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Douglas County

NV · Pop. 49,624 · Suburban County

15/100Homestead Score

Douglas County is a suburban county in Nevada, spanning 711 square miles with 49,624 residents at a density of 69.8 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage. The median home price is $587,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.45%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 100-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.7°F and average winter lows of 18.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 8.9 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Carson Valley Medical Center is 6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.45%
Growing Season: 100 days
Broadband: 99.1%
Density: 69.8/sq mi

Pros

  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.45% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Carson Valley Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low poverty rate of 8.3% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • A 100-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • Annual rainfall of just 8.9 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.

At a glance

Douglas County, NV is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
15/100
Median home price
$587k
Property tax
0.45%
Growing season
100 days (zone 7a)
Annual rainfall
8.9"
Broadband
99.1%
Nearest hospital
Carson Valley Medical Center, 6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.45%
Median Household Income$88,018
Poverty Rate8.3%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$587K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7a
Growing Season100 days
Annual Rainfall8.9 inches
Avg Summer High88.7°F
Avg Winter Low18.5°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado1/10
Flood8/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalCarson Valley Medical Center (6 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.1%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.3%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Douglas County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Douglas County?
Douglas County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 100-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.7°F, and average winter lows of 18.5°F. The established crops are hay, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $587,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.45%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Carson Valley Medical Center is 6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Douglas County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.