The Town FilesTonopah, Nevada
Community in Nye County · population 2,179 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,900
- Household income
- $47,031
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 88°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 61.2
Tonopah is a community of 2,179 people in Nye County, Nevada. The median home is worth $143,900, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better transit than 100% of Nevada towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Nevada towns, quieter than 85% of Nevada towns.
How Tonopah 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 Tonopah is worth $143,900, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $47,031, which is more affordable than 81% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tonopah | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,900 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $843 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $47,031 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Tonopah
| People | Tonopah | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.2 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.1% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 3.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 0.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 33.2 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 92.1% |
Weather in Tonopah
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 7.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Tonopah since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 26, 2010.
Severe weather in Nye County since 1996
Nye County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| February 23, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3204: Snow |
| February 17, 2005 | Snowstorm | EM-3202: Record And/Or Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Nye County
Nye County had 13,764 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,204 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in Tonopah itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Tonopah
3 public schools with 272 students, about 19.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tonopah Elementary School | PK-5 | 128 | 14.2 |
| Tonopah High School | 9-12 | 80 | 26.7 |
| Tonopah Middle School | 6-8 | 64 | 32.0 |
Tonopah questions
Is Tonopah, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tonopah scores better for retirees than 84% of Nevada towns and quieter than 85%. 40.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.2).
How much does a house cost in Tonopah?
The median owner-occupied home in Tonopah is valued at $143,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,031, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Tonopah?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 7.0 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Tonopah get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Tonopah 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)