Reno vs Sparks
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $483,800 in Sparks and $548,300 in Reno.
- Households earn more in Sparks ($89,056 vs $80,760 median).
- Reno is growing faster: +7.4% since 2020 vs +3.2%.
- Commutes are shorter in Reno (20 vs 24 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Reno, NV | Sparks, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 283,621 | 111,902 |
| Growth since 2020 | +7.4% | +3.2% |
| People per square mile | 2,602 | 3,066 |
| Median age | 37.1 | 37.2 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37% | 28% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $80,760 | $89,056 |
| Median home value | $548,300 | $483,800 |
| Home value to income | 6.8× | 5.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,556 | $1,716 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 123.5 | 123.5 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $75,800 | $75,800 |
| Homeowners | 50% | 60% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 8.24% | 8.24% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 20.3 | 24.0 |
| Work from home | 12% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 8.5% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 48° / 26° | 48° / 26° |
| July high / low | 94° / 60° | 94° / 60° |
| Precipitation per year | 7 in | 7 in |
| Snowfall per year | 21 in | 21 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 65 | 65 |
| Nights below freezing | 122 | 122 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 50% | 50% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.8% | +3.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +30.3% | +30.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Reno: May to June and September. Sparks: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Reno weather by month and Sparks weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $75,800 in Reno and $75,800 in Sparks. Moving from Reno to Sparks, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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