Best Neighborhoods in Reno, NV: Explore Some of the Best Places to Live in Nevada

by Richard Berman

Making a Move to Reno, Nevada?

About Living in Reno

Think 300 days of sun, a river cutting through downtown, and powder stashes 25 minutes up Mount Rose.

Sure, housing isn’t cheap—the median single-family sale price hit $595,000 in May 2025—but deals under $450,000 still pop up in the North Valleys. Homes move quicker than they used to, going pending in roughly 45 days on average.

Daily costs run only about 4% above the national norm, and most commutes stay under 20 minutes thanks to I-80 and I-580 carving through town.

Weekends mean tubing the Truckee, biking Peavine, or catching a Midtown food-truck rally—Vegas flash this is not, and locals like it that way.

Why Choose Reno?

Call it a triple threat: zero state income tax, booming paychecks, and back-door access to wild Alpine playgrounds.

Tesla’s Gigafactory, Switch’s data campus, and a swarm of battery-tech startups keep six-figure job opportunities flowing, while UNR and a raft of STEM-magnet schools feed the pipeline.

Lake Tahoe is 45 minutes up the hill for beach days, and Carson City is a half-hour south when you need a slower pace. Reno-Tahoe International puts you one layover from just about anywhere, and the city grid means sushi, Costco, and craft IPAs are never more than ten minutes apart.

Bottom line? Reno serves up big-city opportunity with small-town drivability and a backyard that reads like an REI catalog—hard to beat if you’re looking for homes for sale in Reno, NV.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Neighborhood to Live in

Can you picture living here without hopping in the car for milk—or a beer? Check the basics: solid grocery store, late-night pharmacy, a park that tires out the dog, and maybe that taco truck locals swear by.

Even if you’re kid-free, glance at school ratings—good scores keep home values steady, and playground chatter is a better rumor mill than any website.

Do a quick safety vibe check after dark: are streetlights working and porches buzzing, or does it feel sketchy? Test the Tuesday-morning commute, count bus stops, and ask if the Wi-Fi dies when it rains. Peek at that empty lot: future café or condo blocking your sunset?

City planning maps (or the chatty neighbor who loves council meetings) spill the tea. Before you sign, confirm flood zones, skim recent sale prices, then give the neighborhood a morning, afternoon, and late-night stroll. If it passes all three, you’re golden.

Best Neighborhoods in Reno, NV

Midtown

Murals splash alley walls, coffee roasters perfume the air, and live-edge bars stay busy long after the tattoo parlors close. Midtown’s grid of 1940s bungalows and walk-up apartments sits a quick bike ride from downtown Reno and the Truckee River, so weekend kayaking or food-truck rallies are practically at your doorstep.

Residents love being able to stroll to grocers, the public library, and a rotating roster of pop-up art shows while still catching a UNR basketball game five minutes up Virginia Street.

The median sale price sits near $573k, with homes pending after about 53 days.

South Reno

South of downtown Reno you’ll find master-planned pockets stitched together by multi-use trails, neighborhood parks, and retail anchors like The Summit. Schools such as Damonte Ranch High and Brown Elementary draw families, and freeway ramps make the commute to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center a breeze.

Trailheads into the Sierra Nevada mountains start behind many subdivisions, so post-work mountain-bike laps or dog walks are part of the daily routine.

Median home values sits at $1.04m, and listings last roughly 37 days.

Southeast Reno

Closer to the airport, Southeast Reno blends older ranch-style homes with newer infill communities near Veteran’s Parkway.

Quick access to Costco, big-box stores, and industrial-park jobs keeps errands short. Residents appreciate the short school runs to Double Diamond Elementary and Pine Middle, while weekend warriors like the five-minute jump to I-580 for Lake Tahoe or Carson City road-trips.

Median home values are around $594k, with homes typically moving in 44 days.

Old Southwest Reno

Tree-lined streets, period brick cottages, and the Truckee River Greenbelt give Old Southwest Reno an old-soul vibe. Residents walk to neighborhood cafés, Idlewild Park’s rose garden, and summer concerts in Wingfield Park.

Proximity to downtown’s theaters and Midtown’s nightlife means you can catch a show without hunting for parking, yet still wake to birdsong and river breezes.

Expect a median around $968k and about 82 days on market.

Northwest Reno

A classic suburban mix of cul-de-sacs and community parks north of the river, Northwest Reno backs up to Peavine Mountain’s trail system—ideal for running pups or testing a new gravel bike.

Zoning funnels students to well-regarded McQueen High, and grocery runs stay easy with nearby Raley’s, specialty butcher shops, and a clutch of local breweries along Northwest McCarran.

Median home values are around $635k, and homes average 86 days before closing.

Downtown Reno

If you crave condo living, bright lights, and zero-commute nights out, downtown Reno delivers.

High-rise balconies overlook the Riverwalk, Aces ballpark, and the iconic Reno Arch, while ground-level strolls connect you to jazz bars, craft-cocktail lounges, and farmers-market stalls. With UNR expanding southward, new tech offices and student hubs keep the block energy high.

Condos now trade for about $250k and close in roughly 60 days.

Riverwalk District

Technically downtown but with its own identity, the Riverwalk District hugs the Truckee’s kayak park and pedestrian promenades. Locals sip pour-overs at riverside cafés before browsing art galleries or hopping onto the bike path that threads clear to Sparks.

Loft conversions and boutique condos appeal to buyers who want water views without sacrificing walkable nightlife.

Median list price is $339k, and units linger around 56 days.

South Meadows

Playgrounds, splash pads, and community center events make South Meadows a community magnet. Neighborhood design includes miles of paved trails linking elementary schools, dog parks, and picnic lawns, so you can run errands or morning jogs car-free.

Retail clusters handle daily shopping, while a quick I-580 on-ramp keeps Carson City and Reno-Tahoe International Airport minutes away.

Median list runs $885k with inventory turning in about 37 days.

Caughlin Ranch

Set in rolling foothills west of the downtown area, Caughlin Ranch weaves luxury homes around 20-plus miles of greenbelt trails, fishing ponds, and a private fitness center. Mature pines lend a mountain feel even though grocery stores, restaurants, and the Caughlin Club’s tennis courts lie a short golf-cart ride away. Parents prize zoning to Gomm Elementary and Swope Middle.

Median list price sits at $1.5m, and homes go pending after 38 days.

ArrowCreek

Behind staffed gates at 5,000 feet, ArrowCreek’s two championship golf courses unfurl beside a resort-style clubhouse featuring pools, pickleball, and dining with panoramic Sierra views.

Hiking access into open-space ridgelines starts at neighborhood trailheads, and the Mount Rose Highway down the hill lands you at Whole Foods or the Midtown District in about fifteen minutes.

Median sale price is $2.1m, and homes take about 35 days to sell.

D'Andrea

Technically over the line in Sparks yet minutes away from Reno along I-80, D'Andrea lines sun-drenched hillsides with stucco homes that overlook the city skyline.

Red Hawk Golf Club and miles of neighborhood sidewalks lure evening strollers, while Spanish Springs shopping puts grocery, hardware, and coffee within an easy errand loop. Bud Beasley Elementary sits inside the community, sparing parents a morning drive.

Median sale hits $605k with a 51-day DOM average.

Galena Forest

Towering Jeffery pines, cool summer nights, and a whisper-quiet vibe define Galena Forest on the Mount Rose Highway. Homes perch on acreage lots where deer roam at sunrise, yet it’s a five-minute glide to shopping in south Reno and fifteen to Mount Rose Ski Tahoe.

Hunsberger Elementary and Galena High rank among the county’s top public schools, making the area an easy pick for nature-loving people.

Listings average $1.7m and 42 days on market.

Hidden Valley

East of downtown and buffered by foothills, Hidden Valley offers a semi-rural atmosphere where half-acre parcels host horses, RV bays, and mature fruit trees.

The neighborhood’s private 18-hole course anchors social life, and paved paths loop through Hidden Valley Regional Park for morning jogs. Quick access to the SouthEast Connector keeps Costco runs and airport pickups painless.

Median sale price is $870k, with closings in 39 days.

Lakeridge

Centered on a Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course, Lakeridge features tree-lined streets, ponds frequented by ducks, and a mix of patio homes and larger single-family residences. Residents enjoy proximity to Meadowood Mall, Trader Joe’s, and mid-town eateries, while weekend tee times and lake-view walks make staying home just as tempting.

Median list sits at $999k; homes typically spend 51 days on the market.

Montreux

At the treeline on the way to Tahoe, Montreux wraps mountain chalets and French-Country estates around a Jack Nicklaus-signature fairway. The gated community’s clubhouse dishes up fine dining, a fitness wing, and social calendars.

Trailheads into Galena Creek Park start just outside the back gate, and ski runs at Mount Rose are fifteen minutes uphill.

Median listing price hits $2.5m, with an average of 48 days on the market.

North Valleys

Covering Cold Springs, Lemmon Valley, and Golden Valley north of Reno along US-395, the North Valleys offer starter homes, big skies, and quick drives to tech jobs at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. Recreation centers on Lemmon Valley’s BMX park, neighborhood ballfields, and endless desert OHV trails. New retail clusters keep daily errands local while downtown remains a sub-30-minute cruise.

Median sold price is $448k; properties sell in about 40 days.

Somersett

Perched on a western ridge, Somersett blends resort amenities—clubhouse pools, fitness classes, and an 18-hole championship course—with community events like food-truck Fridays on the green. Miles of paved and dirt trails ribbon the hills, connecting to playgrounds, dog parks, and the K-8 Somersett Academy.

A short descent on I-80 lands you downtown for shows or the Riverwalk.

Median home value is $795k, and the median sale wraps up in 29 days.

Verdi

Just west of Reno along the Truckee River, Verdi feels more Sierra foothill hamlet than city suburb. Larger parcels host workshops, hobby farms, and panoramic decks perfect for stargazing. The Truckee beckons anglers and rafters, while quick freeway jumps drop commuters into downtown Reno or over the state line to California outlet shopping in minutes.

Ask Cha

Median sale sits at $1.4m with homes closing in roughly 48 days.

Summary of the Neighborhoods in Reno

From Midtown’s art-soaked blocks to ArrowCreek’s gated fairways, Reno boasts a spectrum of places to live.

Young professionals gravitate toward downtown and Midtown; growing families often choose Northwest Reno, South Meadows, or Somersett; luxury buyers explore the best neighborhoods in Reno, NV, like Montreux and Caughlin Ranch; and value-seekers head north of Reno to the promising areas of North Valleys.

No matter where you settle, you’re surrounded by the Sierra Nevada, countless recreational areas, and a Reno, NV real estate market that balances natural beauty with job opportunities.