The largest city in Nevada by population is Las Vegas, followed by Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, and Sparks. This page ranks the largest incorporated cities in Nevada by population and separates them from large unincorporated places such as Paradise, Enterprise, Spring Valley, and Sunrise Manor.
Nevada population lists can be confusing because some sources mix cities, towns, census-designated places, and unincorporated communities into the same ranking. This reference focuses first on Nevada’s incorporated cities and Carson City, then separately explains large unincorporated places that may appear on broader population lists.
Top 10 Largest Cities in Nevada
The table below ranks Nevada’s largest incorporated cities by population. It does not include census-designated places or unincorporated communities, which are covered separately later on this page.
| Rank | City | Population | County / Jurisdiction | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas | 687,050 | Clark County | Southern Nevada |
| 2 | Henderson | 363,568 | Clark County | Southern Nevada |
| 3 | North Las Vegas | 292,114 | Clark County | Southern Nevada |
| 4 | Reno | 283,378 | Washoe County | Northern Nevada |
| 5 | Sparks | 117,116 | Washoe County | Northern Nevada |
| 6 | Carson City | 61,888 | Carson City | Northern Nevada |
| 7 | Fernley | 26,006 | Lyon County | Northern Nevada |
| 8 | Mesquite | 24,270 | Clark County | Southern Nevada |
| 9 | Elko | 22,123 | Elko County | Northeastern Nevada |
| 10 | Boulder City | 14,885 | Clark County | Southern Nevada |
Source note: Population figures are from Nevada’s 2025 Governor’s Certified Population Estimates for incorporated cities.
Methodology: What counts as a city in Nevada?
This page ranks incorporated cities in Nevada by population. That means the main table includes Nevada cities such as Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, Mesquite, Elko, and Boulder City.
It does not include census-designated places or unincorporated communities in the main city ranking. Large Nevada places such as Paradise, Enterprise, Spring Valley, and Sunrise Manor may have large populations, but they are not incorporated cities. They are covered separately later on this page so the city ranking stays clear and consistent.
Population figures can vary slightly by source because estimates are updated on different schedules. For this page, the main city table uses Nevada’s 2025 Governor’s Certified Population Estimates for incorporated cities.
Largest Cities in Nevada: City-by-City Reference
1. Las Vegas
Population: 687,050
County: Clark County
Region: Southern Nevada
Las Vegas is the largest city in Nevada by population and the largest incorporated city in the state. It anchors the Las Vegas Valley and is part of a much larger urban area that also includes Henderson, North Las Vegas, and several large unincorporated communities in Clark County.
Las Vegas is separate from nearby places such as Paradise, Enterprise, Spring Valley, and Sunrise Manor. Those areas may appear on broader population lists, but they are not incorporated cities.
2. Henderson
Population: 363,568
County: Clark County
Region: Southern Nevada
Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located southeast of Las Vegas and is one of the major incorporated cities in the Las Vegas Valley.
Henderson has grown into one of Nevada’s largest population centers, with residential, commercial, and suburban areas extending across the southeastern side of the metro area.
3. North Las Vegas
Population: 292,114
County: Clark County
Region: Southern Nevada
North Las Vegas is the third-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located north and northeast of Las Vegas and is a separate incorporated city within the Las Vegas Valley.
The city is part of the core Southern Nevada urban area, along with Las Vegas and Henderson. Its population places it ahead of Reno in Nevada’s incorporated-city rankings.
4. Reno
Population: 283,378
County: Washoe County
Region: Northern Nevada
Reno is the largest city in Northern Nevada and the fourth-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located in Washoe County near the Sierra Nevada and serves as the main city in the Reno-Sparks metro area.
Reno is the largest Nevada city outside the Las Vegas Valley. It is closely connected with Sparks, nearby Washoe County communities, and regional destinations across Northern Nevada.
5. Sparks
Population: 117,116
County: Washoe County
Region: Northern Nevada
Sparks is the fifth-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located directly east of Reno and is part of the Reno-Sparks metro area in Washoe County.
Sparks is one of the main incorporated cities in Northern Nevada. Its population makes it the second-largest city in Washoe County after Reno.
6. Carson City
Population: 61,888
Jurisdiction: Carson City
Region: Northern Nevada
Carson City is Nevada’s state capital and the sixth-largest city in Nevada by population. It operates as a consolidated municipality, which makes it different from most other Nevada cities.
Carson City is located in western Nevada, south of Reno and near the eastern side of Lake Tahoe. It is included in this ranking because it is one of Nevada’s incorporated city-level jurisdictions.
7. Fernley
Population: 26,006
County: Lyon County
Region: Northern Nevada
Fernley is the seventh-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located in Lyon County, east of the Reno-Sparks area.
Fernley is one of the largest incorporated cities outside Clark County and Washoe County. Its location along major Northern Nevada transportation corridors helps explain its role as a growing city in western Nevada.
8. Mesquite
Population: 24,270
County: Clark County
Region: Southern Nevada
Mesquite is the eighth-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located in northeastern Clark County near the Arizona border.
Although it is part of Clark County, Mesquite is geographically separate from the Las Vegas Valley. It is one of the largest incorporated cities in Southern Nevada outside the core Las Vegas metro area.
9. Elko
Population: 22,123
County: Elko County
Region: Northeastern Nevada
Elko is the ninth-largest city in Nevada by population and the largest city in northeastern Nevada. It is the main population center in Elko County.
Elko is regionally important because it serves a large part of northeastern Nevada. It is one of the largest incorporated cities in the state outside the Las Vegas Valley and the Reno-Sparks area.
10. Boulder City
Population: 14,885
County: Clark County
Region: Southern Nevada
Boulder City is the tenth-largest city in Nevada by population. It is located in Clark County southeast of Las Vegas and near Lake Mead.
Boulder City is much smaller than Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, but it remains one of Nevada’s largest incorporated cities by population. It is also one of the notable Clark County cities outside the immediate Las Vegas urban core.
Largest Unincorporated Places in Nevada
Some of Nevada’s largest population centers are not incorporated cities. This is one reason “largest cities in Nevada” lists can look different from one source to another.
Places such as Enterprise, Spring Valley, Sunrise Manor, Paradise, Whitney, Pahrump, Summerlin, and Winchester have large populations, but they are not included in the main city ranking above because they are unincorporated places rather than incorporated cities.
| Place | Population | County | Local Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | 259,959 | Clark County | Large unincorporated area in the southwest Las Vegas Valley |
| Spring Valley | 227,835 | Clark County | Large unincorporated area west of Las Vegas |
| Sunrise Manor | 212,012 | Clark County | Large unincorporated area east and northeast of Las Vegas |
| Paradise | 191,215 | Clark County | Large unincorporated area next to Las Vegas, including much of the Las Vegas Strip area |
| Whitney | 47,407 | Clark County | Unincorporated area in the southeast Las Vegas Valley |
| Pahrump | 43,690 | Nye County | Large unincorporated community west of Las Vegas in Nye County |
| Summerlin | 35,593 | Clark County | Unincorporated area on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley |
| Winchester | 33,894 | Clark County | Unincorporated area east of the Las Vegas Strip and near central Las Vegas |
These unincorporated places are important to Nevada’s population geography, especially in Clark County and the Las Vegas Valley. However, they are not ranked in the main city table because they do not have the same incorporated city status as Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks, and the other cities listed above.
Largest Cities in Nevada by Region
Nevada’s largest incorporated cities are concentrated in two main regions: Southern Nevada and Northern Nevada. Southern Nevada includes the state’s three largest cities, while Northern Nevada includes Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and Fernley.
| Region | Largest Cities in This Ranking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Nevada | Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Mesquite, Boulder City | Southern Nevada contains the state’s three largest incorporated cities, all located in Clark County. |
| Northern Nevada | Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fernley | Northern Nevada includes the Reno-Sparks area, Carson City, and Fernley in Lyon County. |
| Northeastern Nevada | Elko | Elko is the largest incorporated city in northeastern Nevada and the only city from that region in the Top 10. |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Largest Cities in Nevada
What is the largest city in Nevada?
The largest city in Nevada by population is Las Vegas. It is the state’s largest incorporated city and the largest city in the Las Vegas Valley.
What are the five largest cities in Nevada?
The five largest cities in Nevada are Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Reno, and Sparks. These are the five largest incorporated cities in the state by population.
Is Henderson bigger than Reno?
Yes. Henderson is larger than Reno by population. Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada, while Reno is the fourth-largest city in the state.
What is the largest city in Northern Nevada?
Reno is the largest city in Northern Nevada. It is the fourth-largest city in Nevada overall and the largest city in Washoe County.
Is Carson City one of the largest cities in Nevada?
Yes. Carson City is one of the largest city-level jurisdictions in Nevada by population. It is also the state capital and operates as a consolidated municipality.
Why are Paradise and Enterprise not listed as cities?
Paradise and Enterprise have large populations, but they are not incorporated cities. They are unincorporated places in Clark County, so they are listed separately from the main incorporated-city ranking.
Are the Las Vegas Strip and Paradise part of Las Vegas?
Much of the Las Vegas Strip is in Paradise, an unincorporated area of Clark County, rather than within the City of Las Vegas. This is one reason Nevada population lists can be confusing when they mix cities with unincorporated places.