In this article, we list and discuss the 5 Fastest-Growing Cities in Nevada. We’ve written a more extensive article where we have also covered the remaining 7 of the fastest-growing cities in the state. In that one, we’ve also discussed Nevada’s casino industry. If you’d like to check that, you can go instead to the 12 Fastest-Growing Cities in Nevada.
The 7th largest state by area, Nevada, has a land area of 109,831.3 square miles and a population of over 3.2 million people. As of 2024, it is the 13th on our list of fastest-growing states in the US, having experienced a population growth of 2.9% between 2020 and 2023. Note that this growth rate is not the same in all areas of the state.
That’s because, like with every other place, the population is unevenly distributed across Nevada. Clark County, with a population of more than 2.3 million people, is the most populated area of the state. According to the Census data, Clark County is also one of the fastest-growing areas in Nevada, with a population growth of 16.1% from 2010 to 2020.
Nevada’s Mining Industry
The population boom in Nevada first started back in 1859 when silver was discovered in the state, which gave Nevada its nickname – the Silver State.
In 2021, Nevada’s mines produced over 6.2 million troy ounces of silver, of which, the Rochester Mine near Lovelock, owned by Coeur Mining Inc (NYSE:CDE), accounted for the largest silver production in the state. In June 2017, Coeur Mining Inc (NYSE:CDE) celebrated pouring its 150 millionth ounce of silver from its Rochester mine. In addition, Coeur Mining Inc (NYSE:CDE) announced commercial production in its newly expanded Rochester mine on 7 March 2024. Since then, its crush circuit has been operating at an average throughput of around 70,000 tons per day.
Moreover, Nevada is also leading the way in the country’s gold production. In 2021, the goldmines across Nevada accounted for 74% of the US total gold production, producing 4,502,365 troy ounces of gold. Overall, in 2021, Nevada produced over $9.7 billion worth of mineral commodities, excluding construction aggregates, and a minimum of $309 million was also spent on mineral exploration in the same year.
Overall, mining is one of the largest industries in Nevada. In 2021, the industry employed an average of 15,024 Nevadans at an average salary of $103,000. Also, the mining industry created 14,985 more jobs in supplying mining goods and services.
With that out of the way, let’s head over to the list of the 5 fastest-growing cities in Nevada. For a more extensive list — see 12 Fastest-Growing Cities in Nevada.
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Our Methodology
For our list of the Fastest-Growing Cities in Nevada, we have ranked them based on state population data from the US Census Bureau which provided us a list of annual population estimates for the cities. We then calculated the percentage change in population from 2020 to 2022 for them and shortlisted the cities that experienced the highest population growth in these years. The cities in our list are ranked based on the ascending order of their percentage change in population between 2020 and 2022. All other statistics and figures mentioned in our list have been sourced from the US Census Bureau, except for weather information for Lovelock City, which comes from Best Places.
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5. Reno City
Percentage Change in Population (2020-2022): 3.20%
Reno, with a population of around 273,448, and a median household income of around $72,103, boasts a diverse economic landscape. The city’s industries span a wide range, with notable sectors including construction, manufacturing, retail trade, educational services, healthcare, social assistance, and professional, scientific, and management services. With 24.5% of females engaged in computer, engineering, and science occupations, the city showcases a commitment to gender diversity in key industries as well. The poverty rates in Reno are also less than the state average.
4. Henderson City
Percentage Change in Population (2020-2022): 3.88%
Henderson, with a population of 331,415 people in 2022, is a Nevada city situated in Clark County. The city is named after Charles B. Henderson, the famed United States senator, attorney, and businessman from Nevada. Charles B. Henderson was also the developer of the Basic Magnesium Plant during World War II. The city encompasses an area of approximately 106 square miles, with a diverse landscape ranging from desert terrain to mountainous regions. The city’s age demographics reflect its varied population composition, with 4.9% children, 21.4% teenagers, and 20.0% senior citizens.
3. Fernley City
Percentage Change in Population (2020-2022): 5.36%
Fernley, with a population of 24,261 people in 2022, ranks third among the fastest-growing cities in Nevada. 89.7% of the city’s residents aged 25 and older hold a high school diploma or higher, while 14.9% have attained higher education. The city’s various industries, including manufacturing, retail trade, educational services, health care and social assistance, and transportation, contribute to its economic growth. Moreover, Fernley has an employment rate of 61.1%, a median household income of $84,025, and a median gross rent of $1,351.
2. Mesquite City
Percentage Change in Population (2020-2022): 6.67%
With a population growth rate of 6.67%, Mesquite’s population grew from 20,617 in 2020 to 21,992 in 2022. With a median household income of around $69,146, the city maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 9.8%. Mesquite has an employment rate of 34.9%, with 24.4% of the residents having attained higher education. Also, the city’s median gross rent is only slightly above $1,000.
1. North Las Vegas City
Percentage Change in Population (2020-2022): 7.41%
Topping the list, North Las Vegas is the fastest-growing city in Nevada by population, housing about 280,543 people. The city is best known for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, hosting NHRA drag racing events and two NASCAR Cup Series races, the only ones in Nevada, including the Pennzoil 400 during Spring Race Weekend. Alongside its reputation in motorsports, North Las Vegas thrives economically, with the highest contributing sectors being educational services, health care, social assistance, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services, collectively accounting for 36.2% of its economy. Additionally, retail trade and construction play significant roles in driving the city’s growth and development.
With that said,
If you want to read our analysis of the casino industry in Nevada, along with a more extensive list of the fastest-growing cities in Nevada, head over to 12 Fastest-Growing Cities in Nevada.