Elko, NV

7 Apartments for Rent

Welcome to what hoity-toity coast-dwellers believe is “the middle of nowhere!” Luckily for you, your new home, Elko, Nevada, is a place of peaceful isolation. Now let’s take a look at some apartments for rent and find the home of your dreams.

Elko is located in the far northeastern portion of Nevada along the Humboldt River and Interstate 80. About 230 miles from Salt Lake City and 289 miles from Reno, Elko is the largest city on Interstate 80 between these two points.

Your new city’s economy is dependent on two very volatile industries: gold and tourism. A rise in the price of gold in the 1980s caused a huge increase in development throughout town. As the price of gold went down, the mines were abandoned, and homes built to support the increase in population were left empty or razed. A new boom began in 2009, but Elko’s civic officials have created a reserve to save money for when the current mining spree goes bust.

Because of its isolation and extreme climate (hot and dry in the summers, cold and snowy in the winters), Elko can’t attract much more in terms of industry. In fact, famous American writer Hunter S. Thompson quipped that Elko’s land was mostly “useless for anything except weapons testing and poison-gas experiments.”

Thompson’s skepticism aside, Elko is a great small community with plenty of amenities, including chain stores and supermarkets as well as locally owned establishments. Outdoor lovers will thrive, especially in the winter season, with great skiing in the nearby Ruby Mountains.

There aren’t a ton of apartment rentals available in Elko. However, because of the drastic changes in population, cost of living is low and the rentals that are available are usually in super cheap apartments.

You’ll find a few desirable apartment complexes with everything from studio apartments to three bedrooms located northwest of downtown Elko, around the Elko Junction Shopping Center. Many of these complexes offer great amenities including clubhouses and outdoor recreation facilities. Two bedrooms here generally range from $700 to $900.

East of downtown, you’ll find a few rentals available in small apartment complexes and duplexes around Great Basin College. Because of the high student population, this is also a great area to negotiate short-term leases. Two bedrooms here range from $600 to $800.

Many of Elko’s neighborhoods to the south and north are more established, homeowner-dominated areas. You can occasionally find great rental homes with fenced in yards and washer/dryer hook ups in these areas. Two bedroom homes range from $850 to $1000.

If you’re relocating to Elko with a four-legged friend, allow yourself plenty of time to secure a pet-friendly rental as many of the city’s newer complexes have strict no pet policies. However, some rental homes and the occasional apartment will be both cat and dog-friendly.

So welcome to Elko! Enjoy all that this scenic, isolated town has to offer!