margin)
Nevada: $435,400

Median gross rent

$843

±$18 (90% margin)
Nevada: $1,597

Where is Tonopah and what county is it in?

Tonopah is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Nye County, Nevada. It covers 9.3 square miles of land, 235 residents per square mile in 2020.

Tonopah is in the Pahrump, NV micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Tonopah (marked with a dot) in Nye County, Nevada. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Tonopah, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 2,179 residents in Tonopah, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 1,910 (±395).

The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Tonopah is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.

ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure TonopahNye CountyNevada Change since 2015-2019
Total population 1,910 ±395 54,344 3,184,612 no clear change
Households 1,039 ±225 22,175 1,202,593 no clear change
Average household size 1.70 ±0.22 2.40 2.62 no clear change
Housing units 1,304 ±231 25,289 1,326,471 no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Tonopah?

The median resident of Tonopah is 61.2 years old. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 13.2%. 14.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure TonopahNye CountyNevada Change since 2015-2019
Median age 61.2 ±13.1 52.5 39.1 no clear change
Under 18 years 3.8% ±3.1 pts 16.6% 21.7% –
65 years and over 40.1% ±18.2 pts 30.9% 17.0% –
Male 47.5% ±6.2 pts 51.1% 50.4% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.1% ±9.9 pts 17.1% 29.6% –
White alone, not Hispanic 67.0% ±14.7 pts 68.9% 44.8% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 13.2% ±8.1 pts 2.9% 9.0% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 2.4% ±2.4 pts 1.9% 8.8% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.3 pts 0.9% 0.6% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.3 pts 0.3% 0.7% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 6.2% ±8.1 pts 7.8% 6.0% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±2.3 pts 0.3% 0.6% –
Born outside the United States 14.3% ±8.0 pts 8.1% 19.1% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 16.3% ±7.8 pts 12.3% 29.5% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 0.8% ±1.2 pts 15.0% 7.9% –
With a disability 22.1% ±11.8 pts 25.8% 13.9% –
No health insurance coverage 0.0% ±2.5 pts 8.8% 11.4% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 97.9% ±2.6 pts 87.2% 87.5% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 17.7% ±8.1 pts 13.3% 27.9% –
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 4.8% ±6.1 pts 4.0% 9.8% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 85.8% ±8.6 pts 86.9% 85.8% –
Moved from another state in the past year 10.8% ±8.1 pts 5.7% 4.1% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Tonopah earn?

Half of Tonopah's 1,039 households earn less than $47,031 a year (±$23,835), against $60,714 in Nye County and $78,260 in Nevada. In 2015-2019 it was $44,833 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure TonopahNye CountyNevada Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $47,031 ±$23,835 $60,714 $78,260 no clear change
Mean household income $76,335 ±$23,541 $82,604 $106,475 –
Per capita income $42,424 ±$10,124 $34,261 $41,354 no clear change
People below the poverty line 4.9% ±4.7 pts 14.1% 12.4% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 0.0% ±41.1 pts 16.5% 16.3% –
Households receiving SNAP 6.4% ±7.6 pts 14.9% 12.7% –
Households with a computer 93.5% ±7.0 pts 93.8% 96.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 86.3% ±10.4 pts 84.0% 92.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Tonopah?

Owners occupy 63.2% of Tonopah's occupied homes and renters 36.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $143,900 by its owner (±$7,224). The median renter pays $843 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure TonopahNye CountyNevada Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $143,900 ±$7,224 $290,900 $435,400 no clear change
Median gross rent $843 ±$18 $1,181 $1,597 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 23.6% ±21.5 pts 44.4% 46.4% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $988 ±$126 $1,600 $1,932 –
Owner-occupied homes 63.2% ±14.8 pts 77.8% 60.0% +22.5 pts
Renter-occupied homes 36.8% ±14.8 pts 22.2% 40.0% –
Housing units 1,304 ±231 25,289 1,326,471 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±6.5 pts 1.0% 1.1% –
Rental vacancy rate 15.9% ±11.1 pts 8.1% 6.8% –
Single-family detached homes 39.2% ±11.0 pts 56.8% 60.4% –
Mobile homes 26.8% ±9.4 pts 32.1% 5.2% –
Built 2020 or later 2.7% ±4.4 pts 2.4% 3.2% –
Built 2010 to 2019 0.0% ±3.4 pts 8.5% 12.1% –
Built 1939 or earlier 8.6% ±7.1 pts 0.6% 1.1% –
Households with no vehicle 4.5% ±6.0 pts 5.6% 7.0% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How do people in Tonopah work and get to work?

41.2% of Tonopah's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 33.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure TonopahNye CountyNevada Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 51.4% ±19.3 pts 42.1% 63.2% –
Unemployment rate 0.0% ±4.6 pts 8.1% 7.0% –
Drove alone to work 41.2% ±18.3 pts 72.8% 70.5% –
Carpooled 27.3% ±27.4 pts 9.8% 11.1% –
Public transportation 20.4% ±15.5 pts 1.2% 2.2% –
Walked 3.7% ±6.9 pts 2.1% 1.5% –
Worked from home 4.0% ±6.8 pts 11.0% 11.9% –
Mean travel time to work 33.2 min ±10.0 29.0 min 24.8 min +22.6 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Tonopah?

No census tract lies mostly in Tonopah; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Tonopah, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Tonopah
Tract 9602Nye County2,012 $47,031 $143,90034%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Tonopah) · Census block assignment files

How does Tonopah compare with other places in Nevada?

Tonopah ranks 56th of 58 places in Nevada with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Tonopah's rank in Nevada (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population (ACS 2020-2024)45th61
Residents per square mile44th62
Median household income56th58
Per capita income21st61
Median home value57th58
Median gross rent46th51
Bachelor's degree or higher40th58
Median age5th61
Owner-occupied share44th61
Travel time to work8th62

Tonopah's figures with every place in Nevada (CSV)

Every place in Nevada, sortable · Compare Tonopah with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Tonopah?

26 of the 57 figures for Tonopah on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Tonopah are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.