Rows tagged local are specific to Sun Valley (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from Reno, NV. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 5/10 (district Washoe County School District · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
98.0
metro-area
#122 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
96.8
metro-area
#116 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$5.58
metro-area
#122 of 200 metros
Median household income
$71,471
local
#2169 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$36,434
local
#2467 of 3,220 cities
Who lives here
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median age
39.4 years
metro-area
#125 of 200 metros
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)
31.4%
metro-area
#119 of 200 metros
Foreign-born residents
13.4%
metro-area
#49 of 200 metros
Homes that are owner-occupied
61.6%
metro-area
#161 of 200 metros
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
5.05%
local
#1755 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
+7.9%
local
#879 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$285,600
local
#1288 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
4.0×
local
#1713 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
+0.0%
metro-area
#136 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$150
local
#1197 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
1,900 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$1,120
local
#731 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
1,659
Median days on market
12
metro-area
#65 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
9.6%
state
#68 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
8.23%
state
#133 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
None
Capital gains tax
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
High earners
No special surtax
Social Security in retirement
Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate
0.32%
local
#42 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$923
local
#87 of 3,220 cities
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
76.6 years
metro-area
#96 of 200 metros
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$6,400
state
#32 of 200 metros
Uninsured (share of residents)
12.8%
metro-area
#163 of 200 metros
Primary care providers per 100k
72
metro-area
#116 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$11,000
state
#99 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$240
state
#169 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
2.12% of value (~$594/yr)
state
#179 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Required
Emissions detail
Required in Clark (Las Vegas) and Washoe counties
DMV & license offices
6
Avg commute to work
26 min
local
#1245 of 3,220 cities
Commute by driving alone
70.3%
metro-area
#42 of 200 metros
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
26.7%
metro-area
#53 of 200 metros
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
14.3¢/kWh
state
#19 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$129
state
#19 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$4.20/gal
state
#173 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$48
state
#20 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$80
state
#45 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$89
state
#195 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,300
state
#22 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$2,400
state
#154 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
93.4 — Relatively Moderate
metro-area
#131 of 200 metros
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$500
state
#1 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$400
state
#163 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
50
metro-area
#132 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
2,000
metro-area
#138 of 200 metros
Homes with air conditioning (state)
92%
state
#105 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
3,000
metro-area
#80 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 90°F
54
metro-area
#133 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 100°F
3
metro-area
#158 of 200 metros
Avg summer high (state)
95°F
metro-area
#179 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
30°F
metro-area
#89 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
7.4"
metro-area
#6 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
22.0"
metro-area
#126 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
82%
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
7a
Frost window
04-10 → 11-01
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
460
state
#143 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
2,400
state
#131 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
34
metro-area
#136 of 200 metros
Parks
43
Hiking areas
6
Golf courses
20
Shooting ranges
10
Lakes
11
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
3
state
#87 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.