City Comparison
Fernley vs Boulder City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fernley scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fernley
Boulder City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Boulder City is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
7% lower than in Fernley.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fernley's average rent is
10% higher than Boulder City's.
| Metric | Fernley | Boulder City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,495 | +10% |
| Groceries | $420 | $400 | +5% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $250 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,615 | $2,445 | +7% |
| Cost Index | 98 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fernley offers 15% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fernley delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fernley is estimated at
$54,000 vs $48,000 in Boulder City.
| Metric | Fernley | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $64,000 | $55,647 |
| Salary Needed | $54,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,306 idx | 52,997 idx |
| Household Income | $69,500 | $74,757 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Boulder City runs warmer on average — a 12.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Boulder City comes out ahead with 14 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fernley sees 11.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fernley | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 56.70°F | 69.00°F |
| Summer High | 90.00°F | 101.40°F |
| Winter Low | 30.20°F | 40.80°F |
| Rainfall | 7.70 in | 5.90 in |
| Snowfall | 11.90 in | 0.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 325 | 339 |
| Humidity | 35.00% | 25.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Boulder City has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Fernley.
For walkability, Boulder City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fernley | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 40.0/100 | 52.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fernley is the larger city
— approximately 1.6x the population of Boulder City.
From a growth perspective, Fernley is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Boulder City has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fernley | Boulder City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,377 | 14,919 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.80% | 0.09% |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 53.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fernley
Advantages
No state income tax in Nevada provides direct financial benefits for residents and workers.
Proximity to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center offers robust local job opportunities in manufacturing and logistics.
Median home prices remain more affordable than in nearby Reno and Sparks per regional MLS data.
Abundant access to outdoor recreation, including Pyramid Lake and high desert trails.
Small-town community atmosphere paired with convenient interstate access.
Drawbacks
High car dependency due to limited public transportation options within city limits.
Limited local dining, entertainment, and cultural amenities require trips to Reno for variety.
High summer temperatures can exceed 90°F regularly, increasing seasonal cooling costs.
Limited local specialty healthcare services require travel to major regional hospitals.
Rapid industrial growth has led to increased truck traffic along key local corridors.
Boulder City
Advantages
Strict municipal growth ordinances protect the town's historic charm and prevent over-urbanization per the City of Boulder City.
Proximity to Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides world-class boating, hiking, and outdoor recreation right next door per Census data.
Significantly lower crime rates and higher safety scores compared to nearby Las Vegas and regional averages per federal crime reports.
A peaceful, non-gambling environment offering a quiet residential escape from the neon and noise of the Las Vegas Strip per municipal code.
Active local community engagement with robust volunteerism, local parks, and dedicated community programming per Data USA.
Drawbacks
Limited housing inventory and strict growth caps drive up property values and home purchase prices per Zillow and U.S. Census data.
An older median age profile (53.5 years) results in fewer dynamic nightlife options and family-oriented entertainment venues per Census metrics.
High car dependency with limited public transportation options for commuting outside municipal boundaries per regional transit studies.
Extreme summer high temperatures exceeding 100°F restrict outdoor daytime activities during peak summer months per Open-Meteo climate data.
Local employment options within city limits are relatively scarce, requiring many residents to commute to Henderson or Las Vegas per local economic reports.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fernley
#190Nevada, USA
64.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$64,000
Cost Index
98
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
325/yr
Avg Temp
56.70°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
72
Business
70
Boulder City
#231Nevada, USA
62.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$55,647
Cost Index
105
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
339/yr
Avg Temp
69.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.09%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
78
Business
65
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