City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Sacramento and Reno are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,556 in Reno, and median household income lands at $87,321 versus $80,760. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Reno costs less and Sacramento 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
Sacramento and Reno are 111 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $223 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $80,760 in Reno, down $6,561 (8%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 151 in Reno, down 30 points (17%).
The move
Reno and Sacramento are 111 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $223 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $6,561 (8%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 181 in Sacramento, up 30 points (20%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Reno rent is 13% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Reno is 13% 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 $2,676, 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 Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Sacramento's median income is 8% higher than Reno
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Sacramento (about $6,561 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
17% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 17% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Sacramento
Winner66°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Sacramento averages about 66°F (77°F highs); Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs). Sacramento sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 62°F. Sacramento 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 8% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°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 13% 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 17% lower than Sacramento (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,556/month in Reno versus $1,779 in Sacramento. Median income reads $80,760 in Reno and $87,321 in Sacramento, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Reno rent at $1,556/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $80,760 in Reno.
Pick Reno when shaving $223 off rent at $1,556/month is the priority. Otherwise, Sacramento's case rests on $1,779/month rent with $87,321 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Sacramento and Reno, plus other cities in CA and NV.
