A monument to excess in the desert, Las Vegas is often equated with gambling and slot machines. But the city has much more to offer, with mountainside homes, an extensive food scene and plenty of outdoor recreation. “I’m not a casino or club person, and I feel like that’s what people usually think with Vegas," says Nicole Salvador, a Vegas resident who has lived in the area for almost two decades. People say they "can’t picture living there because I don’t like gambling or partying," but, she says, "most of us don’t like to either.”
The biggest city in Nevada, with more than 650,000 residents, Las Vegas has seen its population explode alongside its reputation as a global entertainment hub. In recent decades, that has included growing suburban neighborhoods like Summerlin and Lone Mountain , which make up nearly a third of its population. These are neighborhoods that tend to reflect the real Vegas, the one that residents experience, instead of touristy areas like Downtown Las Vegas , The Strip and Fremont Street. “It's a fun, popular city, a 24-hour city," Salvador says. "But like New York and Times Square, I don’t visit the Strip often. There’s still a lot to do in the suburbs,”
Luscious greenery in the Mojave Desert inspired Spanish merchants to name their flourishing settlement “the meadows.” Little did they know the area would eventually become one of the world’s most infamous destinations.
Las Vegas is a global entertainment hub in southern Nevada with a population of 665,000.
Lone Mountain is one of the many suburbs of Las Vegas with mountainside homes.
North Italia restaurant in Queensridge contributes to Las Vegas's extensive food scene.
Residents love Tule Springs for its bike lanes and plenty of outdoor recreation options.
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From retirees to people starting careers
Las Vegas’s population has increased by about 3% since 2020. One of Nevada’s main draws is the lack of state income tax. “In the last ten years, Las Vegas has exploded, in terms of population,” says Chelsea Atwell, a Realtor with Realty Executives of Southern Nevada who was born and raised in Vegas. With this influx of residents, it’s not just one single demographic moving to Vegas. “There’s a lot of people from California, Colorado and Utah that move here – it’s a large mix of people,” says Ben Packer, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty with over a decade of local sales experience. “You’re going to get a good amount from young and old demographics. People come here to retire, and then people also relocate to start a career.”
The city’s top industries are gaming and tourism, which employ over 300,000 people, and medicine, which employs 90,000. Other major state employers include the Nellis Air Force Base, which employs over 12,000 people just 9 miles northeast, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. “I’ve sold homes all over the valley, so when people ask me where they should live, I usually tell them it depends on where you work,” says Cassandra Mor, a Realtor with The Mor Group who has lived in the area for over two decades. Major suburban employers include the Summerlin Medical Center and Lone Mountain Aviation, an aircraft maintenance business located at the North Las Vegas Airport.
Las Vegas’s population has increased by about 3% since 2020.
The famous Las Vegas Strip hosts the city’s top industries like gaming and tourism.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is major state employer in the region.
Major suburban employers In Las Vegas include the Summerlin Medical Center.
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Suburban sprawl and custom estates
The city’s median home sales price is around $440,000, slightly higher than the national median of $420,000. Some communities are 55-plus, with uniformed streets of manufactured homes with small lawns. The city also has a wide variety of single-family homes in neighborhoods such as Peccole Ranch , West Sahara and The Lakes . Prices range from $300,000 for manufactured homes to $25 million for large, custom Mediterranean estates with in-ground pools and multi-car garages. Summerlin and Lone Mountain are suburban, with wide sidewalks, large backyards and front porches. The median sales price in Summerlin is around $600,000, while Lone Mountain’s is closer to $500,000. Throughout the city, many homes are shaded by tall palm trees and surrounded by mountain views.
Rows of townhomes are a common sight in West Las Vegas.
The median sales price for homes in Summerlin is $577,000.
The median home sales price in Lone Mountain is $483,950.
In South Summerlin, homes are shaded by tall palm trees and surrounded by mountain views.
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Clark County schools and houses of worship
Clark County School District earns a B from Niche, which also ranks it at No.1 for most diverse school districts in Nevada. Some well-regarded schools include Billy & Rosemary Vassiliadis Elementary School, Hyde Park Middle School and Advanced Technologies Academy, which is also a magnet school. The Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Performing Arts Center is a prominent public arts school that enrolled over 1,000 students in 2022-23. Doral Academy Red Rock is a well-regarded K-12 charter school. Private schools include Our Lady of Las Vegas School, a Catholic school, and the International Christian Academy; both teach kindergarten through eighth grade. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public college that had an enrollment of nearly 30,000 students for the 2024 spring semester.
Las Vegas has a wide variety of houses of worship, including several small Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints churches. “Vegas has a high LDS population, especially in the northwest area,” Atwell says. The Las Vegas Nevada Temple sits in the city’s eastern corner, and there are plans to build another LDS temple in Lone Mountain . The Hindu and Jain Temple of Las Vegas is in Summerlin, while the Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh Ji is in Lone Mountain. People also attend the Thai Buddhist and Kannon Temple of Las Vegas. Local Catholic places of worship include St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and Guardian Angel Cathedral.
Billy And Rosemary Vassiliadis Elementary School is a well-regarded school in Las Vegas.
Students of Hyde Park Middle School enjoy a vast array of athletic activities.
Doral Academy Red Rock is a reputable K-12 charter school in Las Vegas.
Our Lady Of Las Vegas School is a private Catholic school in Las Vegas, NV.
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Climbing at Red Rock Canyon
Sunset Park is the city’s largest green space, spanning over 300 acres. It includes playgrounds, picnic areas, a dog park, paved trails and a seasonal splash pad. There’s also a pond in the heart of the park, where people can fish. The nearby mountains lend themselves to hiking and rock climbing, and the Red Rock Canyon National Conversion Area, a national reserve on the city’s western outskirts, is also popular. Las Vegas has over 100 miles of paved trails for walking, biking and running. “There’s a massive biking trail that wraps around Vegas,” says Candace Grigg, a Realtor with Signature Real Estate who has lived in the Vegas area her whole life. “My friends and I like to get on the trail in the northwest and can go through Summerlin all the way to Henderson.” The Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort is the city’s biggest golf course, with a 54-hole championship layout.
Sunset Park is Vegas largest green space, spanning over 300 acres near University District.
Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center is the entry point to spectacular views.
Downtown Las Vegas is walkable and bike-friendly.
Allegiant Stadium has now become a landmark for Las Vegas, and home to the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Fine dining on the Strip or local eateries in the 'burbs
There are many fine dining options along Las Vegas Boulevard, some of which are outposts of high-profile restaurants from other cities. Well-known restaurants in the suburbs include Honey Salt, a classic American eatery, and Marche Bacchus, a French Bistro. “It really depends on what you’re feeling that day. Whatever you’re craving, there’s a spot for it,” Salvador says.
The Strip has many shopping options, from cheaper options like Ross all the way to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton. Downtown Summerlin is also a growing shopping destination and the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and Fashion Show Las Vegas are geared for shoppers.
Annual city events include Las Vegas Pride, which welcomes over 10,000 people in October, and the Electric Daisy Carnival, an electronic music festival with hundreds of thousands of attendees each May. There are also many holiday events and the Las Vegas Balloon Festival, which includes hot-air balloons and live music.
Las Vegas has added to its roster of professional sports teams -- drawn in part by the construction of new venues -- and is now home to football, hockey and WNBA teams. UNLV's storied basketball program fills the Thomas & Mack Center, and the city hosts a Formula 1 grand prix event.
Tourists from all over the world come to Vegas for its casinos and entertainment. Beyond just gambling, there are opportunities like the Fremont Street Experience, where people can zipline over the wandering crowds, and bungee jumping from the 1,000-foot STRAT Hotel's tower. There are many venues for music, but the most noteworthy new spot is The Sphere, a 54,000-foot circular concert venue with loudly colorful exterior displays, located behind the Venetian Hotel. Top casinos on the Strip include the Bellagio, known for its fountain show, and Caesars Palace. Summerlin residents visit Red Rock Casino and Resort, while Lone Mountain residents visit Santa Fe Station Hotel and Casino.
People visit the Las Vegas Premium Outlets near The Arts District for shopping and dining.
The Las Vegas Strip has many shopping options, from Ross Dress for Less to Louis Vuitton.
Zip-lining on Fremont Street is a fun and exciting activity for residents of West Las Vegas.
Red Rock Resort and Casino is a Summerlin local favorite alternative to the Las Vegas Strip.
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Getting around Sin City
Interstate 11, also known as U.S. Route 95, is a major freeway that runs north and south throughout the city. Interstate 15 connects the city to California and Utah, while the Las Vegas Boulevard, popularly known as the Strip, is used daily. “I love that we have easy access to everything; for example, I just got back from Salt Lake City yesterday. It’s an easy day trip,” Salvador says. “And California is right there. It’s a lot cheaper as well. I love to travel and feel like I have a lot of access from Vegas.” The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is the local city public transportation authority, providing bus service to Vegas neighborhoods, Boulder City, Henderson and Spring Valley. For long-distance travel, people visit Harry Reid International Airport or the North Las Vegas Airport, which is smaller but offers domestic flights through American Airlines, United, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Alaska Airlines.
Crime and weather patterns in the city
According to FBI data, Las Vegas’ reported property and violent crime rates usually exceed U.S. and state figures. However, Nevada crime statistics reflected a 21% decrease in Las Vegas’ property crime rates between 2023 and 2024, while violent crime rates fell by 16%. The local hospital is the Valley Hospital Medical Center, located in the heart of the city. The University Medical Center offers a Level I Trauma Center.
Las Vegas is the second-fastest warming city in the U.S., behind Reno. It's not unusual to have long streaks of temperatures above 100 degrees in the summer, and the region gets little rain. Because of its topography, the city also deals with poor air quality. Smog check stations are scattered throughout the city to help limit vehicle emissions. Most western states experience wildfire season, which lasts from May to October in Nevada.
In 1996, we sold our first house in Sun City MacDonald Ranch. The next year Gary would lead Sun City MacDonald Ranch in sales. Now, the father and son team of Gary and Scott continue to lead Sun City MacDonald Ranch in both listings sold and buyers represented. When you choose Ceci Realty to represent you, you get more than the expertise of the top selling firm in Sun City MacDonald Ranch, you also know the money stays in the community. Your money doesn’t go to some big corporate agency headquartered elsewhere, to buy TV and radio ads. We use it locally to sponsor events, tournaments, bingo, host classes and even the Sundial. When you are ready to be represented by a family instead of a big corporation please give us a call today at 702-260-0873.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
