The Town FilesZephyr Cove, Nevada
Community in Douglas County · population 679 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,750,000
- Household income
- $139,048
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 65.9
Zephyr Cove is a community of 679 people in Douglas County, Nevada. The median home is worth $1,750,000, above the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Nevada towns, better for a vacation home than 100% of Nevada towns, more upscale than 99% of Nevada towns.
How Zephyr Cove 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 Zephyr Cove is worth $1,750,000, above the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 12.6 times the median household income of $139,048, which is more affordable than 0% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $1,500 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zephyr Cove | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,750,000 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $1,500 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $139,048 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 12.6× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 53.2% | — |
Who lives in Zephyr Cove
| People | Zephyr Cove | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 65.9 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 53.4% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 6.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.6% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 92.1% |
Weather in Zephyr Cove
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows 23.1°F. About 21.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.8 inches of snow (typical Nevada town: 16.7 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zephyr Cove since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on September 21, 2017 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 21, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 20, 2017.
Severe weather in Douglas County since 1996
Douglas County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2025 | Fire | FM-5592: Conner Fire |
| July 16, 2024 | Fire | FM-5509: Spring Valley Fire |
| April 27, 2023 | Flood | DR-4708: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 22, 2021 | Fire | FM-5402: Tamarack Fire |
| June 9, 2021 | Fire | FM-5390: Jacks Valley Fire |
Jobs and pay in Douglas County
Douglas County had 20,644 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,271 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Zephyr Cove itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Zephyr Cove
2 public schools with 279 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zephyr Cove Elementary School | PK-5 | 151 | — |
| George Whittell High School | 6-12 | 128 | 5.6 |
Towns near Zephyr Cove
- Round Hill Village, NV1.2 mi · 898 people · home $1,296,200
- Kingsbury, NV2.6 mi · 2,313 people · home $1,077,200
- Stateline, NV3.3 mi · 595 people · home —
- Genoa, NV5.0 mi · 1,343 people · home $1,003,200
- South Lake Tahoe, CA6.6 mi · 21,330 people · home $682,400
- Indian Hills, NV8.7 mi · 5,962 people · home $483,800
- Minden, NV9.1 mi · 3,442 people · home $586,000
- Gardnerville, NV11.3 mi · 6,211 people · home $487,300
Zephyr Cove questions
Is Zephyr Cove, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zephyr Cove scores better for retirees than 100% of Nevada towns and quieter than 92%. 53.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 65.9).
How much does a house cost in Zephyr Cove?
The median owner-occupied home in Zephyr Cove is valued at $1,750,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $139,048, so homes cost about 12.6 times income. Median rent is $1,500 a month.
What is the weather like in Zephyr Cove?
July highs average 74.6°F and January lows 23.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.8 inches of precipitation a year and 21.8 inches of snow.
Does Zephyr Cove get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zephyr Cove since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on September 21, 2017. 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)