The Town FilesEly, Nevada
City in White Pine County · population 3,924 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $233,700
- Household income
- $77,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 38.7
Ely is a city of 3,924 people in White Pine County, Nevada. The median home is worth $233,700, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Nevada towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Nevada towns.
How Ely 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 Ely is worth $233,700, below the typical Nevada town ($361,550). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,500, which is more affordable than 83% of Nevada towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 65.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ely | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $233,700 | $361,550 |
| Median rent | $950 | $1,386 |
| Median household income | $77,500 | $78,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 4.9× |
| Homeownership | 65.4% | 72.5% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Ely
| People | Ely | Typical Nevada town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 44.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 21.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 19.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 9.8% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.0% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 24.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 92.1% |
Weather in Ely
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 12.4°F. About 9.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.1 inches of snow (typical Nevada town: 16.7 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 215 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ely since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Nevada town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 23, 1998 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on September 12, 2001.
Severe weather in White Pine County since 1996
White Pine County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 White Pine County
White Pine County had 4,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,315 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Ely itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Ely
7 public schools with 1,195 students, about 41.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Pine High School | 9-12 | 377 | 94.3 |
| David E Norman Elementary | PK-5 | 362 | 22.6 |
| White Pine Middle School | 6-8 | 248 | 82.7 |
| Learning Bridge (charter) | K-8 | 164 | 32.8 |
| Steptoe Valley High School | 9-12 | 23 | 23.0 |
| Early Childhood | PK-PK | 13 | — |
| Steptoe Valley Adult High School | 15-15 | 8 | — |
Ely questions
Is Ely, Nevada a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ely scores better for retirees than 53% of Nevada towns and quieter than 61%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Ely?
The median owner-occupied home in Ely is valued at $233,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,500, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Ely?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 12.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.4 inches of precipitation a year and 54.1 inches of snow.
Does Ely get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ely since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 23, 1998. 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)