1st Advantage MortgageIn Lyon County, Nevada, the typical household earns $80,812 a year and the typical rent is $1,326. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lyon County
- What Lyon County households earn
- The Lyon County job picture
- Housing costs in Lyon County
- Regional comparison for Lyon County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lyon County
- Who lives in Lyon County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Lyon County
- Budget math at the Lyon County median
- Checklist for Lyon County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Lyon County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lyon County
With an estimated 61,680 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lyon County ranks 3rd of 17 in Nevada for population. Land area is 2,003 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Reno, NV metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (2 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Fernley, with about 24,225 residents, or 39% of the county.
What Lyon County households earn
At $80,812, the typical Lyon County household income is 23% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Lyon County | vs Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.4% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.4% | +5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -3.9 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. 11.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.4%). None of these numbers decides a Lyon County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Lyon County job picture
By the Census industry count, 15% of employed Lyon County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 15% locally and 5% for Nevada. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lyon County workers | vs Nevada |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 15.5% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +9.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.6% | -7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.6% | -3.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Lyon County
A typical Lyon County rental runs $1,326 a month including utilities, which is 17% below Nevada. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $366,100, a typical Lyon County house costs 4.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Lyon County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Home costs | Lyon County | Nevada | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,326/mo | $1,597/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $366,100 | $435,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 60% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 56% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.8% | 5.2% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lyon 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.
Regional comparison for Lyon County
Distances run center to center, from Douglas County at 24 miles out to Churchill County at 61. Income ranges from $54,855 in Mineral County to $105,521 in Alpine County; 3 of these neighbors top Lyon County's median. Some neighbors are in California. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lyon County resident follows Nevada rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon County | - | $80,812 | $1,326/mo | 77% |
| Douglas County, NV | 24 mi | $90,754 | $1,593/mo | 79% |
| Carson City, NV | 31 mi | $72,355 | $1,248/mo | 62% |
| Storey County, NV | 34 mi | $93,409 | $1,153/mo | 96% |
| Alpine County, CA | 43 mi | $105,521 | n/a | 78% |
| Mineral County, NV | 55 mi | $54,855 | $905/mo | 73% |
| Churchill County, NV | 61 mi | $79,163 | $1,319/mo | 70% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lyon County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Lyon County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 52,033 people, so roughly 16% of residents live outside any named place. Dayton has the highest median household income on the list ($102,819) and Silver Springs the lowest ($48,944), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Lyon County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fernley | city | 24,225 | $89,517 | $1,570 | 37 mi |
| Dayton | CDP | 15,781 | $102,819 | $1,521 | 25 mi |
| Silver Springs | CDP | 5,060 | $48,944 | $1,201 | 25 mi |
| Yerington | city | 3,150 | $57,980 | $793 | 7 mi |
| Stagecoach | CDP | 1,892 | $70,000 | $1,029 | 26 mi |
| Smith Valley | CDP | 1,807 | $67,132 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Silver City | CDP | 118 | $68,056 | n/a | 29 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Who lives in Lyon County, in numbers
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Lyon County | All of Nevada | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | 27.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 12.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 11.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 11.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 7.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lyon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Lyon County
A few patterns in the Lyon County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Lyon County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Consolidation math. With 40% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
Budget math at the Lyon County median
How much room does a median Lyon County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lyon County: $6,734
- Less median rent of $1,326, which is 20% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,098 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,326, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checklist for Lyon County applicants
Steps that save money for Lyon County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lyon County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Nevada license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Lyon County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lyon County, check the Nevada Financial Institutions Division. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Nevada state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Nevada guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lyon County a high-income county?
Its $80,812 median ranks 7th of 17 Nevada counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Lyon County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,326 against $1,597 statewide, and 45% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Lyon County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Lyon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fernley, Dayton, Silver Springs, Yerington, Stagecoach and 2 more.
Are Lyon County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.