Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Moving from Reno to Buffalo
Buffalo averages 95.4 inches of snow a year in NOAA's 1991-2020 normals, and its city median home value is $164,200 in the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The drive from our Sparks warehouse is about 2,438 road miles.
A move to Buffalo trades a high-desert winter for a lake-effect one, and it trades a $502,300 Reno metro median home value for one of the lowest city medians in the Census data. This page covers the arrival end: snow and what it means for delivery, New York's 30 day rules, local housing and how O'Brien's plans the shipment from Sparks.
Snow is the first thing to plan around
NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Buffalo station list a January high of 32.1 degrees with a low of 19.0, and a July high of 80.2 with a low of 63.1. Annual precipitation is 40.68 inches, and snow averages 95.4 inches. Reno's January high is 47.7.
A delivery between November and March needs a plowed street, a shoveled walk and a driveway where a crew can stage. Tell your estimator about steep grades or narrow lanes in the Buffalo neighborhood, and keep a day of slack on both ends in case a storm shifts the date.
Reno Arch by day / downtown Virginia St Photo: Sarah Stierch (Missvain), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo housing numbers
The American Community Survey lists a median home value of $164,200 for the city and $226,100 for the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metro. Median gross rent is $1,046 in the city and $1,057 in the metro, and median household income is $50,041 and $72,237. Reno's metro medians are $1,592 for rent and $87,485 for income.
Renters make up 57 percent of city households. Medians describe areas and not particular homes, but the size of the gap is why many arrivals buy more house than they had in Reno.
New York's 30-day rules
New York DMV says that when you become a New York resident you must register your vehicle within 30 days, and exchange an out-of-state license within 30 days of becoming a resident. Because the DMV wording can change, check the agency's pages before your visit.
New York taxes income on a graduated schedule, and the 10.9 percent top rate applies only to income over $25 million for 2026. The state sales tax is 4 percent, plus local rates set by cities and counties. Nevada has no individual income tax, so a part-year return is worth a professional's help.
Reno skyline (mountains behind)
How the move works with O'Brien's
You book the move with O'Brien's. An estimator comes to your Reno or Sparks home for a free, no-obligation in-home estimate, and 10 free heavy-duty boxes come with it. We coordinate the shipment through the Bekins Van Lines network, and your written estimate sets the delivery window. See how an interstate move works with a Bekins agent.
If the Buffalo house closes late, the household can rest in a wooden vault in our Sparks warehouse, from $40 per month, and ship on about 2 to 3 weeks of notice.
How a long-distance move works with a Bekins agent
O'Brien's Moving & Storage has been an agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955. On an interstate move the Bekins network carries your shipment under the van line's interstate system; O'Brien's books the move in either direction. Leaving Northern Nevada, we give the free in-home estimate, pack, store in our Sparks warehouse if you need it, and load. Moving here from another state, you book with us and we coordinate the move from your origin through the Bekins network, then handle delivery, unpacking and storage in Sparks. Your written estimate sets the delivery window. What being a Bekins agent means.
Your rights on an interstate move
Federal booklets every interstate mover must give you
Extremely happy with the moving experience. The moving team showed up on time, friendly and polite. They did a wonderful job moving our boxes and furniture to the new location. We moved a three bedroom home and I could not be more pleased with the employees who assisted with the move. Highly recommend O'Brien moving for your move.
Owner's reply
Michelle, thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. We are so happy to hear about the move experience you had with our company and glad to know we met your expectations! It means a lot to us to know that. Thank you for choosing us as your moving partner.
S
Sonia P.
Talk about organized people. I peeked in the truck about an hour into the job and was amazed at how well organized it was and how many of my things had protective coverings. Our bed is a mechanical one and a nightmare to us, but these guys had no issue with it at all. Although I have no desire to ever move again--but if I did, I would be calling these guys for sure!!!
J
Jennifer C.
Customer service, packers, and loaders were very responsive, professional, and did an overall great job.
Get a long-distance estimate
Tell us where you are going. The estimate for a long-distance move starts with a survey of your Reno-area home.
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
