--- title: Pros and Cons of Living in Reno: A Planning Guide url: https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/pros-and-cons/ business: O'Brien's Moving & Storage address: 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 phone: 775-359-6683 (toll-free 1-800-253-7814) hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm licenses: U.S. DOT No. 30611, MC-109375, Nevada CPCN 1070; interstate agent for Bekins Van Lines since 1955 type: Moving and storage company, family owned since 1941 --- - [Home](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/) - [Moving resources: guides, checklists, tools and data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/resources/) - [Moving to Reno and Sparks: the complete guide](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/) - Pros and cons of living in Reno # Pros and cons of living in Reno Reno gives you about 7.35 inches of rain a year, a regional airport and no state income tax, and it asks you to plan for 122 freezing nights, hot summers and a median home value of $548,300. The list below sets each point beside the number behind it so you can decide with facts. or call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 [U.S. DOT No. 30611](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) Every city trades one thing for another. This guide lists what Reno offers and what it asks of you, using Census, NOAA and Nevada Department of Taxation figures, then turns each point into something you can plan for before the truck arrives. ## What Reno offers Reno sits at about 4,930 feet and gets very little rain. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show 7.35 inches of precipitation a year and 20.9 inches of snow, so most days are dry and the snow that falls in the valley tends to melt within days. Nevada collects no individual income tax; the Census Bureau's state tax collections for fiscal year 2024 show zero individual income tax collected. The statewide sales tax has a 6.85 percent minimum, and the county adds its own portion. People moving from a high-tax state often feel that difference first in the paycheck. - Dry air and sun: Reno's July afternoons average 93.9 F with cool nights near 60 F. - A commercial airport with 20 or more nonstop destinations listed by Reno-Tahoe International. - Mountains close by: Truckee is about 36 miles from our Sparks warehouse and Incline Village about 33. - A connected region of Reno, Sparks, Carson City and the Tahoe communities. ## What Reno asks of you The valley has four real seasons, and the cold is steady. NOAA counts about 122 days a year when the airport's overnight low reaches 32 F or colder, and about 65 days when the afternoon high reaches 90 F or hotter. A move in January and a move in July are different jobs, so book with the weather in mind. Housing is the other number to plan around. The American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) puts the median home value in Reno city at $548,300 and the median gross rent at $1,556. Half of Reno's households, 50.2 percent, rent. If you are selling in a higher-priced market the math can still work; if you are coming from a lower-priced one, build the housing number into your plan first. ## Altitude, smoke and the mountain roads At 4,500 feet and up, new residents often notice drier skin, faster dehydration and a stronger sun. Our [altitude guide](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/altitude/) covers what people adjust to in the first weeks. Late summer can bring wildfire smoke from the Sierra and beyond, and winter storms can slow I-80 over Donner Summit at about 7,200 feet. Both are covered in [wildfire smoke season](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/wildfire-smoke-season/) and [winter driving](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/winter-driving/). Knowing about them before you arrive is most of the preparation. ## How the pros and cons change by neighborhood The same numbers move block by block. Sparks has a higher median household income, $89,056 against $80,760 in Reno, and a larger share of single-family homes. Reno has more apartments and more renters. Our [Sparks vs Reno](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/sparks-vs-reno/) page lines the two up, and the [neighborhood guide](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/neighborhoods/) goes ZIP by ZIP. ## Turning the list into a moving plan A decision about Reno is also a decision about timing. If you are leaving another state, you book the move with O'Brien's and we coordinate it from your origin through the Bekins network, then deliver, unpack and store in Sparks. Your written estimate sets the delivery window. Start with a free in-home estimate from an O'Brien's estimator, which comes with 10 free heavy-duty boxes you keep. If your new home is not ready, vault storage starts from $40 per month at our 30,000 square foot Sparks warehouse. Call 775-359-6683 or use the [estimate request](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/free-estimate/). ### Sources (checked October 18, 2026) - [NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) - [U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024](https://data.census.gov/) - [Nevada Department of Taxation](https://tax.nv.gov/) ### Licensed movers U.S. DOT No. 30611 MC-109375 Nevada CPCN 1070 Cal PUC T-90973 (as published by O'Brien's) Bekins Van Lines interstate agent since 1955 [Check our USDOT record](https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=USDOT&query_string=30611) · [Ready to Move? (FMCSA)](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/ReadytoMoveBrochure_2022Update.pdf) [Licenses and authority](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/about/licenses-and-authority/) ### Visit or call the office 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks, NV 89431 [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) | Monday to Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | | --- | --- | | Saturday and Sunday | Closed | [Get my free estimate](#estimate) ### Related - [Is Reno a good place to live? The data](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/is-reno-a-good-place-to-live/) - [Cost of living in Reno](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/cost-of-living/) - [Reno weather and climate by month](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/weather-and-climate/) - [The best time of year to move in Northern Nevada](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/best-time-to-move/) Moving to Reno guides ## Read next - [Reno vs Las Vegas](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/reno-vs-las-vegas/) - [Reno vs Sacramento](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/reno-vs-sacramento/) - [Reno vs Boise](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/reno-vs-boise/) - [Reno vs the Bay Area](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/reno-vs-bay-area/) - [Sparks vs Reno](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/sparks-vs-reno/) - [Carson City vs Reno](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/carson-city-vs-reno/) - [Retiring in Reno and Sparks](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/retiring-in-reno/) - [Retiring in Carson City and the Carson Valley](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/retiring-in-carson-valley/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683), Mon-Fri 8-5, or see the [moving FAQ](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/faq/). ### Is Reno a good place to live? Reno suits people who want sun, mountains nearby and no state income tax, and who are ready for cold nights and a median home value of $548,300. See the full data in our [is Reno a good place to live](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/moving-to-reno/is-reno-a-good-place-to-live/) guide. ### Does Reno get a lot of snow? Not in the valley. NOAA's normals for the airport show 20.9 inches a year, while Truckee's ranger station averages 206.6 inches, which is why the mountains and the valley feel so different. ### When is the easiest time to move to Reno? Spring and fall avoid both the 90 F afternoons and the freezing nights. Our [time-to-move guide](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/guides/best-time-to-move/) explains the trade-offs. ## 4.3 stars from 71 Google reviews What customers say about O'Brien's [Read more reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/)[See them on Google](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=17335326057105140938) E Edward G. September 14, 2025 James and the crew were terrific. N Nicole B. June 25, 2025 The crew worked extremely hard and treated our belongings with care. Customer service was outstanding leading up to, during, and after move. Thank you! C Charles C. May 31, 2025 Great company, I'd highly recommend for any move!!! ### Owner's reply Charles, It was a pleasure working with you on your moves. We hope your trip is amazing and if you ever come back our way, we will be happy to help. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to complete this review on our behalf. ## 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. Rather talk? [Call 775-359-6683](tel:+17753596683) Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Our estimators: Sean, Luke, Christa and Janet. 2277 Glendale Ave Sparks, NV 89431 [4.3 on Google · 71 reviews](https://obriensmoving-storage.com/reviews/) Family owned since 1941 U.S. DOT No. 30611 · MC-109375 · Nevada CPCN 1070