There are no shortages of articles out there about reasons to move to Nevada. Some have some really excellent points, and I’ll share my thoughts on those after moving here from Chicago almost 31 years ago.
Here are a couple of thoughts on the big cons of moving to Nevada that are out there in the Internet world contrasted with my true experiences.
1. If you have a family, schools are going to be a big issue. Nevada ranks among the lowest in terms of most of the major metrics. We raised three kids in the public school system that are now 30, 28, and 27. My kids all went to very diverse schools and all played sports. And our kids were not angels 100% of the time. I will say one kept out of trouble. I’ll let my kids decide who they think that is. What you will find out, especially in grade school and middle school, is that the teacher makes the school. We started asking some of the people we met which teachers were best and we requested those. It was a game changer. When you move to Nevada, it’s good to know some of the parents that have kids just a few years older and ask them about teachers.
2. It’s way too hot to move to Nevada! I heard that back in the early 90s and I still hear that today. Yes, if you’re coming from San Diego where the temperature doesn’t change much the entire year, the heat could get to you. I came from the city of Chicago where the windchill factor literally could get down to -30°. I’ll take 110 all day long! Instead of sitting in your house in the freezing cold waiting to scrape off the ice in your car to go to work, I’d prefer starting the car and turning the air conditioning on. Yes, it can get hot and it is true that humidity is very low. You’ll acclimate quickly, and although I’m not a medical doctor my allergies seem to settle down quite a bit after being in Nevada for literally only a few months.
3. Casinos dominating the workforce. Yes, the casinos have supported the majority of the jobs. That got a little hairy when the pandemic started and a half million people lost their jobs overnight. When I moved to Vegas in 1992 the population was roughly 800,000, and yes, the casinos had an overwhelming number of employees. Things are different in 2022. A ton of technology and small to midsize companies are moving to Nevada because of not only the tax climate but also the affordability of housing. Housing has gotten more expensive, but compared to California it’s a breeze! The entrepreneurial culture is hopping here as well. Plenty of opportunities if you are in a transition to gain some great employment opportunities
4. Food! Nevada may not be known for its restaurants the way other big cities are. But you may be surprised. I’ve never been a big foodie, but when our friends come into town, they tell me about all these amazing restaurants that they want to go to. That’s right! We have become a foodie town! Such incredible locations and the variety is amazing. People from all over the world come to Nevada to be entertained. I’m not just talking about all the great shows here, I’m talking about the food as well. There is no shortage of quality options no matter what you’re in the mood for.
5. Nevada is not just a desert – it is a relatively short drive to anywhere amazing. If you live in Vegas and you want to ski or water ski? You’re 40 to 60 minutes away from both. If you’re in Reno and you want to escape the heat, you are right by Lake Tahoe. Do you want to go to some wineries? Vegas is 3 1/2 hours or so to Temecula, California and it’s a 3-hour drive from Reno to Napa. I could go on and on. The beach is three hours and 55 minutes from my door to California. Oh, and I forgot Arizona. Four hours to either Flagstaff or the amazing city of Sedona. Not to mention Utah. Vegas is less than three hours to the amazing Zion National Park. Between there and St. George you got some incredible hiking within 2 1/2 hours. Do you get the idea?
6. Vegas isn’t just made up of entertainers, card dealers, and mobsters. There are some really, really genuinely nice human beings that live here in Nevada. I heard the story once from one of my teachers, Wayne Dyer. He was visiting Florida and was walking on the boardwalk. A couple came up to him and said, “Hey, we’re considering moving here. What are the people like here?” I asked a simple question: what are the people like where you’re from in Ohio? They responded they’re so unfriendly, backstabbing, and genuinely just not friendly people. He responded that’s exactly what they’re like here in Florida. He ran into another couple later in the day and I asked him the same question and he said what are the people like where you live now? They responded, “Amazing! We’re considering not moving because of how nice our community is. We have such good friends and great neighbors.” He responded they’re exactly like that living here. Understand where I’m coming from? When you move to Nevada, come into the attitude that the people here are just as nice as the people where you came from.
Just my perspective of living in this great city for over three decades. Don’t take my word for it – come and visit!