Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
13
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($184,600 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,360)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Reno by $13,963/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Reno, NV
Pros
40% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $13,963 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 34°F
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 8% higher than Indianapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$278k less
$184,600 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$13,963
$73,073 vs $59,110/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
40% lower
529.6 vs 877.9 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 10 and Reno wins 13. 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 Indianapolis to Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $462,100 median home), income ($59,110 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Reno, NV are about 1,782 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.