Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reno, NV
Pros
39% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,360)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Median Income
$716
$73,073 vs $72,357/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
39% lower
529.6 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Reno wins 13 and Salt Lake City 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 Reno to Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $458,600 median home), income ($73,073 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and Salt Lake City, UT are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.