With 6.5 million Americans projected to retire in 2026, demand for affordable retirement destinations remains high. The Midwest, led by cities in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, continues to offer the most budget-friendly housing markets, while California cities rank as the least affordable. Nevada provides a compelling mid-tier option with no state income tax, retirement income exemptions, and strong appeal in northern areas like Carson City.

Nevada made a strong recovery in U-Haul's 2025 Growth Index. It climbed 15 spots from 35th to 20th and returned to net-gain status as more people moved in than out. This improvement came from job growth, development in places like Henderson, and steady arrivals from states like California. It marks a clear turnaround from the previous year's big 24-spot drop. Nationally, Texas took back the top spot for net one-way move arrivals. Florida stayed at number 2. Southern states led the list thanks to warm weather, lower costs, and strong economies. These trends continue the post-pandemic pattern of moves toward more affordable areas.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) now restricts purchases of sugary drinks and candy in some states under the Make America Healthy Again initiative, with tighter eligibility limited mainly to U.S. citizens and certain residents, plus stricter work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents up to age 64. Federal funding shifts reduce the government's share of administrative costs, increasing Nevada's burden by about $25 million annually, while potential penalties loom for high error rates. These changes, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, aim to curb estimated $3 billion in annual national fraud; no purchase restrictions apply in Nevada yet.

Taxpayers subsidized health insurance premiums for approximately 110,000 Nevadans through enhanced ACA credits, averaging significant monthly reductions. With those enhanced subsidies expiring December 31, 2025, combined with a 26% gross premium hike, many enrollees now face sharply higher costs—averaging $76 more per month or substantially more for some—in 2026. Base ACA subsidies remain, but affordability is strained for gig workers and self-employed reliant on Nevada Health Link.

In 2026, 19 states increase minimum wages for over 8.3 million workers, shifting more Americans to $15+ states than the federal $7.25, while Nevada holds steady at $12 per hour—ranking 28th among states above the federal rate after its 2022 voter reform ended the unique two-tier system.

U.S. inflation cooled to 2.6% for the year ending November 2025, with everyday items like eggs and hotel stays getting cheaper. Nevada and the West saw a higher 3.0% rate, driven by housing, medical care, and energy costs, but the national slowdown supports Nevada's tourism economy by keeping travel affordable and boosting hospitality jobs.

Nevada ranks 19th in U.S. per capita off-premises alcohol spending at about $950 per adult, above the national average of $898, with total state spending around $2.35 billion. Heavy tourism drives on-premises consumption in casinos and bars, ranking Nevada 3rd nationally in overall per capita alcohol use.

Highly partisan Nevada AG Ford joined Nevada in multiple lawsuits against Trump Admin. policies on education, illegal immigration, and tariffs, despite Nevada voters supporting Trump in 2024. Term-limited and controversial, he leaves the office open in 2026, pitting Democrats Cannizzaro and Conine against Republicans Guzmán Fralick and Tarkanian. The Attorney General's office profoundly influences state and national trajectories by using taxpayer resources to challenge or support federal policies.

Fourteen of 17 major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to Trump's Most Favored Nation drug pricing policy, providing existing drugs to Medicaid at the lowest prices paid in other developed nations.

Nevada's homeownership rate stands at approximately 61%, below the national average of 65%, driven by affordability challenges, rapid population growth, elevated prices in Las Vegas, and restricted housing supply due to zoning regulations. In contrast, West Virginia leads the nation with a rate exceeding 76%, while California lags at around 56%.

A 2025 ransomware attack disrupted Nevada state services across over 60 agencies, including DMV and Medicaid. The state refused ransom, recovering fully in 28 days with 90% data restored. In November, lawmakers unanimously passed AB1, signed by Governor Lombardo, creating a statewide Security Operations Center with 24/7 monitoring, funding, and talent programs. This major escalation from prior incidents reflects national trends, stressing patches, backups, training, and vigilance against identity theft.

Nevada retirees get lower average Social Security benefits due to modest wages in its tourism and service economy. 2024 SSA data shows top states like New Jersey ($2,190/month), New Hampshire ($2,184), and Delaware ($2,171), with many lower states below $1,900 based on earnings and claiming ages. This hits Nevada's growing seniors (16-17% aged 65+), despite near-national living costs, though 2025's 2.5% COLA and Social Security Fairness Act offer relief.

U.S. credit card debt hit a record $1.21 trillion in 2025, with the average American carrying $6,523 in revolving balances, while Nevada residents average $7,200—placing the state in the top ten nationwide. High-debt regions like Washington D.C., Alaska, and Hawaii benefit from larger credit limits above $32,000, whereas lower-debt states such as Wisconsin and Iowa face more restrictive limits around $19,000–$22,000, highlighting persistent regional economic divides.

Nevada delivered a standout 17.8% jump in 2024 holiday retail sales—third highest in the U.S. and part of four straight years of strong gains—fueled by residents’ unusually strong preference for in-person shopping over online, bucking the national shift to e-commerce seen in most states. While California and Washington lead the nation in digital holiday purchases, Nevada’s brick-and-mortar loyalty keeps malls and the Las Vegas Strip packed and makes the state one of America’s most reliable holiday markets.

Nevada experiences healthcare workforce shortages in professions such as physicians, nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and physician assistants, with all counties designated as having some form of Health Professional Shortage Areas. The state imposes high licensure fees, including up to $1,425 for initial physician licensure and $1,500 for dentists, along with biennial renewal fees reaching $750–$800 for physicians, which exceed national averages and those in lower-fee states like Pennsylvania ($35 initial for physicians) and Alabama.

In fiscal year 2024, the U.S. collected $5.07 trillion in federal taxes, with California contributing the largest total share (15.9%), while Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Minnesota had the highest per capita payments and states like West Virginia and Mississippi the lowest; Nevada ranked in the lower half per person at about $12,500. After comparing all taxes paid to federal spending received, Nevada was nearly in balance with a small positive net of ~$1,500 per resident, placing it roughly in the middle among states—neither a major donor like California, New York, and New Jersey nor a large recipient like Virginia, New Mexico, and Maryland. Nevada’s close-to-even status stems from defense spending at bases like Nellis offsetting moderate tax revenue from tourism and services, making it less federally dependent than about half the country.

In Nevada, 38% of households are cost-burdened, well above the national average of 31%, with over 100,000 more families affected than a decade ago. Renters face the heaviest burden, with 58% spending at least 30% of their income on housing, compared to just 27% of homeowners. Nevada ranks among the least affordable states, and urgent action is needed to increase housing supply, reform zoning, and strengthen renter protections.

Affordability has emerged as a top concern for voters in the 2025 midterm elections. Nevada’s overall cost of living runs slightly above the national average, with expenses pushed higher by housing costs, especially in the Las Vegas and Reno areas. Although healthcare and some other categories remain more affordable than in many states, rapid population growth and the state’s tourism-driven economy continue to put pressure on household budgets, while rural Nevada generally stays closer to or below the U.S. norm. Economic diversification and political shifts, like the $12 minimum wage, add complexity to affordability.

Federal courts in multiple districts have held that interim U.S. Attorneys appointed by President Trump, including Sigal Chattah in the District of Nevada, may no longer serve because their 120-day term under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act has expired. The rulings, which reject Justice Department efforts to extend the appointments, mean the affected offices—including Nevada’s, which oversees more than 1,000 federal cases annually—are now led by career deputy U.S. Attorneys pending appeals