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County in Nevada

Esmeralda County, Nevada

Esmeralda County, in Nevada, has 1,028 residents: No. 17 of 17 by population. Esmeralda County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $108,900. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,342 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $25.81 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $108,900

    −75% vs. Nevada −67% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Esmeralda
    • Nevada
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,342 a month

    −20% vs. Nevada −23% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Esmeralda
    • Nevada
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Esmeralda
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.61% of value per year

    +30% vs. Nevada −35% vs. U.S.

    $669 a year for the typical owner

    • Esmeralda
    • Nevada
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Esmeralda County today?

Homes here are worth 75% less than the average across Nevada. The typical property tax is $669 a year (about 0.61% of home value), lower than in Nevada.

Renting is more of a stretch than in Nevada: 76% of renters put 30% or more of their income toward housing, against 56% statewide.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Esmeralda County apart

  1. Of the 16 counties in Nevada with this figure, Esmeralda County has the lowest typical home value: $108,900.

  2. Of the 13 counties in Nevada with this figure, Esmeralda County has the largest share of rent-burdened renters: 76%.

  3. Esmeralda County has the lowest typical home value in its area: $108,900, less than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Mineral County ($156,200).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Esmeralda County

What homes there are in Esmeralda County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Esmeralda County; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 49%, less than in Nevada (60%).

Mobile homes are 28% of homes in Esmeralda County, more than in Nevada (5%).

Year built

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,354 a month

Nevada: $1,932 a month

Without a mortgage

$509 a month

Nevada: $558 a month

Owning costs less in Esmeralda County: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,354 a month; in Nevada, $1,932. Without one, $509.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Esmeralda County gained value faster than in Nevada: 68% against 63%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureEsmeralda CountyNevadaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate4.4%3.4%
People per household 2.032.622.53
Drive alone 72%71%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate11%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate12%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Esmeralda County are smaller: 2.03 people on average; in Nevada, 2.62.

To get to work, 72% of workers in Esmeralda County drive alone; in Nevada, 71%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Esmeralda County?

This county has no typical home value or no typical household income, so we can't measure how heavy the payment is. Put your own numbers in the calculator.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Esmeralda County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,812 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$873

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$106,927
Total interest
$153,843
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,839 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

Type your income to see which tier this payment lands in.

Show the result as
per month$873
Principal & interest$724
Property tax$55
Home insurance$45
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$48

You need at least $3,812 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Esmeralda County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Esmeralda County compares with Nevada and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

FHFA does not publish an annual price index in Esmeralda County. This usually happens when there are too few sales to measure. According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Nevada rose 121% in the 10 years through 2025.

Esmeralda County compared with Nevada and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Esmeralda $108,900
  • Nevada $435,400
  • United States $332,700
See the full table
Esmeralda compared with Nevada and the United States
MeasureHereNevadaU.S.
Residents1,0283,184,612334,922,499
Typical home value$108,900$435,400$332,700
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,342$1,672$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$25.81$32.15$33.65
Typical property tax$669$2,027$3,119
Effective tax rate0.61%0.47%0.94%
Households that own their home61%60%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent76%56%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Nevada shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Esmeralda County

For a typical $108,900 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $873 $3,812 $106,928 7.18% FHA MIP · $48 $7,079 580
Conventional, 5% down $853 $5,445 $103,455 7.18% PMI · $52 $8,712 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $691 $21,780 $87,120 7.18% None $25,047 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $792 $16,335 $92,565 8.18% None $19,602 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Esmeralda County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Esmeralda County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Esmeralda County, the typical owner pays $669 a year: about 0.61% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Nevada and less than the national average.

  • Esmeralda 0.61%
  • Nevada 0.47%
  • United States 0.94%

What Nevada publishes 3 percent cap on the yearly tax increase for your primary residence (Nevada Legislature (Nevada Revised Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Nevada

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Esmeralda County. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Esmeralda County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Esmeralda County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

In Esmeralda County, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as very low.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

In all, FEMA estimates natural hazards cause about $1.3 million in losses a year in Esmeralda County, across buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $413,915 in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery low $413,915 a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively low $368,881 a year
  3. WildfireVery low $11,514 a year
  4. Winter weatherVery low $902 a year
  5. TornadoVery low $46 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Esmeralda County in zone 4B: mixed and dry.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Summer

    • Before extreme heat: cover windows with drapes or shades, weather-strip doors and windows, and insulate around window air conditioners. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$38.42$22.57 and $58.25
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$34.00$21.30 and $55.23
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$30.53$22.05 and $46.05
Roofers$27.82$21.78 and $38.22
Carpenters$30.47$22.50 and $48.66
Painters, construction and maintenance$28.25$21.25 and $40.00
Maintenance and repair workers, general$28.04$15.72 and $44.80

An electrician earns about $38.42 an hour in the Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area, and a plumber, about $34.00.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Esmeralda County

HUD publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size in Esmeralda County: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

76% of renter households in Esmeralda County spend 30% or more of their income on housing.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,019 $19.60 $40,760
1 bedroom $1,026 $19.73 $41,040
2 bedrooms $1,342 $25.81 $53,680
3 bedrooms $1,858 $35.73 $74,320
4 bedrooms $2,243 $43.13 $89,720

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Esmeralda County

Programs and counseling in Esmeralda County

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Nevada down payment programs

  1. Home Is Possible

    Nevada Housing Division program: up to 5% of the loan for the down payment or closing costs, with no first-time buyer requirement

    No first-time requirement. Run by Nevada Housing Division.

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

  2. Home Is Possible For First-Time Homebuyers

    Nevada Housing Division program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with interest-free help for the down payment and closing costs of up to 4% of the loan, which is not forgiven

    First-time buyers only. Run by Nevada Housing Division.

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

  3. Home Is Possible For Teachers

    $7,500 from the Nevada Housing Division for public school teachers, for the down payment and closing costs; forgiven after five years if you still live in the home

    No first-time requirement. Run by Nevada Housing Division.

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Nevada programs

Help in Spanish in Esmeralda County

None of the 0 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

HUD lists no public housing authority based in Esmeralda County. The authority of a nearby county or the state may serve this area.

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Places

Cities in Esmeralda County

This site has no city pages of Esmeralda County. The neighboring counties are below.

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Esmeralda County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Esmeralda County in 2026?

Esmeralda County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Esmeralda County?

Esmeralda County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Esmeralda County?

The typical home value in Esmeralda County is $108,900 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Nevada it's $435,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Esmeralda County?

HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,342 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Esmeralda County?

About $25.81 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $53,680 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,342 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).