Reno Named the Happiest Place to Live in the United States

Outside Magazine ranks Reno, Nevada as the top of the best cities to live in the United States. Why? Let us tell you!

The “Biggest Little City in the World” is home to about 273,000 people and the city earned its top ranking partially due to its relatively affordable cost of living and breadth of outdoor and indoor activities for all ages. No longer known for gambling or the place to get a quick and easy divorce, Reno has rebranded itself over the years as an epicenter of technology, arts, and culture. The city has diversified its economy away from gaming in recent years, with tech companies like Amazon, Tesla, and Apple moving their operations to the area and creating countless jobs. 

Not only that, it’s a great place to live for the never-ending outdoor actives, friendly community, and 300 days a year of sunshine. Read on for the excerpt from Outside Magazine:

Reno, Nevada

• Population: 273,448
• Median Home Price: $550,000
• Median Rental Price: $1,531
• Percentage Parkland: 5
• Percentage of Residents Who Live Within a Ten-Minute Walk of a Park: 76
• Walk Score: 40
• Bike Score: 83
• Municipal Equality Index Score: 100
• Demographics: 60% white; 23% Latino; 7% Asian; 3% Black; 7% other 

Once known for gambling and easy divorces, Reno is now a modern boomtown, with a whitewater park, multiple climbing gyms, a monthlong summer arts festival, a number of craft breweries, and urban art installations handed down from Burning Man, the late-summer gathering in the Black Rock Desert 140 miles north. The Biggest Little City in the World’s ample public land and mountain vibe make it a fun town for a populace hankering for just those qualities.

 A former golf course became the Sierra Vista Mountain Bike Park, where a new trail suitable for adaptive cyclists opened this year. The Tahoe-Pyramid Trail is over 80 percent complete and will follow the Truckee River 114 miles between Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. And the new Reno Public Market, once a run-down strip mall, was reimagined as a food court with 17 food vendors, Pilates classes, and live music.

 “Reno has changed so much,” says resident Sara Holm, director of studies and diversity at the Lake Tahoe School. “You can run through a county park with sheep grazing, go backcountry skiing, or see a touring Broadway play.”

The city hosts an annual Pride celebration, and the relatively affordable cost of living (and no state income tax) is a major draw; companies with an outdoor bent have found a receptive community. A Patagonia outlet in the hip Midtown neighborhood and the company’s distribution center employ over 680 people, and a growing number of major companies like Amazon and Tesla have set up shop.

Come winter, the chutes of Mount Rose are about 30 minutes away. Also nearby is the nonprofit, city-owned Sky Tavern, a tiny lift-operated hill with a big objective: teaching kids to ski and snowboard. At Nevada Nordic, just off Mount Rose Highway, volunteers groom more than 20 miles of cross-country ski trails. Reno weather is mild, with an average 300 days of serotonin-boosting sunshine annually.

Are you ready to experience Reno-Tahoe firsthand? Whether you’re from out of the area, or you’ve been living in the area and are looking to explore a new neighborhood, we can help. Contact us and we can help you find the perfect area to call home in the greater Reno area!