Moving to Reno, NV

Thinking about moving to Reno?

You’ll be in good company. Between 2010 and 2016, more than 20,034 people have moved to Reno, an increase of 8.9%. New residents are attracted to Reno’s job availability, love of recreational activities, and lively festivals.

Living

Reno is home to 245,255 Renoites. With an area of 103.0 square miles, Reno has a population density of 2,381 persons per square mile, which makes it less dense than many other cities of comparable size.

The Reno, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a population of 457,667 people, of which Reno proper’s population makes up 54%.

Housing

Reno’s growth and desirability come at a major cost: housing is pricey. The median home value in Reno is $318,600, 59% above the US median value, according to Zillow. The median price per square foot in Reno is $188. Over the past 5 years, home values in Reno have increased by 15%.

Renters in Reno will also have a hard time finding affordable housing. The median rent in Reno is $1,564 per month, which is 9% higher than the US median. Over the past year, rental rates in Reno have increased by 5.7%.

Economy

Reno’s economy is on fire. The Reno metro area’s GDP grew by 33% between 2011 and 2016, from $19.4 billion in 2011 to $25.8 billion in 2016, a total increase of $6.4 billion. The metro area has a per capita GDP of $56,471. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Reno is $53,030, 10% lower than the national median. Reno’s unemployment rate is 4%.

Weather

The average annual temperature in Reno is 53.85 degrees. The average annual low temperature is 40.1 degrees, while the average annual high is 67.6 degrees. Reno’s hottest month is July, during which the average high temperature is 92 degrees, while the coldest month is January, when the average low drops down to 25 degrees.

Reno sees an average rainfall of 7.39 inches per year. January is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 1.02 inches, while July is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of 0.2 inches.

Crime

Reno has an annual violent crime rate of 7.06 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national median of 3.8 in 1,000. Its property crime rate is 33.61 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, which is higher than the national average of 26.

Traffic & Transportation

Traffic is not as big of a problem in Reno as it is in many other US cities. According to a survey conducted by INRIX, the average commuter in Reno spends 11 hours in traffic each year, with about 4% of their time commuting in a traffic jam, a lower portion than average among US cities.

Walk Score gives Reno a walk score of 38.

Cost of Living

Reno is a relatively affordable place to live with a low cost of living. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis‘s Regional Price Parity survey, which takes into account cost of living metrics including the price of goods and services and housing, Reno has a regional price parity of 108.0, -1.4% below the average for US metro areas.

Demographics

The median age in Reno is 35.3 years. 50.5% of the population in the Reno metro area is male, while 49.5% is female. 16.5% of the metro population is foreign born.

In terms of racial demographics, Reno is 60.4% Non-Hispanic White, 25.6% Hispanic, 2.7% Black, and 6.2% Asian.

87.1% of those over the age of 25 in Reno have a high school diploma, a lower rate than nationally. 30.4% of those over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, which is lower than the national rate. 11.9% of residents have an advanced or professional degree.

In the 2016 presidential election, 45% of Reno voters voted for the Republican nominee, while 46% voted for the Democratic nominee.