The Town FilesPanaca, Nevada
Community in Lincoln County · population 870 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $263,300
- Household income
- $64,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 32.7
Panaca is a community of 870 people in Lincoln County, Nevada. The median home is worth $263,300, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of Nevada towns, better for families than 80% of Nevada towns, quieter than 76% of Nevada towns.
How Panaca 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 Panaca is worth $263,300, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $64,083, which is more affordable than 71% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $920 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Panaca | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $263,300 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $920 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $64,083 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.8% | — |
Who lives in Panaca
| People | Panaca | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.4% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 7.2 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 92.1% |
Weather in Panaca
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 11.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.1 inches of snow (typical Nevada town: 16.7 in). Expect about 68 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Panaca since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 28, 2013.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 27, 2023 | Flood | DR-4708: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4523: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3443: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3243: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| March 7, 2005 | Severe Storm | DR-1583: Heavy Rains And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 1,350 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,874 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Panaca itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Panaca
5 public schools with 444 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panaca Elementary School | PK-6 | 202 | 22.4 |
| Lincoln County High School | 9-12 | 160 | 17.8 |
| Meadow Valley Middle School | 7-8 | 82 | 16.4 |
| Lincoln County Adult Corrections | 15-15 | — | — |
| Lincoln County Adult High School | 15-15 | — | — |
Towns near Panaca
- Caliente, NV11.1 mi · 990 people · home $189,800
- Pioche, NV11.6 mi · 933 people · home $203,800
Panaca questions
Is Panaca, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Panaca scores better for retirees than 65% of Nevada towns and quieter than 76%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Panaca?
The median owner-occupied home in Panaca is valued at $263,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,083, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $920 a month.
What is the weather like in Panaca?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.2 inches of precipitation a year and 12.1 inches of snow.
Does Panaca get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Panaca in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)