City profile · Nevada · Census ACS 2023

Reno, NV

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Reno - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

268,959
Residents
$78,448
Median income
$498,600
Median home
$1,870
Median rent (state)

Reno - the verdict

Nationally, Reno sits in the 60th percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

60th
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
79th
percentile, median rent
16th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Reno, NV

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 268,959 residents in Reno, a mid-sized U.S. city within Nevada. Median household income here is $78,448 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.4%. Reno's housing stock carries a median value of $498,600, and the median resident age is 37.3 years. About 35.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 63.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2,723 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 18% from five years earlier. Reno's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2974.7 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Reno's yearly average temperature at 54.4°F with 8.1 inches of precipitation per year and 29.7 inches of snowfall.

Nevada tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,870 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Nevada run around $190, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 25.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

268,959 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nevada

Median Household Income

$78,448 /yr

Poverty 7.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nevada average

How does Reno compare to other US cities?

Here's how Reno stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 85% pricier than other cities
Median rent 79% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Nevada, Reno ranks #9 of 10 Nevada cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Reno against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Nevada only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Nevada-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Reno toward the top of Nevada's cities

Among the 111 Nevada cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Reno ranks #1 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Reno only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#46 of 101
54th percentile in Nevada
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 111
86th percentile in Nevada
Median Home Value
#28 of 97
71st percentile in Nevada
Poverty Rate
#40 of 111
64th percentile in Nevada
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#22 of 111
80th percentile in Nevada

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Nevada only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

60thIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income · 16th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Reno's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Reno's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 31 Avg. percentile National median
Reno's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Reno's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$498,600 15th percentile more affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Reno $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Reno, NV Reno, NV's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Reno, NV-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Reno, NV median $78,448/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Reno, NV's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Reno, NV. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
268,959
Median Income
$78,448
Median Home Value
$498,600
Median Age
37.3
Poverty Rate
7.4%
Labor force participation
63.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2974.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
529.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2445.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.4°F
Annual Precipitation
8.1"
Annual Snowfall
29.7"

Schools

Total Schools
79
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
260,000 residents270,000 residents280,000 residents290,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 265,001 residents 283,621 residents ▲ +7.0%
Reno's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
2,723
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1,087
detached homes
Multifamily
1,636
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
10.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3,320
2020 3,201
2021 3,953
2022 3,693
2023 3,235
2024 2,723

Permit volume decreased 18% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
67.6%
Carpool
12.6%
Public Transit
2.4%
Walk
3.2%
Work from Home
10.8%
Other
3.4%

Based on 138,645 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Nevada - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$30
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$190
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nevada state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Nevada state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Reno sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,870/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
25.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nevada

North Las Vegas
270,773 people
Enterprise
232,043 people
Spring Valley
219,913 people
Henderson
324,523 people
Sunrise Manor
199,099 people
Paradise
186,178 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Reno's 268,959 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Toledo, OH
268,461 people
Gilbert, AZ
271,118 people
Fort Wayne, IN
266,235 people
Chula Vista, CA
275,030 people
Madison, WI
275,568 people
Buffalo, NY
276,397 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Reno's $78,448 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Centerville borough (Washington County), PA
$78,446 median income
Cottage City, MD
$78,456 median income
Cowley, WY
$78,456 median income
Charlotte, NC
$78,438 median income
Gastonville, PA
$78,438 median income
Tabor, SD
$78,438 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Reno, NV Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Reno, NV - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 63.5% 7.0% 11.1% 13.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24.6% White 63.5% Black or African American 3.2% Asian 7.0% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.7% Some other race 11.1% Two or more races 13.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Reno compares to nearby Nevada cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Reno (this city) 268,959 $78,448
North Las Vegas 270,773 $76,772
Enterprise 232,043 $93,980
Spring Valley 219,913 $72,364
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NV FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Reno, NV?

What is the population of Reno, NV? +

268,959 people live in Reno, NV according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Reno, NV? +

Reno households earn a median of $78,448 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Reno? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Reno; the closest available measure is the Nevada state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nevada vary by metro area.

Is Reno, NV safe? +

Reno has a total crime rate of 2974.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Reno, NV? +

A typical home in Reno is worth $498,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Reno? +

Reno has an average annual temperature of 54.4°F, 8.1 inches of precipitation, and 29.7 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.