The Town FilesOwyhee, Nevada
Community in Elko County · population 1,027 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,300
- Household income
- $54,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 85°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 39.0
Owyhee is a community of 1,027 people in Elko County, Nevada. The median home is worth $119,300, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Nevada towns, hipper than 82% of Nevada towns, better for young professionals than 73% of Nevada towns.
How Owyhee 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 Owyhee is worth $119,300, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $54,000, which is more affordable than 93% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $524 a month. 43.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owyhee | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,300 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $524 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $54,000 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 43.8% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in Owyhee
| People | Owyhee | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.5% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.8% | 92.1% |
Weather in Owyhee
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 4.9°F. About 12.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 263 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Owyhee since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 21, 2009 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 5, 2017.
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 Owyhee itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Owyhee
3 public schools with 318 students, about 21.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owyhee Elementary School | PK-6 | 172 | 34.4 |
| Owyhee High School | 9-12 | 89 | 8.9 |
| Owyhee Jr High School | 7-8 | 57 | — |
Owyhee questions
Is Owyhee, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owyhee scores better for retirees than 30% of Nevada towns and quieter than 34%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Owyhee?
The median owner-occupied home in Owyhee is valued at $119,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,000, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $524 a month.
What is the weather like in Owyhee?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 4.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.8 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Owyhee get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Owyhee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 21, 2009. 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)