Nevada’s glitzy cities often steal the spotlight, but the real bargains are hiding in the desert. According to the Zillow Home Value Index, Nevada offers several towns with home values well below the state average. From the mining communities of the north to the desert outposts of the south, these 16 locations represent the most affordable real estate markets in Nevada as of March 2025.
Two towns on our list—Austin and Hawthorne—have actually seen negative growth in home values since 2020, bucking the trend of the nationwide housing boom. Meanwhile, Lovelock has experienced the most dramatic five-year increase at nearly 67%, demonstrating that even Nevada’s most affordable markets aren’t immune to significant price fluctuations.
Despite their relative affordability, these 16 towns have seen an average increase of 22.14% in home values since 2020, though this is considerably lower than Nevada’s major metropolitan areas. Many of these communities are historic mining towns or rural outposts, offering unique desert landscapes and a quieter pace of life away from Las Vegas and Reno.
16. Battle Mountain
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $262,700
- 2020 Home Value: $188,918
- 2015 Home Value: $147,342
- 2010 Home Value: $120,028
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 39.05%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 78.29%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: 118.87%
About Battle Mountain
Nestled in the heart of Nevada’s mining country, Battle Mountain offers you a glimpse into the state’s resource-rich history while providing relatively affordable housing options. This small community sits along Interstate 80, making it accessible for those who appreciate connecting with both the past and present of Nevada’s economy. Despite being among the 16 least expensive towns in Nevada, Battle Mountain has seen substantial growth in home values, more than doubling since 2010 and increasing nearly 40% in just the last five years.
15. Laughlin
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $260,340
- 2020 Home Value: $173,194
- 2015 Home Value: $124,259
- 2010 Home Value: $118,979
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 50.32%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 109.51%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: 118.81%
About Laughlin
Cathixx, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Along the banks of the Colorado River, you’ll find Laughlin—a desert oasis offering casino resorts, water recreation, and stunning views at surprisingly affordable prices. This riverside community provides a more laid-back alternative to Las Vegas while still offering gaming and entertainment options. Your housing dollar stretches further here, though values have skyrocketed over 50% since 2020 and more than doubled in the past decade, reflecting increasing interest in this once-overlooked corner of Nevada.
14. Panaca
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $248,496
- 2020 Home Value: $187,745
- 2015 Home Value: N/A
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 32.36%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: N/A
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Panaca
Established in 1864, Panaca holds the distinction of being Nevada’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement, offering you a chance to live in a piece of genuine Silver State history. This quiet agricultural community in Lincoln County provides a peaceful rural lifestyle with modest homes that have appreciated steadily. While data isn’t available for earlier periods, the town has seen a healthy 32.36% increase in home values since 2020, demonstrating a growing appreciation for its pastoral charm and historic significance.
13. Searchlight
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $244,317
- 2020 Home Value: N/A
- 2015 Home Value: N/A
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: N/A
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: N/A
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Searchlight
Just an hour from Las Vegas, you’ll discover Searchlight—an unassuming desert town with a fascinating mining history and connections to Nevada political royalty as the childhood home of former U.S. Senator Harry Reid. This small community offers an escape from big city prices while keeping you within reach of metropolitan amenities. Although historical comparison data isn’t available, Searchlight’s current average home value of $244,317 positions it as an intriguing option for those seeking affordability near southern Nevada’s urban centers.
12. Lovelock
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $224,949
- 2020 Home Value: $134,882
- 2015 Home Value: $86,070
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 66.77%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 161.36%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Lovelock
Take a drive along Interstate 80 and you’ll find Lovelock—a small agricultural community known for its unique courthouse and the tradition of “locking your love” with padlocks at the town’s round courthouse plaza. What makes this town particularly noteworthy is its dramatic growth in home values, skyrocketing nearly 67% since 2020 and an astounding 161% since 2015—the highest percentage increase among all 16 towns on this list. Despite this remarkable growth, Lovelock remains among Nevada’s most affordable communities with average home values just under $225,000.
11. Alamo
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $222,998
- 2020 Home Value: $180,011
- 2015 Home Value: $151,843
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 23.88%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 46.86%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Alamo
Journey to the heart of the Pahranagat Valley, and you’ll encounter Alamo—a peaceful desert community serving as gateway to some of Nevada’s most spectacular natural areas, including the Desert National Wildlife Range. This remote location offers you starry skies and open spaces at reasonable prices. Since 2020, Alamo has seen a moderate increase of nearly 24% in home values, growing at a pace below the average for towns on this list while maintaining its reputation as an affordable haven for those seeking tranquility.
10. Pioche
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $214,154
- 2020 Home Value: $171,218
- 2015 Home Value: $132,357
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 25.08%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 61.80%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Pioche
Perched on hillsides with buildings dating back to the 1860s, Pioche offers you a living museum of Nevada’s wild western past with its historic downtown and famous “Million Dollar Courthouse.” This former boomtown—once considered one of America’s roughest mining camps—now provides a quiet lifestyle with homes at prices significantly below state averages. The town has experienced steady appreciation of 25% since 2020 and nearly 62% since 2015, yet remains comfortably under the $215,000 mark for average home values.
9. Caliente
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $197,854
- 2020 Home Value: $155,274
- 2015 Home Value: $111,506
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 27.42%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 77.44%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Caliente
Named for its hot springs, you’ll find Caliente nestled in a valley surrounded by stunning desert mountains, offering small-town charm anchored by its historic Spanish mission-style railroad depot. This former railroad hub provides outdoor enthusiasts easy access to multiple mountain biking trails and wilderness areas. Home values have increased by a healthy 27% since 2020 and 77% over the past decade, yet remain under $200,000, making it an increasingly popular destination for those seeking affordability combined with outdoor recreation opportunities.
8. Wells
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $196,497
- 2020 Home Value: $186,792
- 2015 Home Value: $146,792
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 5.20%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 33.86%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Wells
At the junction of major highways in northeastern Nevada, Wells serves as your gateway to the Ruby Mountains and adventure in the high desert. This small community stands out on our list for its remarkably stable home values, showing only a modest 5.2% increase since 2020—the second lowest growth rate among these 16 towns. With average home prices hovering just under $200,000, Wells represents a rare combination of affordability and price stability in a state where many markets have seen dramatic fluctuations.
7. Ely
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $194,423
- 2020 Home Value: $149,407
- 2015 Home Value: $119,018
- 2010 Home Value: $108,803
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 30.13%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 63.36%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: 78.69%
About Ely
Venture to eastern Nevada and you’ll discover Ely—a mountain town rich in mining heritage that serves as base camp for Great Basin National Park and home to the remarkable Nevada Northern Railway Museum. This high-desert community (elevation 6,400 feet) offers four-season living with remarkably affordable housing. Despite its remote location, Ely has seen consistent appreciation over the years with a 30% increase since 2020 and nearly 79% growth since 2010, demonstrating sustained interest in this historic copper mining hub.
6. Carlin
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $193,109
- 2020 Home Value: $165,480
- 2015 Home Value: $136,812
- 2010 Home Value: $105,677
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 16.70%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 41.15%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: 82.74%
About Carlin
Surrounded by some of the world’s most productive gold mines, Carlin gives you front-row access to Nevada’s modern mining economy while maintaining housing prices well below state averages. This small community along Interstate 80 has seen modest but steady growth in home values—approximately 17% since 2020 and 83% since 2010. Your housing dollar stretches further here than in nearby Elko, making it an attractive option for those working in the region’s mining industry or seeking an affordable base for exploring northeastern Nevada’s rugged landscapes.
5. Eureka
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $187,889
- 2020 Home Value: $170,977
- 2015 Home Value: $136,049
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 9.89%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 38.10%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Eureka
Billing itself as “The Loneliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America,” Eureka invites you to step back in time with its remarkably preserved 19th-century architecture and authentic western character. This historic mining town sits along Highway 50 and has maintained affordable housing despite its charm and historical significance. With just under 10% growth since 2020, Eureka offers one of the more stable housing markets among Nevada’s smaller communities, making it an intriguing option for history buffs seeking a quiet lifestyle in a genuine western town.
4. Tonopah
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $151,873
- 2020 Home Value: $148,962
- 2015 Home Value: N/A
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 1.95%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: N/A
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Tonopah
Halfway between Las Vegas and Reno, Tonopah welcomes you with some of the darkest night skies in America and a fascinating mining history displayed in its central historic district. What makes this high desert town particularly notable in our analysis is its remarkably stable home values, which have increased just 1.95% since 2020—the lowest growth rate among all 16 towns with available data. At just over $150,000 for an average home, Tonopah represents an extraordinary value for those seeking affordability and price stability in a town with character.
3. McGill
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $134,770
- 2020 Home Value: $103,821
- 2015 Home Value: N/A
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: 29.81%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: N/A
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About McGill
Once a thriving company town for Nevada’s copper industry, McGill now offers you the chance to own a piece of mining history at prices that seem almost unbelievable in today’s market. This small community near Ely features historic homes, a preserved company store museum, and a relaxed pace of life. Despite being the third most affordable town on our list with average home values under $135,000, McGill has seen nearly 30% appreciation since 2020, suggesting growing interest in this hidden gem of eastern Nevada.
2. Hawthorne
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $117,238
- 2020 Home Value: $119,550
- 2015 Home Value: $69,378
- 2010 Home Value: $72,282
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: -1.93%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: 68.98%
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: 62.20%
About Hawthorne
Situated on the shores of Walker Lake and home to the Hawthorne Army Depot, this small military town offers you remarkably affordable housing with stunning mountain and lake views. What makes Hawthorne particularly noteworthy is that it’s one of only two towns on our list to experience negative growth in home values since 2020, with a modest decline of 1.93%. Despite this recent dip, longer-term trends show significant growth of nearly 69% since 2015, and at just over $117,000 for an average home, Hawthorne represents one of Nevada’s true real estate bargains.
1. Austin
Historic home prices and percent change over time:
- 2025 Home Value: $83,109
- 2020 Home Value: $110,162
- 2015 Home Value: N/A
- 2010 Home Value: N/A
- % Change from 2020 to 2025: -24.56%
- % Change from 2015 to 2025: N/A
- % Change from 2010 to 2025: N/A
About Austin
Perched high in the Toiyabe Range along the “Loneliest Road in America,” Austin offers you the most affordable housing in Nevada combined with authentic 19th-century western character. This historic silver mining town, founded in 1862, stands as the only community in our analysis with average home values below $100,000—in fact, at just $83,109, it’s significantly more affordable than any other town on the list. Austin has experienced the most dramatic price decline of all Nevada communities, dropping nearly 25% since 2020, making it a potential opportunity for bargain hunters seeking a genuine piece of the Old West.
