Ely (, EE-lee) is the only city in and the county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. In 1906 copper was discovered. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50. The railroads connecting the transcontinental railroad to the mines in Austin, Nevada and Eureka, Nevada have long been removed, but the railroad to Ely is preserved as a heritage railway by the Nevada Northern Railway and known as the Ghost Train of Old Ely. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,924.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Ely ranks

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#4Most affordable in NV #4Cheapest rent in NV #5Shortest commute in NV All NV rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code89301, 89315

Area code775

Living in Ely

Housing in Ely

$208K▼ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Ely home is worth about $208,000, down 1.1% in a year, 53% below the Nevada typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Ely

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61% of Ely’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Elko (3%), McGill (2%) and Winnemucca (1%). Half commute less than 1 miles.

Elko

McGill

Winnemucca

North Las Vegas

61%Work in townlive and work in Ely 1 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,733Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Ely →

Health in Ely

Health Grade C

Healthier than 35% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Nevada

1better than NV·6worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 25 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs 1▲ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

12.7%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityNV 15.6% · better 16.3%More older adults who have lost all their teethNV 11.6% · worse

Care nearby

William Bee Ririe HospitalEly · 0.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Wendover Community Health CenterWest Wendover · 110.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Ely · CMS · HRSAHealth in Ely →

Natural hazards in Ely

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🏚️ Earthquakes

1Does Ely flood?paid flood claims since 1982 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 5 declared for White Pine County

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Ely →

Climate in Ely

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Ely has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 54 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

41° / 14°Winter

59° / 28°Spring

84° / 47°Summer

64° / 29°Fall

How much snow does Ely get?About 54 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 13, with the last in spring around Jun 12.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Ely →

Schools in Ely

All Ely schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Ely’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 79% of Nevada’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Ely’s schools compare in NV →

DistrictWhite Pine County School DistrictSchools5

David E Norman Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 362 students Learning Bridge A-Elementary · Grades K–8 · 166 students White Pine Middle School BMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 233 students White Pine High School BHigh · Grades 9–12 · 365 students Steptoe Valley High SchoolHigh · Grades 9–12 · 24 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NV. Ratings are from neighbors.