Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 10 of 19 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673
Reno
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 46°F
Homes cost $45k less ($417,600 vs $462,100)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Reno
Reno, NV
Pros
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,627)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$2,303
$75,376 vs $73,073/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$45k less
$417,600 vs $462,100
Reno
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 10 of 19 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 10 and Reno wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fort Lauderdale to Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $462,100 median home), income ($75,376 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Reno, NV are about 2,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.