City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Reno split most clearly. Reno scores 120 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,556 in Reno.
This is a genuine split. Denver wins on the job market and Reno wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Reno has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Reno are 788 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $275 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $80,760 in Reno, down $13,958 (15%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 151 in Reno, down 120 points (44%).
The move
Reno and Denver are 788 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $275 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $94,718 in Denver, up $13,958 (17%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 271 in Denver, up 120 points (79%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Reno rent is 15% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,831 in Denver, so Reno is 15% 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 $3,300, 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 Denver.
Planning to buy in Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Denver's median income is 17% higher than Reno
Denver
Winner$94,718
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Denver (about $13,958 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, Denver 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
44% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 44% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% lower in Reno. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Reno is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Denver and Reno are about even on typical weather.
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Reno averages around 62°F. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 15% 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 44% lower than Denver (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Reno leads on safety (47/100 vs 30/100 in Denver). Typical rent is $1,556 in Reno and $1,831 in Denver; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $80,760), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $80,760 in Reno.
Between Denver and Reno, Reno is ahead on safety — 47/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Denver instead when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Reno, plus other cities in CO and NV.
