01 · the cities
Reno
Reno calls itself the Biggest Little City in the World and means it: casinos and neon, sure, but also a quietly cool downtown, a strong outdoor culture (Tahoe is 45 minutes south), and the Truckee River running right through the middle of everything. The University of Nevada keeps things young. Burning Man buses depart from here every August. Sunnier and drier than people expect.
full dispatch→Richmond
Richmond is one of the only major U.S. cities with class IV whitewater rapids running right through downtown. The James River's Belle Isle is a public park where people sunbathe on boulders mid-river. The Fan and Carytown neighborhoods are full of murals, vintage shops, and porches built for sitting. The food scene leans creative, the beer scene leans plentiful, and VCU keeps the arts energy buzzing.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,908/mo
$1,691/mo
$217/mo less than Reno (13%)
Median home price
Median home price
$574k
$394k
$180k less than Reno
State income tax
State income tax
0%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,425/mo
$6,163/mo
Reno has $262/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
201 days
172 days
29 fewer than Reno
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
4 days
18 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
28 days
9 days
days below 20°F per year
Richmond has 14 more days above 95°F each year than Reno. Reno drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than Richmond.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
65 / 100
6.0 pts behind Reno
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
13 routes
19 routes
6 more direct routes than Reno
Metro size
Metro size
565k metro
1.4M metro
Reno has 1.8x more events per month than Richmond.
the verdict
5
Reno
categories won
4
Richmond
categories won
Reno leads on weather and wins overall.
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