Reno, NV vs Sacramento, CA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | RenoReno, NV | SacramentoSacramento, CA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At +0.8% year-over-year job growth, Reno, NV posts a lower figure than Sacramento, CA’s +2.5%, a 1.7-point gap that places Reno in the 41st percentile and Sacramento in the 85th. In 2023 Census figures, the two cities also diverge on commuting: Reno’s average commute of 20.6 minutes sits in the 31st percentile, while Sacramento’s 25.6 minutes ranks in the 65th. Work-from-home rates differ by 6.9 points, with 10.8% of Reno workers remote versus 17.7% in Sacramento, the latter falling in the 78th percentile.
Population density shows a 2.2× difference, with Reno at 2,460 people per square mile and Sacramento at 5,320, placing them in the 70th and 93rd percentiles respectively. Average household size is 2.4 in Reno versus 2.6 in Sacramento, a 10% gap. Summer dew point readings also separate the pair: Reno’s 38°F is in the 1st percentile, while Sacramento’s 54°F reaches the 19th, a 16°F difference. State and local tax burden runs 9.6% in Reno versus 13.5% in Sacramento, a 3.9-point spread that puts Reno in the 37th percentile and Sacramento in the 92nd.
Median rent is $1,453 in Reno versus $1,694 in Sacramento, with Sacramento 17% higher and in the 80th percentile. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 546 in Reno and 719 in Sacramento, a 32% higher rate in Sacramento, with percentiles of 88 and 93. Property crime per 100,000 is nearly identical at 2,312 in Reno and 2,288 in Sacramento. Healthcare access scores are 89/100 in Reno and 95/100 in Sacramento, a 6-point difference.
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 | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 14676th pctl | 15680th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Reno, NV 146; Sacramento, CA 156; Sacramento is 7% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $498,60082nd pctl | $484,60081st pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,45367th pctl | $1,69480th pctl | Median rent: Reno, NV $1,453; Sacramento, CA $1,694; Sacramento is 17% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $78,44857th pctl | $83,75363rd pctl | Median household income: Reno, NV $78,448; Sacramento, CA $83,753; Sacramento is 7% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $96,86984th pctl | $94,14983rd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $142,39884th pctl | $138,39983rd pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Stretched | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Sacramento needs about
$80,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 146 vs 156). 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 | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.6%85th pctl | 4.7%87th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.8%41st pctl | +2.5%85th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Reno, NV +0.8%; Sacramento, CA +2.5%; Sacramento is 1.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $45,18069th pctl | $42,30062nd pctl | Per-capita income: Reno, NV $45,180; Sacramento, CA $42,300; Reno is 7% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 12.5%55th pctl | 14.4%64th pctl | Poverty rate: Reno, NV 12.5%; Sacramento, CA 14.4%; Sacramento is 1.9 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 20.6 min31st pctl | 25.6 min65th pctl | Average commute: Reno, NV 20.6 min; Sacramento, CA 25.6 min; Sacramento is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 10.8%51st pctl | 17.7%78th pctl | Work from home: Reno, NV 10.8%; Sacramento, CA 17.7%; Sacramento is 6.9 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 54688th pctl | 71993rd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Reno, NV 546; Sacramento, CA 719; Sacramento is 32% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,31284th pctl | 2,28883rd pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Reno, NV D+; Sacramento, CA F; Reno is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | DangerousCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Reno, NV C+; Sacramento, CA D-; Reno is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty 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 | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Clean | Tap water: Reno, NV F; Sacramento, CA B+; Sacramento is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Power grid: Reno, NV A+; Sacramento, CA A-; Reno is graded higher. |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | Homesteading potential: Reno, NV B; Sacramento, CA A+; Sacramento is graded higher. |
| 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
| Metric | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Reno, NV B-; Sacramento, CA D-; Reno is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 2 mi2nd pctl | 2 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Reno, NV 2 mi; Sacramento, CA 2 mi; Reno is 35% higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 505 mi70th pctl | 478 mi67th pctl | Distance to international border: Reno, NV 505 mi; Sacramento, CA 478 mi; Reno is 6% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 187 mi41st pctl | 78 mi26th pctl | Distance to coastline: Reno, NV 187 mi; Sacramento, CA 78 mi; Reno is 2.4 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Reno, NV | Sacramento, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 268,95997th pctl | 524,80299th pctl | Population: Reno, NV 268,959; Sacramento, CA 524,802; Sacramento is 95% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,46070th pctl | 5,32093rd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Reno, NV 2,460; Sacramento, CA 5,320; Sacramento is 2.2 times higher. |
| Median age | 37.344th pctl | 35.731st pctl | Median age: Reno, NV 37.3; Sacramento, CA 35.7; Reno is 1.6 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.7%58th pctl | 36.4%60th pctl | About the same |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.438th pctl | 2.666th pctl | Average household size: Reno, NV 2.4; Sacramento, CA 2.6; Sacramento is 10% larger. |
More about Reno's residents · Sacramento's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | RenoReno, NV | SacramentoSacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+7 | D+16 |
| 2024 presidential | R +14.0 pts | D +30.0 pts |
Full politics data: Reno · Sacramento
Moving between Reno and Sacramento
- Median rent: $1,453 in Reno, $1,694 in Sacramento
- Median home value: $498,600 in Reno, $484,600 in Sacramento
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 146 in Reno, 156 in Sacramento
- Median household income: $78,448 in Reno, $83,753 in Sacramento
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $142,398 in Reno, $138,399 in Sacramento
- Unemployment: 4.6% in Reno, 4.7% in Sacramento
- Average commute: 20.6 min in Reno, 25.6 min in Sacramento
- Violent crime per 100k: 546 in Reno, 719 in Sacramento
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More places like Reno and Sacramento
- 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: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- 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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