Living in Las Vegas: Let's Talk About North Las Vegas

I get asked a lot about different parts of town. One place that comes up more than any other is North Las Vegas. In this post I’m going to walk you through what North Las Vegas really is, where it’s headed, and why it’s worth a hard second look if you’re moving, buying, or just exploring the Las Vegas region.

📍 What Exactly Is North Las Vegas?

First, let’s clear up a common misconception: when people say “Vegas,” they don’t always mean the City of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Valley is made up of multiple municipalities, and North Las Vegas is its own city — distinct from Las Vegas proper and from Henderson. In fact, North Las Vegas is the fourth-largest city in Nevada, with a population well north of 250,000 residents.

I always like to start with geography because it sets the stage for everything else. North Las Vegas sits north and east of the city you’d usually call “Las Vegas.” It hugs the perimeter of Nellis Air Force Base — so much so that the city markets itself as the “gateway to Nellis.” Nellis isn’t technically in North Las Vegas, but it’s right on the border, and the proximity matters for a lot of people, especially veterans and military families.

So when someone asks me “Should I live in North Las Vegas?” my first question is always: which North Las Vegas? There are large neighborhoods, master-planned communities, open desert, and commercial corridors that feel very different from one another. It’s not a single, uniform place — and that’s an advantage.

🏘️ Neighborhoods & Master-Planned Communities I Like

When I first got here, there were plenty of people who would flat-out say, “I don’t want to live in North Las Vegas.” I’d hear stories — like the one about a Walmart right outside the base where a serviceman said he was propositioned while installing his daughter’s car seat — and those anecdotes fed the reputation. But reputations don’t always reflect reality, especially over time. There are some really strong neighborhoods and several excellent master-planned communities that have changed the landscape and perception of the city.

Aliante: A Standout Master-Planned Community

One of my favorites is Aliante. It’s a true master-planned community with mature landscaping, well-built homes, and amenities that give it a comfortable suburban feel. Families and professionals like Aliante for a reason: parks, walking trails, community services, and a sense of planned quality. If you’re looking for a neighborhood vibe that’s polished and stable, Aliante deserves a hard look.

Other Growing Communities

• Newer master-planned developments: There’s a lot of new construction in North Las Vegas. Developers have been buying up open land and building aggressively — you’ll see a new subdivision where there was empty desert last year.
• Affordable starter-home pockets: For people priced out of places like Summerlin, North Las Vegas offers newer homes in the low-to-mid price range that are still brand new or recently built.
• Areas around public services: Neighborhoods near the VA clinic, parks, and major commercial corridors are becoming increasingly attractive.

The bottom line: North Las Vegas is no longer a single “bad” place; it’s a patchwork of neighborhoods where you can find everything from entry-level new builds to upscale family homes.

💰 Real Estate Trends: Why North Las Vegas Matters for Buyers

If you’re moving to Las Vegas and want the best bang for your buck, North Las Vegas is often the place to find it — especially if you want a brand-new house. With limited new inventory elsewhere and builders charging top dollar in established communities like Summerlin, North Las Vegas represents one of the last places where builders can deliver a new starter home at a relative bargain.

New Construction vs Resale

• New homes: You can still find new homes in North Las Vegas starting around the low-to-mid $300,000s, though prices continue to climb with demand.
• Resale options: There are established neighborhoods with mature landscaping and larger lots if you prefer something already built and settled.
• Value drivers: The removal of eyesores and the arrival of new amenities (more on those below) have pushed values up sharply in recent years.

One important factor in recent price appreciation was the removal of a long-standing local nuisance: the so-called pig farm. It existed long before the surrounding housing, but when people moved into new developments, the smell and proximity became a sticking point. The family that owned the farm finally sold the property and developers moved in. With the pig farm gone, property values have increased and the stigma that used to attach to certain areas of North Las Vegas has started to fade.

Where to Look

If you’re shopping for homes, some areas I point clients to include:

• Around the VA clinic — this corridor has seen a lot of activity and is particularly convenient for veterans.
• Aliante — for families and people who want a master-planned community feel.
• New subdivisions north of the city — these are attractive for buyers who want brand-new construction without paying Summerlin prices.

🎡 Amenities, Parks, and Places to Play

North Las Vegas has a surprising amount of public amenities and recreation spaces. It’s not just stark desert and strip malls — there are parks, discovery centers, racing, and annual events that bring a lot of life to the area.

Craig Ranch Regional Park

One of the crown jewels is Craig Ranch Regional Park. This place is huge — probably the largest park in the Las Vegas Valley — and it has almost everything you could want: sports fields, playgrounds, walking trails, picnic spaces, and event areas. It’s centrally located in North Las Vegas and a great place for families, team sports, and community gatherings. I often tell people they should come spend an afternoon here to get a real feel for the community.

Aliante Nature Discovery Park

If you like parks with educational features and natural landscaping, the Aliante Nature Discovery Park is excellent. It’s part of the master-planned appeal of Aliante and offers kid-friendly activities and outdoor learning opportunities.

Motorsports and Events

If you like speed, you’re close to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in North Las Vegas. The Speedway hosts races and events, and it’s also the site for big festivals — historically it was where Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) took place. While some events are moving toward newer venues like Allegiant Stadium, the Speedway’s infrastructure and grounds still make North Las Vegas a hub for larger outdoor events.

🏥 Veterans’ Services & the VA Clinic

As a veteran myself, I can’t overstate how important the VA clinic in North Las Vegas is. If you’re a veteran moving to town, this facility is massive and comprehensive. It’s set up to handle a wide range of healthcare needs and streamlines many services that veterans rely on.

There’s also a VA satellite clinic near Rancho, and several other veteran-focused resources in the valley. On top of the official VA resources, North Las Vegas has community-based organizations that do excellent work supporting veterans — for example, a veterans center located near Aliante that runs private programs and events.

Why this matters

• Accessibility: The location near Nellis and central North Las Vegas makes it easy for veterans living in the northern valley to get care without long drives.
• Comprehensive services: From routine appointments to specialty care, the clinic serves a broad set of needs.
• Community support: Beyond the clinic, veteran-focused non-profits and centers add important social and support networks.

🏜️ Outdoor Activities: Nellis Dunes and Off-Roading

One of the things I love about living in and around Las Vegas is the access to desert recreation, and North Las Vegas gives you an excellent launch point. The Nellis Dunes are right outside the city and they are, hands down, one of the best places for off-roading in the region.

I remember once booking a sand rail excursion through a deal site and it was fantastic — tons of fun, great terrain, and easily accessible from North Las Vegas. If you have an off-road vehicle or just want to rent something for a day, this area is ideal. Further north and east there are more open-play areas like the spots around Logandale if you want to keep exploring.

🚨 Safety and Policing: The Tough Conversation

I don’t like to sugarcoat things, so here’s the blunt truth: North Las Vegas has been ranked among the more dangerous cities in Nevada. Statistically, Las Vegas city proper and Henderson often show lower crime rates than North Las Vegas. That reality affects perception and, understandably, people’s decisions about where to live.

What’s behind those numbers?

• Local police department: North Las Vegas has its own police department rather than being served by Metro (which functions similar to a county sheriff in other areas). That local model has pros and cons. The police are doing what they can, but their coverage and resources are structured differently than Metro.
• Neighborhood variation: Crime isn’t uniform. There are safer pockets and areas where you’ll want to do more research. Looking at city-wide crime stats without drilling down to the neighborhood level can be misleading.
• Improvement efforts: The city and community groups are investing in improvements, public safety programs, and community-building efforts. That investment should help over time.

My advice: do your homework. Look at neighborhood-level crime maps, visit at different times of day, and talk to neighbors and your Realtor about trends. Safety is relative and localized; many people live great, safe lives in North Las Vegas neighborhoods.

✅ Practical Tips for Movers, Buyers, and Families

Whether you’re relocating to Las Vegas or just considering North Las Vegas, here are practical tips I share with clients every day.

1. Be neighborhood-specific

Don’t judge the whole city by a single headline. Ask to see specific neighborhoods, parks, schools, and shopping centers. An area like Aliante will feel very different from older pockets north of Craig Ranch.

2. Check proximity to services that matter

• If you’re a veteran, the VA clinic is a major plus.
• If you’re into off-roading, check drive times to Nellis Dunes or other play areas.
• If you work at Nellis or the Speedway, consider commute options and traffic patterns.

3. Understand new construction trade-offs

Buying new in North Las Vegas usually gets you more home for your money. But remember that new subdivisions mean ongoing construction, new neighbors, and evolving infrastructure. If you want a fully matured neighborhood, look for resale homes in established subdivisions.

4. Visit the big parks

Take a day to visit Craig Ranch Regional Park and Aliante Nature Discovery Park. I promise they’ll give you a better feel for family life and community engagement than most broker-speak ever could.

5. Inspect for previous land uses

Some parts of North Las Vegas used to have agricultural or industrial uses. The pig farm is a famous case where a long-standing operation sat near newer housing. Those legacy uses are mostly gone now, but when you’re looking at property, ask about past land uses and disclosures.

📌 What I Tell My Clients: Final Thoughts

When clients ask me whether to consider North Las Vegas, I answer honestly: it depends on what you want. If you’re looking for affordability, new construction, proximity to Nellis Air Force Base, or access to great parks and outdoor recreation, North Las Vegas absolutely belongs on your list. If you prioritize the most statistically safe neighborhoods in the valley, you’ll want to dig into neighborhood-level data and compare pockets carefully.

"North Las Vegas is perfectly fine. There are a lot of great areas of North Las Vegas — Aliante in particular is a great master-planned community." — My day-to-day experience guiding buyers and living here

The city is changing fast. New development continues to transform old perceptions, and amenities like the VA clinic and Craig Ranch Regional Park make it a compelling place for families and veterans. The removal of old land uses like the pig farm has already helped property values and the feel of some neighborhoods. Add in great access to motorsports, off-roading, and large community events, and you have the makings of a city that’s forging a new identity — one that’s more suburban and family-oriented than many people remember.

📝 Quick Resources & Next Steps

If you want to dig deeper, here’s a short checklist you can use when evaluating North Las Vegas neighborhoods:

1. Visit at different times: midday, evening, weekend morning.
2. Drive through Craig Ranch Regional Park and Aliante Nature Discovery Park.
3. Check commute times to your work, to Nellis, and to major shopping centers.
4. Review crime maps and neighborhood-level trends, not just city-wide rankings.
5. Talk to locals — neighbors, business owners, and other homeowners.
6. If you’re a veteran, schedule a tour of the VA clinic to see what services are offered.
7. If you’re buying, compare new construction warranties, HOA rules, and future development plans around the subdivision.

If you’d like a guided tour of North Las Vegas neighborhoods or want me to send listings that match your needs (for example, new construction under a certain price, or homes near the VA clinic), I can help. I work full time in this market and I love showing people what the valley really offers — beyond the strip and beyond the headlines.

🎯 Conclusion: Is North Las Vegas Right for You?

North Las Vegas isn’t some monolithic place to avoid it’s an evolving city with strong pockets of livability, excellent new construction opportunities, and some of the best outdoor recreation in the valley. Like any place, it has its challenges, and some parts do have higher crime rates. But if you approach it with the right neighborhood-specific research and an understanding of what you value — affordability, new construction, veteran services, or easy access to off-roading and motorsports — North Las Vegas can be an excellent choice.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoy this kind of local breakdowns, hit subscribe on my channel or reach out if you want me to show you around. I try to get back to people and answer questions between my busy schedule, and I genuinely enjoy helping folks find the right place to call home in the Las Vegas area.