2020 Best Places to Live in the Reno AreaAbout this List

Incline Village

• Town in Nevada
• 8 reviews

Current Resident: Incline Village is nestled in a beautiful, mountainous location on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. It has clean and private beaches, challenging hiking/mountain biking trails and miles of paved pedestrian paths.
Read 8 Reviews

• A

• A

• 8,491 Population

Tahoe Vista

• Town in California
• 1 review

Former Resident: Tahoe is absolutely a gorgeous and lovely place to live. It's very safe, there's lots of sports and nature, it's a very active community, and the forest is your backyard.
Read 1 Review

• A-

• A

• 1,288 Population

Truckee

• Town in California
• 36 reviews

Current Resident: Truckee is a great small town. Called the "Town of Truckee," you really get a small town feel, even though the surrounding area is very big and spread out. I feel very safe here, and I am glad to have grown up in such a friendly and nurturing community. The outdoors are amazing, providing endless adventuring.
The only drawbacks are its price, the lack of nightlife and food after 8pm, and no snow sometimes in the winter.
Read 36 Reviews

• A-

• A

• 16,377 Population

Mogul

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: I find the area very quiet and mostly inhabited by the more elderly people and veterans. There are not many younger couples for a reason that I think is because the housing is so expensive many people can only afford apartments. The diversity is absolutly terrible but the area is very full of wildlife and safe but never leave small animals outside alone at night because there are coyotes.
Read 2 Reviews

• A-

• A

• 2,005 Population

Reno

• City in Nevada
• 965 reviews

Current Resident: There are so many things to love about Reno. We have a very diverse population and there is always something to do! Throughout the year we hold many festivals and celebrations, usually in the heart of our beloved city. We even have a whole month dedicated to the artists and performers of our community and surrounding areas and it's called Artown. The entire month of July has a wide variety of events; from movies in the park, to food, and live music shows, there is always something for everyone to enjoy. Year round the city stays busy with monthly events and a wide range of entertainment provided by local establishments for people of all ages to enjoy! There's always something to do in Reno.
Read 965 Reviews

• A-

• A-

• 242,633 Population

Kingsbury

• Town in Nevada

• B+

• A-

• 2,122 Population

Sparks

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 312 reviews

Current Resident: Sparks is one of the friendliest cities in Western Nevada. No matter what you’re looking for its guaranteed to be in downtown Sparks. The overall cost of living is lower than Nevada’s cost of living. Sparks lets you live through all four seasons, with the weather being relatively perfect through each season. The city of Reno is close but living in Sparks is less chaotic.

Sparks is one of Nevada’s most diverse cities. The crime rate in Sparks in low. Sparks citizens are well-educated, while raising respectful children. Sparks have many public schools in which two schools were opened in 2019.
Read 312 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• 98,524 Population

Gardnerville

• Town in Nevada
• 20 reviews

Current Resident: When you drop over the hill from Carson City into the Carson Valley, the view literally takes your breath away--it did mine! The rough, majestic Sierra-Nevadas to the right, hinting at the beauty of Lake Tahoe just the other side, and the lush green valley floor spreading out before you...nothing beats it. As you come into the Minden/Gardnerville area, the quaintness and serenity hits you. It's small and lovely, but not TOO small. We have discovered many options here depending on your ideal lifestyle. Apartments, town homes, duplexes, single family homes and large, beautiful ranches. Everyone is friendly if they're local. If you like casino life, (this is Nevada, after all)there are several small casinos, and one that is fairly large, yet they maintain the appearance of a rustic small town. There are some tiny hole-in the wall bars where locals hang that are fun, and many, many adorable antique shops and second hand stores to browse. We have it all!
Read 20 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• 6,148 Population

Carson City

• Town in Nevada
• 148 reviews

Current Resident: Carson City is a nice size community with friendly people. There are a moderate amount of restaurant and arts opportunities but it is close to Reno for additional opportunities. It is easy to get around town and you can transverse the city in 5-10 minutes. There are a number of museums such as the State Museum, Railroad Museum and Children’s Museum. Nevada Day is Carson City is an all day event celebrating statehood and features a four hour parade, hot air balloons, rock drilling and an Indian powwow. Carson City is also close to Lake Tahoe for recreational activities like hiking and skiing.
Read 148 Reviews

• B+

• B

• 54,467 Population

Kings Beach

• Town in California

• B+

• A

• 2,833 Population

Minden

• Town in Nevada
• 13 reviews

Current Resident: Minden is my quant little town just outside of the capital of Nevada. The view of the snow capped sierras can be see from all directions. The landscapes and farmlands are incredible. It is just big enough that families have opportunities in all aspects, but still small enough to feel a personal connection with those you meet. Everyone is kind, caring, and the community truly sticks together. I wouldn’t want to change my little hometown.
Read 13 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• 3,239 Population

Spanish Springs

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 24 reviews

Current Resident: Spanish Springs is a family town. Living in this suburb allows families the opportunity to live in a beautiful home with property large enough to store trailers and RV's and have enough room for a landscape allowing the children and the dogs to run free. There are numerous elementary, middle, and high schools that are embedded in the neighborhood allowing for easy drop-off and pick-up access.
Read 24 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• 16,241 Population

Indian Hills

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 3 reviews

Niche User: The atmosphere of the Carson Valley is a very active one. There are trails all over to hike while being able to view the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Carson Valley is only twenty minutes away from Tahoe which allows for frequent trips to the icy blue clear lake. My parents moved to the Carson Valley before I was born and I have lived here since then except for when I go back to school at University of the Pacific for the school year.

If I could choose to live here again I would definitely do that all over again. There may be mountains throughout the world, but nothing beats the Sierra Nevada's when they are covered in snow or the smell of newly fallen rain upon the hills of sagebrush. Home means Nevada and it will continue to be home until I die.
Read 3 Reviews

• B+

• A-

• 6,054 Population

Sun Valley

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 27 reviews

Current Resident: I live in Sun Valley, Nevada. Many people believe it is a town where many of Nevada citizens whom are less fortunate live. But I think it is a small town where families connect with each other and grow friendly connections daily. Families have the privacy they need and the comfort they seek in their homes. To me, Sun Valley is home, where I can relax and enjoy quality time with friends and family.
Read 27 Reviews

• B

• B

• 20,683 Population

South Lake Tahoe

• Town in California
• 49 reviews

Current Resident: SLT is home. The community can be tight-nit but once you live here you are local. Great outdoor activities! Skiing, snowboarding, water sports, hiking, camping, fishing--you name it, Tahoe has it.
Read 49 Reviews

• B

• B

• 21,814 Population

Verdi

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 2 reviews

Current Resident: It is a beautiful small town where the people are very close knit. The only thing I would like to change is their be more law enforcement(many dui's and accidents occur here) and less construction
Read 2 Reviews

• B

• A

• 1,368 Population

Johnson Lane

• Town in Nevada
• 9 reviews

Niche User: I absolutly love this area. It is everything anyone can ask for. The lake is only 20 miles away, the town is small, and carson is only about 10 min away for shopping. The crime rate is very low and all individuals are kind.
Read 9 Reviews

• B

• A

• 6,065 Population

Gardnerville Ranchos

• Town in Nevada
• 23 reviews

Current Resident: Great parks and location! It is very quite and the nieghbors are all friendly. Much of the community has been fixed up over the last several years and it is a great place to work and commute to Reno or Tahoe.
Read 23 Reviews

• B

• A-

• 11,274 Population

Cold Springs

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 18 reviews

Current Resident: I love cold springs because it's a more ideal place to raise my children and the schools are absolutely wonderful with the kids. It's a smaller community, everyone is friendly and neighborly. I feel safe about my children going outside and playing. It's also so much quieter then being in town which is consistently chaotic. There are a couple of convenient stores and a couple of restaurants. Also, there are a few nice family parks even a skate park and basketball quarts. Very family oriented and a beautiful place to raise a family. My reasoning for only four stars is because I feel that a few more things could be done for instance public transportation. If you don't have a vehicle or something happens to it and you need to get to town you're going to have a long walk ahead of yourself. Public transportation would definitely fix a huge part of any negative thoughts about cold springs. For the most part, I love cold springs and hope to see many more years to come.
Read 18 Reviews

• B

• B

• 9,168 Population

Fernley

• Town in Nevada
• 51 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived here for around 2 years. It is a very nice place to live. There is a Walmart, Rallys, and New grocery outlet that just opened up. The schools are decent. My son goes to one of the local elementary schools and he tells me he really likes it. There are 5 casinos with decent restaurants in each. The night life is pretty lacking, but Reno is not far away. It is a really quiet place with not a lot of crime that I know of. ...………………………………………………………………………………...…………...………………………………………………...……………………………………………..
Read 51 Reviews

• B-

• B-

• 19,573 Population

Lemmon Valley

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 10 reviews

Niche User: There is very little crime in this area, maybe criminals don't wont to travel that far to inflict crime. But, the visibility of police is always present, a motorist can barely speed down Lemmon Drive without being pulled over. Five years ago, we had a miscreant break into cars and steal some things but that is the only thing that has happened. Well except if a person leaves their bike outside, for some reason people like to steal bikes, but that's about it. The prevalence of crimes is very little and the visibility of police is very concentrated on the main street. In the neighborhood, people speed up to 40 MPH and I wish the cops caught them more for that, but I know the police are busy too. My only concern would be to catch speeders in the neighborhood because kids are walking to the school bus and some of them are in first grade, don't want to see them get run over.
Read 10 Reviews

• B-

• B

• 5,469 Population

Dayton

• Town in Nevada
• 17 reviews

Current Resident: Dayton is a small town and a decent community. It hasn't much to offer compared to bigger areas but is close to great neighboring places like Reno, Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Lake Lahontan, etc.
Read 17 Reviews

• B-

• B-

• 9,508 Population

Golden Valley

• Suburb of Reno, NV
• 4 reviews

Niche User: Living in Reno has been great. I only gave it four stars because there is no ocean, but living thirty minutes away from Lake Tahoe and Frenchman's Lake is a blessing. Being able to go skiing every winter and swimming every summer in the same place is a privilege.
Read 4 Reviews

• C+

• B

• 1,393 Population

Glenbrook

• Town in Nevada

• A-

• B+

• 209 Population

Skyland

• Town in Nevada

• A-

• B+

• 204 Population