Reno vs Sparks
Reno, Nevada versus Sparks, Nevada: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Reno and Sparks score about the same overall (52 vs 52 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Reno | Sparks |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $73k | $83k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $48k |
| Home Value | $462k | $424k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.47% | 0.49% |
| Income Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.24% | 8.24% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 5.67% | 5.24% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 6.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 37°F | 36°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 75°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2 in | 8.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3 in | 6.8 in |
| Sunny Days | 253 days | 253 days |
| Summer Humidity | 39°F | 39°F |
| Comfortable Days | 53 days | 41 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 27.0 | 30.3 |
| Air Quality | 43 AQI | 43 AQI |
| School Quality | 49.9 | 49.9 |
| Violent Crime | 2071/100k | 1716/100k |
| Property Crime | 2638/100k | 2015/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 265,196 | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.0 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.53 | 0.54 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 1.05 |
| Political Leaning | R+36 | R+36 |
| White (%) | 59.5% | 54.1% |
| Black (%) | 3.3% | 1.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 23.6% | 34.2% |
| Asian (%) | 6.7% | 5.1% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 7.0% | 4.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 21 min | 23 min |
| Walkability | 11.6/20 | 8.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 111 mi | 118 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.5% | 91.7% |
| Amenities Nearby | 19.91 | 18.70 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Reno or Sparks more affordable?
- Sparks has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Reno's $48k and Sparks's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Reno versus $2k in Sparks.
- Is Reno or Sparks safer?
- Sparks has the lower violent crime rate. Reno reports 2071/100k and Sparks reports 1716/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Reno or Sparks?
- The median home value is $462k in Reno and $424k in Sparks, so homes are more affordable in Sparks.