The Town FilesSmith Valley, Nevada
Community in Lyon County · population 1,710 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $756,000
- Household income
- $67,132
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 63.3
Smith Valley is a community of 1,710 people in Lyon County, Nevada. The median home is worth $756,000, above the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Nevada towns, easier by car than 90% of Nevada towns, quieter than 82% of Nevada towns.
How Smith Valley 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 Smith Valley is worth $756,000, above the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 11.3 times the median household income of $67,132, which is more affordable than 1% of Nevada towns. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Smith Valley | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $756,000 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | — | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $67,132 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 11.3× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Smith Valley
| People | Smith Valley | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.3 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 48.6% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 6.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.2% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 17.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 34.6% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 44.3 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 92.1% |
Weather in Smith Valley
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 6.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Nevada town: 16.7 in). Expect about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Smith Valley since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 5, 2015.
Severe weather in Lyon County since 1996
Lyon County has been included in 14 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 |
| June 17, 2018 | Fire | FM-5242: Upper Colony Fire |
| February 17, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4303: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Lyon County
Lyon County had 13,744 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,903 a year. Unemployment was 5.8% in 2023; in Smith Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Smith Valley
1 public school with 189 students, about 21.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Valley Schools | PK-12 | 189 | 21.0 |
Towns near Smith Valley
- Topaz Ranch Estates, NV8.0 mi · 1,630 people · home $289,300
- Carter Springs, NV15.6 mi · 585 people · home $384,600
- Yerington, NV18.1 mi · 3,121 people · home $284,800
- Ruhenstroth, NV18.4 mi · 1,239 people · home $670,200
- Fish Springs, NV19.1 mi · 684 people · home $680,000
- Walker, CA19.4 mi · 704 people · home $388,600
- East Valley, NV20.5 mi · 1,558 people · home $874,300
- Gardnerville Ranchos, NV21.8 mi · 11,318 people · home $486,000
Smith Valley questions
Is Smith Valley, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Smith Valley scores better for retirees than 96% of Nevada towns and quieter than 82%. 48.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.3).
How much does a house cost in Smith Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Smith Valley is valued at $756,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,132, so homes cost about 11.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Smith Valley?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 6.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Smith Valley get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Smith Valley 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)