Reno, Nevada

It’s not about the gambling. Yes, there is gambling, but that’s a sideshow, it’s really about The Sierras. Nestled against the Sierra Nevada, Reno is situated at 4500 feet above sea level, with easy access to skiing. Also, a river runs through it -- The Truckee River at its center with kayaking, a Riverwalk District, and tons of local events. Reno is notorious for its high desert topography featuring epic vistas from trails and hiking spots throughout the city, the foothills, and the Sierra Nevada range. You’ll experience rain, snow, sun, hurricane-like winds, hail, and even thunder and lightning, sometimes within minutes -- the weather in Reno is referred to as ‘bipolar,’ but sunny cold is common in the winter.

Renovations include the historic downtown post office, with its art deco styling, as a hip, new multifunction marketplace/retail/office space, and the Freight House District (northeast of downtown). Reno is home to the Minor League Reno Aces, tons of breweries, and several destinations for after-hours fun. Reno is also a gateway to Burning Man, so there’s that vibe, and it’s pretty Libertarian overall—guns, recreational weed, and gambling. On the serious side, UNR (a doctoral university) is best known for its science, engineering, and medical programs, including earthquake science and biotechnology. Both students at UNR and potential employers mutually benefit from a “pipeline” relationship, by which recent grads often get jobs in Reno and stay in the area.

Elements of Reno in the plus column include no state income tax, Triple A Ball (Reno Aces), and Lake Tahoe, which is 45 minutes away. Also, If you’re sick of the tortuous walk of shoeless shame through airport security, you might feel the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the happiest place on earth. In the negative column, K-12 schools are not great, but housing can be pricey, and costs are still going up as Millennials and Tech workers make the move. Nevertheless, the local economy can suffer unstable highs and lows.

We highly recommend visiting Reno and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

Midtown is the burgeoning, buzzy neighborhood — a cool collection of foodie hotspots and eclectic shops. It’s a character-infused, walkable corridor south of Reno’s gaming core comprised of farm-to-fork restaurants, mom-and-pop shops, and unique experiences. Downtown is less buzzy, still walkable, but perhaps a little more crime-y and definitely more homelessness. Downtown is more active in the summer. Both have loft-inspired flats.

Most of the homes have close proximity to open space, so jackrabbits, cottontails, squirrels, and even coyotes (even wild horses!) are frequent visitors to residential spaces.

If you want to see what happens in Reno, check out the calendar of events.

Lot’s of opportunities. Tesla opened its Gigafactory, employing over 5,000 people and other large companies such as Apple, Switch, Microsoft, Intuit and Patagonia, have facilities in the Reno area, creating thousands of jobs for all different skill levels and backgrounds.
In addition to its cutting-edge tech jobs, Reno is a hub for advanced manufacturing, technology and E-Commerce. Nevada provides tax incentives for businesses to relocate and expand, thus supporting continued growth in the region.