Las Vegas, NV vs Reno, NV
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Las VegasLas Vegas, NV | RenoReno, NV | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 25.8 minutes, the average commute in Las Vegas, NV runs 5 minutes longer than Reno, NV’s 20.6 minutes, with Las Vegas in the 66th percentile and Reno in the 31st. 2023 Census figures also show a wider gap in job growth: Las Vegas added +2.4% year over year, while Reno grew +0.8%, a 1.6-point difference that places Las Vegas in the 84th percentile versus Reno’s 41st. Reno’s distance to the international border is 505 mi, more than double Las Vegas’s 239 mi, putting Reno in the 70th percentile and Las Vegas in the 29th.
Reno’s healthcare access score of 89/100 exceeds Las Vegas’s 67/100 by 22 points, with Reno in the 58th percentile and Las Vegas in the 29th. Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 22 in Reno versus 12 in Las Vegas, a 78% higher rate for Reno. Educational attainment also differs: 35.7% of Reno adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, 8.4 points above Las Vegas’s 27.3%, placing Reno in the 58th percentile and Las Vegas in the 37th. Average household size is 2.6 in Las Vegas, 12% larger than Reno’s 2.4, with Las Vegas in the 71st percentile and Reno in the 38th.
Other 2023 figures show Reno’s median home value at $498,600, 26% higher than Las Vegas’s $395,300, while median rents are nearly identical at $1,456 and $1,453. Reno’s median household income of $78,448 is 11% higher than Las Vegas’s $70,723, and its per-capita income of $45,180 is 18% higher. Unemployment stands at 5.6% in Las Vegas versus 4.6% in Reno, and the poverty rate is 14.2% in Las Vegas against 12.5% in Reno.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13168th pctl | 14676th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Las Vegas, NV 131; Reno, NV 146; Reno is 11% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $395,30071st pctl | $498,60082nd pctl | Median home value: Las Vegas, NV $395,300; Reno, NV $498,600; Reno is 26% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,45668th pctl | $1,45367th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $70,72347th pctl | $78,44857th pctl | Median household income: Las Vegas, NV $70,723; Reno, NV $78,448; Reno is 11% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $76,80072nd pctl | $96,86984th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Las Vegas, NV $76,800; Reno, NV $96,869; Reno is 26% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $112,89672nd pctl | $142,39884th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Las Vegas, NV $112,896; Reno, NV $142,398; Reno is 26% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Reno needs about
$83,600
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 131 vs 146). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.6%96th pctl | 4.6%85th pctl | Unemployment: Las Vegas, NV 5.6%; Reno, NV 4.6%; Las Vegas is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.4%84th pctl | +0.8%41st pctl | Job growth (YoY): Las Vegas, NV +2.4%; Reno, NV +0.8%; Las Vegas is 1.6 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $38,42152nd pctl | $45,18069th pctl | Per-capita income: Las Vegas, NV $38,421; Reno, NV $45,180; Reno is 18% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.2%63rd pctl | 12.5%55th pctl | Poverty rate: Las Vegas, NV 14.2%; Reno, NV 12.5%; Las Vegas is 1.7 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.8 min66th pctl | 20.6 min31st pctl | Average commute: Las Vegas, NV 25.8 min; Reno, NV 20.6 min; Las Vegas is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 10.5%49th pctl | 10.8%51st pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 40078th pctl | 54688th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Las Vegas, NV 400; Reno, NV 546; Reno is 37% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,37185th pctl | 2,31284th pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Las Vegas, NV A-; Reno, NV C+; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Las Vegas, NV B; Reno, NV A; Reno is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Poor | Poor | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Nevada, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Nevada →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Las Vegas, NV 0 mi; Reno, NV 2 mi; Reno is 2 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Las Vegas, NV F; Reno, NV C-; Reno is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 239 mi29th pctl | 505 mi70th pctl | Distance to international border: Las Vegas, NV 239 mi; Reno, NV 505 mi; Reno is 2.1 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 237 mi48th pctl | 187 mi41st pctl | Distance to coastline: Las Vegas, NV 237 mi; Reno, NV 187 mi; Las Vegas is 27% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 650,87399th pctl | 268,95997th pctl | Population: Las Vegas, NV 650,873; Reno, NV 268,959; Las Vegas is 2.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,58890th pctl | 2,46070th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Las Vegas, NV 4,588; Reno, NV 2,460; Las Vegas is 86% higher. |
| Median age | 38.554th pctl | 37.344th pctl | Median age: Las Vegas, NV 38.5; Reno, NV 37.3; Las Vegas is 1.2 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3%37th pctl | 35.7%58th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Las Vegas, NV 27.3%; Reno, NV 35.7%; Reno is 8.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.671st pctl | 2.438th pctl | Average household size: Las Vegas, NV 2.6; Reno, NV 2.4; Las Vegas is 12% larger. |
More about Las Vegas's residents · Reno's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Las Vegas and Reno
- Median rent: $1,456 in Las Vegas, $1,453 in Reno
- Median home value: $395,300 in Las Vegas, $498,600 in Reno
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 131 in Las Vegas, 146 in Reno
- Median household income: $70,723 in Las Vegas, $78,448 in Reno
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $112,896 in Las Vegas, $142,398 in Reno
- Unemployment: 5.6% in Las Vegas, 4.6% in Reno
- Average commute: 25.8 min in Las Vegas, 20.6 min in Reno
- Violent crime per 100k: 400 in Las Vegas, 546 in Reno
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More places like Las Vegas and Reno
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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