Gabbi Hall
Where is the Best Place to Live in Reno, Nevada?
There are a lot of pro and cons to living in Reno, Nevada. But overall, it’s an awesome city that trends to a younger demo (average age is around 35 as of late 2021). Determining the best place to live in Reno really starts with figuring out what you want out of your new neighborhood. Are you into craft cocktails, trendy restaurants, and shopping local? Midtown might be your spot. Want to be close to shows and gambling? Downtown Reno is for you. Starting a family? You might want to check out the suburbs. Don’t worry, I’m here to share what I love (and what’s not ideal) about neighborhoods in Reno, Nevada.
Midtown Reno, Nevada
Midtown Reno is a hub for bars and dining—home to 20+ restaurants and bars (and it’s constantly growing) and 40+ shops. With the recent overhaul of the roads and sidewalks, it’s very pedestrian-friendly. Midtown Reno is the neighborhood along South Virginia Street (north to south), running from Plumb St to Liberty St. It’s partially gentrified and definitely a work in progress in some regards. That said, it’s the “sexy” place in Reno if you want to live within walking distance of the hubbub. Midtown sits south of Downtown Reno, but you can easily walk, bike or drive between the two neighborhoods.
The cool thing about Midtown is it’s kind of suburban, surrounded by houses and some apartment buildings. I have lived in Midtown Reno for a few years now—first in a rented house and now renting a duplex. Houses here tend to be older and full of charm. Oh, and they tend to be pricier. Like most cities, you pay to be close to the action.
One note, if you’re looking for housing, I don’t recommend going east of Well St during your search. It’s not all bad, but you run the risk of getting into less desirable neighborhoods. If you stay west of Well St., you should be in safe territory.
Downtown Reno, Nevada
I lived in Downtown Reno, Nevada when I first moved here. Specifically, I moved into a newly renovated building called Third Street Flats with a pool, gym, security, and other upscale apartment amenities. It was within walking distance to my downtown office, the Reno Riverwalk, shows, restaurants, and the casinos.
Downtown Reno gets a bad rap if you ask me. Yes, Downtown Reno needs work. It needs to be cleaned up to make it more tourist-friendly. The Downtown Reno Partnership works “with businesses, property owners, residents, city and county government to make the core of the city cleaner, safer and friendlier.” So things are on the up and up.
Downtown Reno sits between Midtown Reno and the Reno Brewery District. Like I mentioned, casinos such as The ROW Reno sit at the center of the city’s skyscrapers. Even if you’re not a gambler, as a local, you can enjoy all the delicious restaurants within their walls like Italian food at La Strada, cocktails and crab cakes at Roxy’s, and a classic steak house experience at Ruth Chris’ Steak House. The casinos also bring in a lot of entertainment from stand-up comedy at the Laugh Factory to small acts in Roxy’s bar.
There’s also plenty outside the casinos—such as my favorite Reno restaurant, Liberty Food & Wine Exchange, or the best breakfast burrito around at Cafe Capello.
Here’s what I would say about Downtown Reno: If you’re going to live there, stick to The Montage (a large apartment/condo high rise) or Third Street Flats. They are nice, clean, secure buildings in relatively safe areas. There are a few smaller, boutique apartment buildings popping up all the time, so keep your eyes peeled.
South Reno
South Reno reaches far and wide and goes right up against the mountains that lead into Lake Tahoe. If I were born and raised here, I am sure I would have a more nuanced perspective on this area, but you’re getting the out-of-towner angle here.
South Reno remains a family-friendly, suburban area. You tend to have more communities with newer homes that are more cookie-cutter vs. the homes in MidTown Reno. There is more infrastructure being added there such as the open-air mall, The Summit, which is also home to great restaurants such as Land & Ocean and Miguel’s. The benefit of South Reno is also its proximity to Lake Tahoe. In just 25 minutes, you can get over Mt. Rose Highway and be skiing at Diamond Peak or relaxing on the beach. If you’re not looking to buy a house, tons of new luxury apartment buildings are being built and welcome new tenants constantly.
As an outsider who has never lived there, I’ve always liked the Damonte Ranch area as well Galena. All this said, my downside to South Reno is the commute. It can be a 20- to 30-minute drive to Midtown and Downtown depending on traffic, and I love being in walkable areas.
North Reno
Like South Reno, North Reno is a fairly expansive area, which includes the neighborhoods around the University of Nevada, Reno as well as more far-out neighborhoods like Somersett. When I think of buying a home, I think most highly of North Reno. It’s less expensive than living in Midtown Reno, but if you’re in the right area, an easy drive to the action. This area, which in my mind, starts once you pass over Highway 80 onto 7th Street from Downtown, is full of young couples and families. Depending on how close you are to the University, you are also likely to find yourself amongst some college kids.
Sparks, Nevada
Sparks, Nevada neighbors Reno to the east. Depending on where you are, it can be an easy 10-minute drive between the two towns. More and more people are moving there to find affordable housing as housing prices skyrocket in the region. Sparks has its benefits—new high-end restaurants like Anthony’s Steakhouse in the Nugget and the Sparks Water Bar have opened in the last couple of years, the mall has all the shopping you could ever want, and depending on how far out you go, you can find a spot with a decent-sized yard. That said, be warned that if you get really deep in Sparks or even out to Spanish Springs, you can end up 45+ minutes from the heart of Reno, Nevada.
As I learn more about my hometown, I’ll keep this list of best places to live in Reno, Nevada updated. Questions about Reno, Nevada? Send me a DM on Instagram: @heregoesgabbi.
Until next time, here goes nothing.
