The Town FilesCarlin, Nevada
City in Elko County · population 2,050 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,700
- Household income
- $60,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 38.7
Carlin is a city of 2,050 people in Elko County, Nevada. The median home is worth $179,700, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Nevada towns, better transit than 84% of Nevada towns, better for young professionals than 72% of Nevada towns.
How Carlin ranks
Percentile among Nevada towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nevada towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carlin is worth $179,700, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $60,898, which is more affordable than 83% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $1,197 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlin | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,700 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $1,197 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $60,898 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Carlin
| People | Carlin | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 92.1% |
Weather in Carlin
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.0°F. About 10.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.4 inches of snow (typical Nevada town: 16.7 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 195 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Carlin since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 13, 2012 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on August 13, 2014.
Severe weather in Elko County since 1996
Elko County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4523: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3443: Covid-19 |
| July 17, 2017 | Fire | FM-5191: Oil Well Fire |
| March 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4307: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| October 3, 2011 | Fire | FM-2972: Indian Creek Fire |
Jobs and pay in Elko County
Elko County had 22,205 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,165 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Carlin itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Carlin
4 public schools with 374 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlin Elementary School | K-6 | 183 | 18.3 |
| Carlin High School | 9-12 | 96 | 7.4 |
| Carlin Jr High School | 7-8 | 56 | — |
| Battle Born Youth Challenge Academy | 9-12 | 39 | 9.8 |
Towns near Carlin
- Elko, NV19.6 mi · 20,564 people · home $309,100
- Spring Creek, NV26.8 mi · 14,967 people · home $360,600
- Osino, NV28.0 mi · 668 people · home $106,300
Carlin questions
Is Carlin, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlin scores better for retirees than 38% of Nevada towns and quieter than 44%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Carlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlin is valued at $179,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,898, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,197 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlin?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 16.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.0 inches of precipitation a year and 31.4 inches of snow.
Does Carlin get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Carlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on April 13, 2012. The typical Nevada town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)