Maybe you only know what you’ve seen in the movies. Perhaps you vacationed here a few times but never went off the Strip. We’re here to help break the stereotypes and cliques about living in Las Vegas while showing just what the Southern Nevada lifestyle offers for locals.
Instead of letting what happens here stay here, we’re showing you what happens when you stay here.
1. Entrepreneurial Spirit
Las Vegas has always been a city that thrives on bold ideas and ambitious projects, consistently reinventing itself to attract new generations of entrepreneurs. In fact, in 2023, Las Vegas ranked as the best city for startup success in a Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CAA) study.
Las Vegas means “The Meadows” in Spanish, and it is named after a spring found in what is now downtown. However, when it was discovered, the spring was at the intersection of three barren but beautiful deserts.
Then, it was the engineering marvel of the Hoover Dam that harnessed the power of water in a feat that is still being maximized for clean energy today.
Twenty years ago, a pro sports team in Las Vegas was a pipe dream. Now, it’s the sports and entertainment capital of the world and a launchpad to the sports tech market.
Las Vegas truly is the Entertainment Capital of the World, and the opening of the Sphere proves how the city continues to elevate the art of entertainment. Time Magazine even gave a nod to the Sphere in its Otherworldy Entertainment on the list of Best Inventions of 2023.
Historically and relentlessly, Las Vegas has refused to say, “We can’t do that.”
MORE: Greater Vegas’ Entrepreneurial Journey: From Startup to Success
2. Las Vegas Is a Good Sport
Since 2017, Las Vegas has become home to four major league sports teams. That’s in addition to multiple minor league teams, the UFC headquarters, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, F1, and UNLV athletics. You can root for the home team or wait until your favorite team or athlete comes to town.
The grandest sporting events of the modern era find a home base in Southern Nevada as well. Whether it’s F1, the Super Bowl, the NBA Summer League, or the Final 4 of March Madness (coming in 2028), you can find it in Las Vegas.
It’s just a matter of time before the Olympics come to Nevada. Meanwhile, we get the neighborly welcome for Los Angeles in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
MORE: From the Minor Leagues to Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World
3. Locals Discounts
In addition to all the tax benefits of relocating a business or your personal life to Southern Nevada, there’s a world of discounts waiting for your family just by getting a Nevada driver’s license. That includes world-class spas, on- and off-strip attractions, and many hotels. It even spans the state to Reno, Ely, Tonopah, and more!
The discounts generally range from 10% to 25%, depending on the activity. You don’t have to jump through hoops either; simply showing your Nevada ID or choosing the local special at online checkout is the key to the price cut. The DMV makes it easy to get your license in Nevada by offering appointment times at all Southern Nevada locations.
4. Night Skies
Southern Nevada is near some of the darkest night skies in America, with a climate that brings clear, dry weather, high elevations, and vast, remote areas that provide unobstructed views of the stars. With nearly 80% of the world living in light pollution, you can appreciate the splendors of the celestial wonders year round.
The Las Vegas Astronomical Society lists some of the best places to visit within an hour of the valley. Head to Tonopah in Central Nevada to visit the #1 Stargazing Destination in America as rated by USA Today. Great Basin National Park, Nevada’s only national park, is one of the least visited and also a designated International Dark Sky Park.
Plus, when you live here, you learn all the great places close to town that still offer stunning views, like Late Night Trailhead in Red Rock National Conservation Area, Cold Creek Canyon on Mount Charleston, and the Redstone Dune Trail at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
5. The Restaurant Scene
The Las Vegas Valley is a veritable culinary wonderland, whether you want to dine at the oldest steakhouse in town where Elvis and the Rat Pack once dined, explore the dozens of options at Chinatown Vegas, or grab some late-night grub at Roberto’s Taco Shop.
Not every fantastic meal means heading to the Strip. Between the neighborhood entertainment districts, with expansive arrays of dining options and the classic Las Vegas spots like Panevino and The Bootlegger, you’ll never go hungry or get bored when you’re living in Las Vegas.
6. A Slice of Home
Even as new residents try out the array of local restaurants, it’s normal to feel a craving for your hometown’s favorite meal. That’s another great bonus of living in Las Vegas–regional restaurants with a local presence.
Options include Whataburger, Steak ’n Shake, White Castle, and In-N-Out Burger. Plus, Portillo’s, Bojangles, and Aldi will soon join the ranks.
7. Your Dog Will Love Las Vegas
One of the most beloved reasons for living in Las Vegas if you own a dog is the pet-friendly culture that spans the valley. We were recently ranked at the #3 on the list of Most Pet-Friendly Cities.
With dozens of dog parks, including Dog Fancier’s Park with 20 acres just for Fido, and outdoor treasures like Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, and Lake Mead being dog-friendly, you and your best friend have a lot to explore.
When you need to travel, the expansive list of doggy daycares and boarding facilities offer a worry-free experience for you and your pup. Plus, many districts like Town Square, Downtown Summerlin, and Green Valley Ranch get tails wagging with dog-friendly amenities like treats and water bowls along the walkways.
Also, the climate doesn’t allow for a lot of fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
8. Everyone Is Welcome Here
Acclimating to a new community isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially when places like Maine expect you to be three generations deep before you can be considered a “Mainer.” Everyone fits in here in Southern Nevada.
Las Vegas has always been a place where people seek opportunities, and that welcoming spirit is embraced from Centennial Hills through Summerlin, down to Green Valley and beyond. Fitting in is easy when everyone roots for your success.
You’d think a city that grew so fast would have a slight indifference to newcomers, but one of the “I didn’t know that” statements we always hear is how much of a “Big Small Town” living in the Las Vegas Valley really is. The inclusive diversity of Southern Nevada is a bonus for everyone, from CEOs to frontline workers.
9. Expansive Community Options
The Las Vegas Valley is home to many unique neighborhoods, including gated communities, rural preservation areas, live/work/play districts, and Old Vegas iconic sections.
We have churches of every denomination, with 600 houses of worship spanning more than five dozen ideologies, including a new Catholic Archdiocese. More than 100,000 residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Jewish community’s growth in the Las Vegas Valley outpaces any other U.S. city. The Islamic Society of Nevada has been in Las Vegas since 1975.
As the 5th largest school district in America, Clark County School District brings a competitive edge to education.
More than 370 schools include nationally recognized magnet schools and Career & Technical Academies (CTA).
That’s in addition to several International Baccalaureate programs available to elementary, middle, and high school students.
About 75 private schools fill out the education roster, covering kindergarten through high school.
10. “Unparalleled Outdoor Access”
Former Burger King Greg Brenneman once said, “I don’t like Las Vegas. I’d rather be mountain biking or climbing.” Clearly, he didn’t know that you can have it your way in Southern Nevada as well. Famed mountain climbers like Alex Honnold moved to Las Vegas specifically for the region’s climbing, hiking, and biking.
In fact, the outdoorsy lifestyle was even touted in the Los Angeles Times article Why Some of California’s Most Outdoorsy People are Moving to Las Vegas.
Bonus points were given for the “15 minutes to the trailhead” mentality to places like Red Rock Canyon, which sees 3.6 million people a year. Enjoy the 13-mile scenic loop or tackle one of the easy-to-moderate trails that spider web from the main drag.
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, home of Mount Charleston, stands nearly 12,000 feet high. The summer escape only gets high temperatures in the 80s when the Las Vegas Valley heats up in summer. At the same time, winter brings a rare chance to ski and snowshoe.
Across the Las Vegas Valley, lake life awaits at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. In 2023, Lake Mead had about 20% more visitors than the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, or Yellowstone.
Plus, Las Vegas is within 400 miles of at least 10 national parks.
- Death Valley National Park: 135 Miles
- Zion National Park: 164 Miles
- Joshua Tree National Park: 230 Miles
- Bryce Canyon National Park: 259 Miles
- Grand Canyon North Rim: 264 Miles
- Grand Canyon South Rim: 280 Miles
- Great Basin National Park: 285 Miles
- Channel Islands National Park: 330 Miles
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: 380 Miles
- Yosemite National Park: 400 Miles
MORE: Beyond the Neon: Las Vegas is Your Home Base For Outdoor Adventure
Finally, within Southern Nevada, stunners like Valley of Fire State Park, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, and Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area await.
11. Healthy Living
With 300+ days of sunshine, it’s easy to stay active within your community or at the public lands surrounding the region while living in Las Vegas.
The region’s warm winter weather and low humidity help with various health conditions, from fibromyalgia to arthritis. You’ll never lack Vitamin D, and Seasonal Affective Disorder isn’t a thing here. While we’ll repeatedly say, “It’s a dry heat,” you might not realize how much that dry air can help avoid asthma attacks.
Plus, all that sunshine helps lower stress, reduce heart attack risks, and can lessen the symptoms of depression or anxiety.
12. Awesome Airport Access
Harry Reid International Airport, the 7th busiest airport in the U.S., is the gateway to 150+ domestic and international cities.
Flights take off around the clock, and there’s an entire terminal for international flights. Each day, 550 inbound flights land at LAS. Living in Las Vegas means easy access to anywhere in the world.
The airport also has amenities for adults, kids, and pets. From nap rooms to play areas to fitness options, even a layover is luxurious in Las Vegas.
13. The Best of Everything
While we spend a lot of time showcasing how there is so much more to Las Vegas than downtown and the Strip, it’s also worth considering how fun it is to have these amenities at your disposal. Michelin star chefs? Yep. Exemplary shows? You bet. Stellar customer service? Indeed.
In fact, Las Vegas sets the bar so high that it’s hard to lower it when you visit less dynamic locations.
14. Tax Relief
Nevada is known for its favorable tax climate, especially for businesses and residents. Here are some of the key tax breaks and benefits you can get in Nevada:
- No State Income Tax: Nevada is one of the few states in the U.S. that does not impose a state income tax on individuals or businesses.
- No Corporate Income Tax: Nevada also does not impose a corporate income tax, making it an attractive state for businesses to incorporate or operate.
- No Inheritance or Estate Tax: Nevada does not have a state inheritance tax or estate tax, making it appealing for estate planning.
- No Franchise Tax: Nevada does not impose a franchise tax, which is a tax that some states charge businesses for the privilege of being incorporated or doing business in that state.
- Low Property Taxes: While Nevada does have property taxes, they are relatively low compared to many other states. Additionally, there are property tax caps in place that limit how much property taxes can increase each year.
More Reasons for Living in Las Vegas
The list continues throughout the LVGEA website. Check out our data portal, news center, or our business resource guide. We encourage site selectors and business leaders to reach out to us directly so we can show you more about what makes Southern Nevada one of the best places for business start-ups, relocation or expansion. Connect with a member of our Business Development team today.
