1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lander County household earns $89,014, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Nevada license first.
On this page
- Lander County, NV: the basics
- What Lander County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Lander County
- Employment and commuting in Lander County
- Counties near Lander County
- The communities that make up Lander County
- Debt-to-income at Lander County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Lander County
- People and households in Lander County
- Licensing and complaints for Lander County
- Steps before you apply in Lander County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lander County, NV: the basics
Lander County is home to about 5,770 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 12th most populous of 17 county-level areas in Nevada. Spread over 5,519 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Lander County, Battle Mountain leads by population with about 3,518; 0 of the 3 are incorporated. Because Lander County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Lander County households earn
The median household income in Lander County is $89,014; statewide it is $78,260, so Lander County runs 14% above Nevada as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Lander County | Difference from Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.5% | -6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -3.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Lander County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. 10.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.4%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lander County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Lander County
A typical Lander County rental runs $902 a month including utilities, which is 44% below Nevada. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. With a median value of $213,800, a typical Lander County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Lander County households own their home and 23% rent. The median year built is 1986.
| Home costs | Lander County | Nevada | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $902/mo | $1,597/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $213,800 | $435,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 60% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 56% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 12% | 31% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lander County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Employment and commuting in Lander County
The biggest employer of Lander County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 24% of workers, followed by public administration (17%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lander County averages 9.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 7.0%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 0% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.8% of the total (7.0% statewide).
| Where residents work | Lander County | Difference from Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.9% | +22.6 pts |
| Public administration | 17.1% | +12.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 12.6% | -4.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | -9.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Lander County
Distances run center to center, from Eureka County at 41 miles out to Mineral County at 120. Income ranges from $54,855 in Mineral County to $81,073 in Humboldt County; none of these neighbors top Lander County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lander County | - | $89,014 | $902/mo | 77% |
| Eureka County, NV | 41 mi | $70,473 | $969/mo | 83% |
| Churchill County, NV | 69 mi | $79,163 | $1,319/mo | 70% |
| Pershing County, NV | 81 mi | $66,902 | $715/mo | 73% |
| Humboldt County, NV | 119 mi | $81,073 | $994/mo | 74% |
| White Pine County, NV | 119 mi | $72,865 | $937/mo | 75% |
| Mineral County, NV | 120 mi | $54,855 | $905/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Lander County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Lander County residents live in one of the 3. No Lander County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Mountain | CDP | 3,518 | $81,857 | $899 | 51 mi |
| Kingston | CDP | 144 | $61,375 | n/a | 48 mi |
| Austin | CDP | 64 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
Debt-to-income at Lander County's medians
Here is the Lander County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $7,418 gross per month ($89,014 / 12)
- 12% goes to median rent ($902)
- $1,768: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $2,288: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Lander County
A few patterns in the Lander County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Lander County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 50% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Consolidating cards in Lander County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
People and households in Lander County
Degree holders: 19% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Lander County | Nevada | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 27.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 12.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.8% | 11.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 11.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.4% | 7.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lander County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.5% |
| 60+ min | 18.2% |
Licensing and complaints for Lander County
The Nevada Financial Institutions Division is the place to verify any lender's Nevada license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Nevada guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Lander County
Quick steps for Lander County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lander County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nevada guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lander County household make?
About $89,014 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 14% above the Nevada median.
What do renters pay in Lander County?
$902 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
Does this page cover Battle Mountain?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Lander County, such as Kingston, Austin.
Can Lander County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Nevada county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lander County?
Start with the Nevada Financial Institutions Division, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.