Want to live and work in Summerlin South?

Summerlin South is one of the most expensive areas in the Las Vegas metropolitan region, but remains affordable when compared to California. Rent for a three-bedroom house typically runs well above the Clark County average, and condos in areas with golf or mountain views are valued even higher.

The major relief is that Nevada does not charge state income tax. For high earners, that changes the whole equation. Supermarkets such as Smith's, Albertsons, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's serve the region, with prices aligned to those of other upper-middle-class American neighborhoods.

Energy bills can climb considerably in summer, when air conditioning runs almost nonstop. Water is also billed with care: being in the desert, Las Vegas applies progressive rates to discourage waste. Gasoline, casual restaurants, and car insurance, on the other hand, tend to be cheaper than in neighboring California.

The local economy revolves around the corporate hub of Downtown Summerlin, where offices of companies such as the Howard Hughes Corporation (the original developer of the community), regional banks, consulting firms, and technology startups are located. The Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Aviators baseball team, also employs people from the region during the season.

Healthcare is a heavy sector: Summerlin Hospital Medical Center is one of the largest employers on the west side, with constant openings for nurses, technicians, and physicians. Private clinics, dental offices, and physical therapy centers are spread across the area. Those with foreign healthcare credentials need to go through equivalency via the Nevada State Board.

For executive hospitality professionals, casinos on the Strip are 20 minutes away by car and offer positions in management, marketing, and operations. Technology, digital marketing, and e-commerce are also growing, especially with the arrival of California companies relocating in search of lower taxes.

The heart of the local system is Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, a general hospital with an emergency room, maternity ward, cardiac center, and oncology center. In Henderson and downtown Las Vegas there are other options, such as St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and Sunrise Hospital, all a few minutes away by car.

For outpatient care, Summerlin has dozens of offices, urgent care clinics (walk-in care for minor emergencies), and imaging centers. Most operate in network with private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and Health Plan of Nevada.

As in all of the United States, the system is private and expensive without coverage. Immigrants with work visas generally receive a plan through the employer. Entrepreneurs and families with investor visas can purchase a plan on the state marketplace (Nevada Health Link) or directly with insurers. Emergency visits without insurance can cost thousands of dollars.

Summerlin South was designed in the automobile era, and it shows. Practically all adult residents drive, and having at least one car per adult in the household is the standard. Beltway 215 connects the community to Harry Reid International Airport in about 25 minutes and to the Strip in 20.

RTC Southern Nevada public transit serves the region with a few bus lines, but frequency is low and the internal distances make use impractical for those working outside the main corridors. Apps such as Uber and Lyft work well and cost less than in coastal cities.

The positive point is the bike paths and multi-use trails. Summerlin has one of the best networks of pedestrian and bike paths in the state, linking villages, parks, and shopping centers without having to face traffic. In milder months it is feasible to use a bicycle for groceries, school, and leisure.

The cultural life of Summerlin South is more low-key than that of the Strip, but far from poor. Downtown Summerlin concentrates restaurants, movie theaters, brand stores, and the Las Vegas Ballpark, host of games of the AAA affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Red Rock Resort, on the edge of the community, brings a casino, spa, and theater for those seeking entertainment without driving far.

The cuisine reflects the diversity of greater Las Vegas. There are excellent Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Peruvian, Italian, and Lebanese restaurants spread across Summerlin. Third-wave coffee shops, French bakeries, and craft breweries have been emerging in recent years, especially in Downtown Summerlin.

The event calendar includes the Summerlin Festival of Arts in October, Aviators games from April to September, races and half marathons in the winter, and the Festival of Trees at Red Rock Resort in December. The trails of Red Rock Canyon become a social activity in the fall and spring.

Las Vegas as a whole is one of the fastest-growing immigration hubs in the United States, and Summerlin South receives the most professional segment of that flow. Filipino families form one of the largest foreign communities in the region, with a strong presence in healthcare and hospitality. Mexicans and Salvadorans have a historical presence in the city, working in construction, services, and a growing entrepreneurial middle class.

Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, and Indians are also a firm presence, drawn by the rising technology sector and by their own businesses in food, retail, and technology. Israeli, Iranian, Russian, and Ukrainian communities have grown with the offer of retirement in a warm climate at a lower cost than California or the East Coast.

The main consulates are in central Las Vegas or in Los Angeles, four hours away by car. Organizations such as Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Hispanic Federation Nevada, Asian Community Resource Center, and the UNLV International Programs Office offer support for arrival, regularization, and integration of immigrant families in the region.