City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Reno is significant: $93,658 median household versus $80,760. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,556 in Reno.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Reno costs less and Austin pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Austin and Reno are 1,400 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $173 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $80,760 in Reno, down $12,898 (14%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 151 in Reno, down 11 points (7%).
The move
Reno and Austin are 1,400 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $173 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $93,658 in Austin, up $12,898 (16%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 162 in Austin, up 11 points (7%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Reno rent is 10% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,729 in Austin, so Reno is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,076, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Reno still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.
Planning to buy in Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Austin's median income is 16% higher than Reno
Austin
Winner$93,658
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Austin (about $12,898 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Reno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
7% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 7% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Reno. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Reno, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Austin weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. Austin scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Reno if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 16% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than Austin (151 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Reno is cheaper on rent ($1,556/month vs $1,729), but Austin's $93,658 median income beats Reno's $80,760 by 14%. Remote workers paid on Austin scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
With only $173 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 62°F in Reno.
Austin leads on local pay ($93,658 median income vs $80,760), even though rent runs $1,729 versus $1,556 — skip Austin only if you are optimizing for the cheaper lease, not the paycheck.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Reno, plus other cities in TX and NV.
