Is Reno a Good Place to Live? 10 Reasons You Might Not Like It

Is Reno a good place to live? For most people who move here, yes. I help people relocate to Reno for a living, and the ones who are happiest here are the ones who knew the hard parts before they packed a single box.

Because the worst thing that can happen is this. You sell your house, move your whole life to Reno, and find out in month three that it isn't for you. That costs you a second move, a second round of closing costs, and a year you don't get back.

So here are 10 honest reasons you might not like living in Reno. Some won't bother you at all. One or two might. And almost every one has a fix.

I'm Shannon Comstock, a Realtor with RE/MAX Gold in Reno, Nevada, helping people relocate to Reno, especially from California. I've helped people buy and sell homes here for more than 12 years.

Yes. Reno sits at approximately 4,500 feet in the high desert. It's dry. Really dry.

If you're coming from somewhere green, the first drive in from the airport can be a shock. A lot of the hills around town are brown most of the year. In the valley, you get sagebrush, rock and open sky, not big green forests.

The fix: if you want trees outside your window, look at Old Southwest Reno and parts of Southwest Reno. Those neighborhoods have big, mature trees and shady streets. And the pines are close. Lake Tahoe is approximately 45 minutes away.

I love the desert. At sunset the hills turn pink and gold. But visit in late summer, when it's at its driest. If you still love it then, you'll love it here.

It does, but they aren't four equal parts. Summer is long. Winter is long. Spring and fall go by fast.

Reno's last freeze usually comes around the middle of May. Plant your tomatoes in April and you might lose them. Locals learn to wait.

Winter in town isn't nonstop snow. Most of the big snow lands up in the mountains, and in the valley it often melts off in a day or two. But it's cold, and it lasts. You'll scrape your windshield on a lot of mornings.

Fall is beautiful and short. You get a few weeks of yellow leaves along the Truckee River, and then winter shows up.

Who this bothers: people whose favorite months are April and October. Who loves it: people who want summer on the lake and winter on the ski hill.

Because of the high desert. The dry air doesn't hold the heat overnight, so mornings start cold. Then the sun comes up strong, and by mid-afternoon you're in a T-shirt. It's a big swing, and it's normal here.

It makes it hard to get dressed. The fix is the one every local uses: layers. A jacket you can take off, a T-shirt underneath. You'll see people in shorts and a puffy jacket at the same time.

The good news is the cool nights. Even in July, you can usually open the windows at night and sleep well.

The airport itself is easy. Reno-Tahoe International is approximately 10 minutes from downtown, and getting through it is easy.

But it's a small airport. About 10 airlines fly nonstop to about 20 cities. If you travel a lot for work, or your family is on the East Coast, you'll connect often, usually through Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.

Some people drive to Sacramento, approximately two hours away, for more direct flights. And in a big winter storm, flights can be delayed, so give yourself extra time around the holidays.

Who this bothers: people who fly every week. If you fly once or twice a year, you won't notice.

Reno is a small city, but rush hour is real, and it depends on where you live.

• North Valleys: the morning drive into town on Highway 395 can be slow, and the evening drive back too.
• Spanish Springs: Pyramid Highway at rush hour is not fun.
• Interstate 80 east toward Fernley: the Tesla Gigafactory and the other plants at the industrial center bring a lot of people out every day. That stretch is mostly two lanes each way, and as many as 48,000 vehicles use it on a busy day. The state is widening it. For now, you plan your day around it.

The fix is where you live. From Northwest Reno, Southwest Reno or South Reno, you can get around on surface streets and mostly skip the freeways.

So if you hate traffic, tell me where you'll work before we look at a single home. Your commute should help pick your neighborhood.

Compared to the Bay Area, often yes. Compared to most of the country, not anymore.

During Covid, a lot of people moved to Reno, many from California. They could work from anywhere, and they picked here. They brought California equity with them, and prices went up. Census estimates put typical Reno home values up by more than a third between 2019 and 2022.

If you're picturing the Reno of 10 or 20 years ago, that Reno is gone. Coming from California, you may still get more home for your money. Just come in with today's numbers.

This is the one most people find out after they move.

Prices went up with California money. Local paychecks didn't keep pace. Redfin estimates it takes about $120,000 a year in income to buy a typical home in Reno. The typical household here earns about $96,000.

That gap is real. It's why so many people buying here bring their income or their equity with them. They work remotely, they're retired, or they sold a home somewhere more expensive.

The fix: if you're moving for a local job, put the pay and the home prices side by side before you decide, and talk to a local lender early. I'm happy to introduce you to one.

It does. Bars in Nevada can stay open 24 hours. Casinos serve drinks around the clock. And a lot of the big events, from Hot August Nights to the Rib Cook-off, have a beer in hand somewhere. Washoe County's own health reports say adults here drink more than the Nevada and national averages.

If you don't drink, or you want a quieter life, this can bother you.

The fix: build your life around everything else Reno offers. Mornings on the trail. Weekends at the lake. A rec league. A book club. Coffee with friends. Reno has both lives, and you get to pick which one you live in.

No. Reno started as a gambling town, and downtown still has the casinos, the lights and the Arch. If that's not your thing, my advice is simple: stay away from downtown.

Most locals I know don't spend their time there. They go to the river, the parks, the neighborhood restaurants and the lake. You can live here for years and barely set foot in a casino.

So don't judge Reno by one night on Virginia Street. Drive out to the neighborhoods. That's where people actually live.

About 270,000 people live in the city of Reno. It has a real airport, good restaurants and shows. And it still feels small.

You'll run into people you know at the grocery store, usually when you're in workout clothes with no makeup on. Some people love that. Your coffee shop learns your order. Your neighbors wave. You feel known.

Some people hate it. If you like being anonymous, Reno might feel too small. Word travels fast, too. If you own a business, that can work for you or against you.

And if you're coming from a big city, you'll miss some things: fewer big concerts, fewer specialty stores, a few more things ordered online.

Me? I love running into people. It's one of my favorite things about living here.

You might have noticed something. Almost every one of these 10 reasons has a fix. Pick the right neighborhood and you skip the traffic. Stay out of downtown and you skip the casinos. Dress in layers and the weather is easy.

That's why I don't start with houses. I start with your life. Where you'll work. How you spend a Saturday. What would drive you crazy.

Then we find the part of Reno where none of these reasons bother you.

Before you decide, visit twice. Once in late summer, when the hills are at their brownest and the afternoons are hot. And once in winter, when the mornings are cold and the days are short. Drive your future commute at 5 o'clock. Go to the grocery store on a Saturday. If you still love Reno on those days, it's your place.

Is Reno a good place to live?

Is Reno a good place to live? For people who like the outdoors, four real seasons and a smaller city, yes. The trade-offs are dry desert landscape, rush-hour traffic on a few routes, fewer direct flights, and home prices that rose faster than local pay. Most can be managed by choosing the right neighborhood.

What are the downsides of living in Reno?

What are the downsides of living in Reno? The biggest are brown, dry hills most of the year, a short spring and fall, big daily temperature swings, a small airport, commute traffic on Highway 395, Pyramid Highway and I-80 east, higher home prices since 2020, and local pay that hasn't kept up.

Is it cheaper to live in Reno than California?

Is it cheaper to live in Reno than California? Compared to the Bay Area and much of coastal California, homes usually cost less, and Nevada has no state income tax. Compared to most of the country, Reno is no longer a bargain.

Which part of Reno has the least traffic?

Which part of Reno has the least commute traffic? It depends on where you work. From Northwest, Southwest and South Reno, many people get around on surface streets and avoid the freeways. The slowest commutes tend to be from the North Valleys on 395, Spanish Springs on Pyramid Highway, and anyone driving I-80 east toward the industrial center.

How far is Reno from Lake Tahoe?

How far is Reno from Lake Tahoe? Approximately 45 minutes to the lake, depending on which side you're headed to.

I'm Shannon Comstock, a Realtor with RE/MAX Gold in Reno, Nevada, helping people relocate to Reno, especially from California.

Tell me which of these 10 reasons worries you most. I'll tell you which parts of town fit how you live, and which ones don't. Call me at 775.842.2000, or send me a note through my contact page. I have time for you.