Reno, NV FAQs

This FAQ guide packs practical answers about homes in Reno, NV, the City of Reno government footprint, Washoe County context, and the things people ask most when they consider moving, working, or spending a long weekend here.

 

Reno residents live with one foot in an active downtown and another in wide-open country. Downtown Reno offers dining options, arts and culture venues such as the Nevada Museum of Art and the Pioneer Center, and year-round entertainment that ranges from traveling exhibitions at museums to car-enthusiast gatherings centered at the National Automobile Museum.

That urban excitement blends with outdoor adventure along the Truckee River and in the nearby Sierra Nevada. In a single weekend, you can grab a downtown meal, catch an art opening, and be on a trail or at a ski resort within an hour’s drive.

Living in Reno costs a bit more than the national average, and housing is the main reason. Home prices and rents climbed in recent years as tech firms, distribution centers, and outdoor-minded newcomers settled in, pushing demand ahead of supply. Groceries, utilities, and everyday services feel closer to what you would pay elsewhere in the West, but monthly budgets rise quickly once you factor in a mortgage or lease.

If you are moving from the Bay Area or Seattle, Reno may seem like a bargain. If you are coming from Boise or smaller Nevada towns, the jump in housing costs can be eye-opening.

Run the numbers on rent or mortgage payments in the neighborhoods you like, then add estimates for cooling bills in July and extra fuel for winter trips to the slopes. Those local quirks, such as the dry summer heat, the high-desert nights, shape everyday costs just as much as the price on a real-estate listing.

 

Recent August 2025 market data places Reno’s median sale price at about $532,000, roughly $64,000 above the Nevada median of $468,500 and nearly $93,000 higher than the U.S. median of $439,278. Price gaps like these reflect Reno’s mix of tech growth, proximity to Lake Tahoe, and limited land within the valley floor.

Prices are down 6.6 % year over year, and the typical home now spends 56 days on the market versus 41 days last August. Longer listing times and a steady flow of price cuts point to a market tilting toward buyers, though low inventory in several west-side ZIP codes still gives sellers leverage for well-located or turnkey properties.

Expect continued moderation in asking prices through winter, with competitively priced homes, especially those near Midtown or South Reno schools, still drawing strong interest.

 

“Best” depends on priorities, but a few neighborhoods stand out for different reasons.

Midtown and parts of Downtown Reno are strong for walkability, restaurants, and arts venues. South Reno neighborhoods and suburbs near the Truckee Meadows offer family-sized lots, newer construction, and proximity to parks. Areas near Virginia Lake and Idlewild Park appeal to people who want easy access to water, walking trails, and city parks. East Reno and neighborhoods spilling toward the Sierra Nevada are closer to trailheads and some ski-commuter routes.

For commuters who work at the University of Nevada or near the hospital corridor, neighborhoods within a short drive or transit route to campus can save time. If you want mountain access, consider places on the western edge of the city that make a Lake Tahoe or Truckee run simpler. Each neighborhood trades off commute time, yard size, and proximity to downtown dining and cultural amenities.

 

Safety varies by neighborhood, as it does in most mid-sized cities. County-level statistics show Washoe County’s violent crime rate has been higher than the national average in recent years, and local reporting highlights that certain categories of property and violent crime have trended above statewide averages. 

The Reno Police Department runs community policing programs, crime mapping tools, and neighborhood outreach, and those resources show incident patterns within the city limits. Neighborhood associations, city parks programming, and civic groups often work with law enforcement on prevention and safety planning, so connecting locally yields the best perspective on daily safety and public-safety priorities.

 

Reno is a short drive to multiple Lake Tahoe access points and ski resorts. Depending on traffic and your destination around Truckee or the Tahoe basin, you can expect drive times generally under an hour for many western Tahoe resorts. This proximity is one of Reno’s defining advantages for people who want regular access to world-class winter sports and alpine boating without living on the lake.

 

Reno is a short drive to multiple Lake Tahoe access points and ski resorts. Depending on traffic and your destination around Truckee or the Tahoe basin, you can expect drive times generally under an hour for many western Tahoe resorts. This proximity is one of Reno’s defining advantages for people who want regular access to world-class winter sports and alpine boating without living on the lake.

 

Reno is a short drive to multiple Lake Tahoe access points and ski resorts. Depending on traffic and your destination around Truckee or the Tahoe basin, you can expect drive times generally under an hour for many western Tahoe resorts. This proximity is one of Reno’s defining advantages for people who want regular access to world-class winter sports and alpine boating without living on the lake.

 

Reno is a short drive to multiple Lake Tahoe access points and ski resorts. Depending on traffic and your destination around Truckee or the Tahoe basin, you can expect drive times generally under an hour for many western Tahoe resorts. This proximity is one of Reno’s defining advantages for people who want regular access to world-class winter sports and alpine boating without living on the lake.

 

Reno is a short drive to multiple Lake Tahoe access points and ski resorts. Depending on traffic and your destination around Truckee or the Tahoe basin, you can expect drive times generally under an hour for many western Tahoe resorts. This proximity is one of Reno’s defining advantages for people who want regular access to world-class winter sports and alpine boating without living on the lake.

 

Reno is a short drive to multiple Lake Tahoe access points and ski resorts. Depending on traffic and your destination around Truckee or the Tahoe basin, you can expect drive times generally under an hour for many western Tahoe resorts. This proximity is one of Reno’s defining advantages for people who want regular access to world-class winter sports and alpine boating without living on the lake.