The 10 Most Expensive Mountain Towns in Nevada to Buy a Second Home

Nevada is one of the most expensive states in the country to own a home, let alone a second home! The median cost of a home in Nevada is $465,000 compared to a national median home price of $412,000. While Nevada is not the most popular state for vacation homes, it does have a lot of beautiful areas to choose from, if you are looking to buy a second home.

Nevada is known for its stunning desert scenery, but it is also home to some of the oldest towns in the country. Many of those towns are mountain towns that tourists love to visit. And while they might be reasonably priced tourist destinations, many of them are expensive to live in! Read on to discover the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home.

1. Glenbrook

Some say Glenbrook, Nevada, has the country’s most expensive mountain homes. Only about 250 people live in Glenbrook and the median age of a resident there is about 64 years old. The town has a median household income of $72,981, but the median property value is a whopping $2 million! And 100% of people in Glenbrook own their homes.

That $2 million median property value is more than eight times larger than the national average of $244,900. With that lower median household income, it is safe to assume there are many people who own vacation homes, or second homes, in Glenbrook, driving that median property value up.

Thus, it is one of the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home.

Glenbrook is on the east shore of the popular vacation destination, Lake Tahoe. It is the oldest settlement on Lake Tahoe! One of the reasons why people might flock to Glenbrook to buy a second home is because of its climate. It has a Mediterranean climate, which can be described as dry-summer and subtropical. Other reasons might include its offer of recreational activities and scenic beauty. People love to enjoy Lake Tahoe, relaxing on the beaches, swimming, boating, fishing, or participating in water sports. Others love the hiking and nature trails in Glenbrook. And if you like to golf, there are lots of courses in Glenbrook to enjoy a round, surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Some homeowners or travelers might visit in the winter if they like to go skiing or snowboarding.

2. Incline Village

Incline Village is also located on Lake Tahoe but on the north shore. It is one of the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home. This mountain town is much bigger in terms of its population, with more than 9,440 people living there and a median age of 49-year-old. The median household income is much higher than the state and national average, at $131,914. The median property value in Incline Village is $1.04 million! About 71% of people who live in Incline Village own their homes.

That million-dollar median property value is more than four times bigger than the national average. It might have been the tax benefits that lured people to buy homes in Incline Village during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can see in numbers just how many people moved there during the pandemic because the median property value increased by nearly 15% between 2020 and 2021 and the population grew by about 3%.

Nevada offers much friendlier tax benefits than, say, California. Thus, some businesses and wealthy people moved there or bought property in order to register shell corporations and residences, avoiding paying California taxes.

Of course, there were also a lot of people who moved to Incline Village because they wanted to enjoy Lake Tahoe and all of its offerings, just like the ones described in Glenbrook.

3. Genoa

There are only about 960 people living in Genoa, Nevada. The median age is about 60 years old and the median household income is $111,167. A lot of people flocked to Genoa during the pandemic, too. The population increased by 22% between 2020 and 2021 and its median household income saw a 5.6% increase, suggesting many of the new residents were purchasing second homes. And now, it is definitely one of the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home.

The median property value is $908,500, which is nearly four times larger than the national average. Between 2020 and 2021, that median property value increased by more than 3%. More than 93% of Genoa residents own their homes and the average household owns three cars! That’s bigger than the national average, which sees about two cars per household.

Genoa, which is located on the western edge of Carson Valley, is a popular destination for those who love to go hiking in a mountain town.

4. Mount Charleston

Only about 415 people live in Mount Charleston, Nevada. The median age is 55 years old and the median household income is $94,643. Between 2020 and 2021, the population in Mount Charleston grew by nearly 5% and its median household income grew by more than 4.3%.

The median property value is $480,600, which is about two times larger than the national average. From 2020 to 2021, the median property value increased by almost 10%. About 88% of people who live there own their homes.

The town is named for the nearby Mount Charleston, whose Charleston Peak of 11,916 feet is the highest point in Clark County. The town is located in a valley of the Spring Mountains. Like many of the other towns on this list, Mount Charlestown is known for its hiking trails!

5. Reno

Reno is actually a city, but can also be considered one of the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home. It is known as “The Biggest Little City in the World.”

It has a population of 260,000 people and a median age of 36 years old. The median household income is $67,557. It was also likely a popular pandemic move because its population increased by more than 3.5% from 2020 to 2021. In relation, the median household income grew by more than 9% during that same time period.

The median property value is $391,500, but less than half of residents, only 48%, own their homes. Between 2020 and 2021, the median property value increased by more than 8%.

6. Carson City

Carson City is the capital of Nevada. About 58,000 people live in Carson City, and the majority of them live in Eagle Valley on the eastern edge of Carson Range, a branch of the Sierra Nevada. That population increased by nearly 5% between 2020 and 2021. The median age is 42 years old and the median household income is $62,217, which increased by nearly 7% between 2020 and 2021.

The median property value, $327,300, increased by more than 9% between 2020 and 2021. And about 60% of people there own their homes.

Since it is the state capital, there are a lot of things to do in Carson City! Tourists enjoy visiting sites such as the Nevada State Capitol Building, the Nevada State Museum, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, and the Carson City Mint. Visitors also enjoy walking around the Carson City Historic District or going on the Carson City Ghost Walk, to learn about the city’s haunted history. Like all the spots on this list, Carson City is also a popular hiking destination. And Lake Tahoe is not too far from Carson City!

7. Dayton

Dayton, Nevada has a population of 15,000 people, which is 5.5% higher than its population in 2020. The median age is 44 years old and the median household income is $75,205. That number increased by 4.6% between 2020 and 2021.

The median property value is $304,700, up 11% from 2020. About 80% of people own their homes. It has become one of the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home.

Some fun facts about Dayton: it is the state’s second-oldest settlement and is home to the oldest hotel in Nevada! It is located at the western end of the Twenty-Six Mile Desert. Like all of the towns or cities on this list, Dayton is popular for its hiking trails.

8. Mesquite

About 20,000 people live in Mesquite, Nevada and the median age is about 60 years old. It is known as a growing retirement community, with lots of casino resorts and golf courses. The median household income is $63,757, which increased by 7.7% between 2020 and 2021. The population increased between 2020 and 2021, too, by nearly 5%.

The median property value is $278,900, up 8.5% from 2020. The homeownership rate in Mesquite is 77%.

Located in the Virgin River valley, Mesquite is adjacent to the Virgin Mountains in the northeastern part of the Mojave Desert. This mountain town offers a lot to tourists and residents alike. There are lots of hiking trails, of course. You can also rent an ATV or go on a tour, driving around and appreciating the natural scenic beauty. Mesquite is also home to many spas to relax in, the Mesquite Fine Arts Center, the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery, and the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum.

9. Fernley

In Fernley, Nevada, the population is about 58,000 people, which increased by 4% between 2020 and 2021. Its median household also grew during that time period from $58,814 to $63,952, a 8.74% increase.

The median property value in Fernley is $264,100, which increased from $238,600 in 2020. That was a 10.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Fernley is about 76%.

Fernley does not have a lot of hiking trails within its city limits, but there are opportunities to explore the natural beauty in surrounding areas. These destinations include the Lahontan State Recreation Area, the Fort Churchill State Historic Park, and the Fernley Wildlife Management Area.

And here is a fun fact about Fernley: it was home to the historic and one of the first Amazon.com centers in the world.

10. Spring Creek

Spring Creek, Nevada, is one of the most expensive mountain towns in Nevada to buy a second home. It is located in a large valley between the Elko Hills to the northwest, and the Ruby Mountains to the southeast. This mountain town is home to 15,200 people, up 4.6% since 2020. The median age is about 34 years old, much younger than a lot of the other towns on this list. The median household income in Spring Creek is $105,997, which grew by 4.2% between 2020 and 2021.

The median property value was $256,200 in 2020 but grew by nearly 5% in 2021 to $268,900. Almost 90% of people who live in Spring Creek own their homes.

Visitors and tourists alike enjoy visiting the Ruby Mountains Wilderness Area, the Southfork Reservoir State Recreation Area, and other local parks and trails. In Spring Creek, there are plenty of places to go hiking, biking, or golfing.