Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($197,200 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $312/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,360)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Reno by $18,022/yr
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Reno, NV
Pros
43% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $18,022 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Greensboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$265k less
$197,200 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$18,022
$73,073 vs $55,051/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
43% lower
529.6 vs 923.7 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 13 and Reno wins 10. 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 Greensboro to Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $462,100 median home), income ($55,051 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Reno, NV are about 2,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.