The Town FilesWest Wendover, Nevada
City in Elko County · population 4,512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,700
- Household income
- $49,013
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 93°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.4
West Wendover is a city of 4,512 people in Elko County, Nevada. The median home is worth $139,700, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Nevada towns, more of a college town than 71% of Nevada towns.
How West Wendover 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 West Wendover is worth $139,700, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $49,013, which is more affordable than 85% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $611 a month. 56.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Wendover | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,700 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $611 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $49,013 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 56.2% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in West Wendover
| People | West Wendover | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.8% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 34.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 12.9 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 92.1% |
Weather in West Wendover
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 3.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 57 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of West Wendover since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, unrated, struck on May 13, 1970 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 1970.
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 West Wendover itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in West Wendover
3 public schools with 966 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Wendover Elementary School | PK-5 | 448 | 21.3 |
| West Wendover High School | 9-12 | 310 | 17.2 |
| West Wendover Middle School | 6-8 | 208 | 18.9 |
Towns near West Wendover
- Wendover, UT3.0 mi · 1,115 people · home $164,600
West Wendover questions
Is West Wendover, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Wendover scores better for retirees than 6% of Nevada towns and quieter than 16%. 7.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in West Wendover?
The median owner-occupied home in West Wendover is valued at $139,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,013, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $611 a month.
What is the weather like in West Wendover?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 3.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does West Wendover get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of West Wendover since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events). 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)