What it's like to live in Reno
Reno is a large city in Nevada with commutes that run shorter than most cities, a growing population, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Reno deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Short commutes
- Growing population
- Several well-rated hospitals
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How Reno compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Reno
Based on Reno's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,112
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $62,240 a year
- 51% of Reno renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$109,660
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $54,830
- Homes cost 6.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 10% above US
$1,556/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,556 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $548,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $548,300 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 67% above US
551 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2347/100k · Reno Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 28°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.8 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
67 public schools inside the boundary
There are 67 public schools inside the boundary and 12 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Bottom line
Reno's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a growing population; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,556/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes.