7 Best Neighborhoods in Reno, NV [2024]

January 18, 2024
Ready to move to the Biggest Little City in the World? Learn more about the best neighborhoods in Reno, from casinos to laid-back charm.

Reno was once known as a quickie divorce destination turned gambling town but grew into a celebrated city with casinos, nightlife, and stunning landscape. The city is home to solid industries with gaming, startups, technology, construction, and transportation. It's also one of the few cities with a river running through its core. The Truckee River is part of the fabric of the city and a place where residents kayak and enjoy riverfront dining.

Whether you're moving to Reno to study by day and party by night, excel in your career, or settle in to raise kids, you can find your ideal spot.. Not sure where to start? Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Reno, NV.

1. Stead

  • Average 1-Bedroom Rent: $1,535
  • Walk score: 12
  • Transit Score: 27
  • Bike Score: 29 (By the way, here's where we get our transportation scores for the neighborhoods below!)
  • Map of Reno-Stead

The Stead neighborhood of Reno offers a suburban vibe with spacious apartments in high-rise buildings. Single-family homes are also a staple of the community. The neighborhood is also home to the 5,000-acre general aviation facility, Reno-Stead Airport.

Stead boasts a low-key vibe compared to Downtown Reno, which is just 20-minutes away. Locals are also close to impressive green spaces, like the Keystone Canyon and Rancho San Rafael. Stead is an ideal location for commuters looking for the best in suburban living without compromising on nearby urban amenities.

 Fall image at Virginia Lake in Reno Nevada in October with Mt Rose in the background with snow.

2. Virginia Lake

Virginia Lake is situated less than 3 miles south of Downtown Reno. Commuters have a leisurely drive to work, and travelers are just west of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Virginia Lake is also just minutes from Peppermill Resort Spa Casino for a bit of leisure or entertainment.

The crowning jewel of this Reno neighborhood is Virginia Lake Park. Families come for the playgrounds, grassy fields, and paths for jogging and biking. There's also plenty of room to play some ball or host a picnic. The namesake lake is 12-feet deep and covers 25 acres. Locals enjoy a variety of fish, including bass, catfish, walleye, trout, bluegill, muskie, and northern pike.

3. Downtown Reno

Downtown Reno buzzes with around-the-clock entertainment, casinos, and clubs. You can find laid-back eateries or hit the party scene and snack on sushi and caviar. Beyond the casinos, the Reno Events Center offers live music and performances, including the art walks, Bruka Theater, Good Luck Macbeth Performing Arts Center, and Pioneer Center for Performing Arts present year-round concerts and special events.

Downtown's Riverwalk District is filled with lively bars, taverns, bistros, and shops along a whitewater park. Like any modern Downtown worth its reputation for culture, Riverwalk also hosts a third Saturday wine and art walks.

4. Kings Row

  • Starting 1-Bedroom Rent: $995
  • Walk score: 43
  • Transit Score: 24
  • Bike Score: 43
  • Map of Kings Row

The suburban era of Kings Row is home to families and young professionals looking to settle near the city. Commuters are 2.5-miles from Downtown Reno to take advantage of the growing job market. Kings Row is also near West University, a multigenerational neighborhood home to college students and staff.

The area is home to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints and Temple Sinai for a mix of religious institutions. Locals gather at Northwest Park for time outdoors and a dip in the public swimming pool. If you need more of a culture fix, you're minutes from casinos like Circus Circus.

5. Virginia Foothills

Virginia Foothills boasts a suburban landscape just 14 miles from Downtown Reno. The quiet community is off of I-580 for convenient access to the rest of the city. Like most of Reno, you'll find glorious spots to soak up nature around Virginia Foothills. Start with the nearby Geiger Lookout Point for impressive views of the mountains, forests, and valleys. You'll also spot wild horses from the hiking trails.

The family-friendly Virginia Foothills Park offers 15 acres complete with tennis, volleyball courts, playgrounds, a fitness trail, and a horseshoe fit for an afternoon of fun. Enjoy views of the surrounding mountains from lunch at a picnic table.

6. Spring Valley

Spring Valley is framed in the shadow of Rattlesnake Mountain on the southeast of Reno. Its flat landscape makes it easy to bike and walk. The residential neighborhood is less than 20 minutes to Downtown and lies in the Truckee Meadows Basin. Although Donner Spring is welcoming to families and young professionals, it's become a popular community for retirees and empty nesters.

Locals are close enough to Downtown for urban fun and have their share of strip malls, restaurants, and boutiques scattered throughout the neighborhood. Donner Springs is also conveniently close to skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling during winter months and boating at nearby Lake Tahoe during summer.

7. Midtown

  • Starting 1-Bedroom Rent: n/a
  • Walk score: 94
  • Transit Score: 48
  • Bike Score: 86
  • Map of Midtown

Midtown Reno is a lively and unique district with over 250 local businesses. Locals dine at trendy cafes and stay out late for bar hopping and live music. There's never a shortage of vintage shops, galleries, and tattoo parlors. Midtown, Reno is also highly walkable, making it easy to walk from your apartment complex to your favorite pub.

Culture mongers choose the Nevada Museum of Art for contemporary landscape photography and the Nevada Discovery Museum for interactive science exhibits. Beyond the cultural hotspots, vibrant murals are peppered through Midtown. There's even a mural expo and resident muralists who call Reno home.

Rent in the Best Reno Neighborhoods

NeighborhoodAverage 1-Bedroom Rent
Stead$1,535
Virginia Lake$2,083
Downtown Reno$1,371
Kings Row*$995
Virginia Foothills$1,714
Spring Valley$1,295
Midtownn/a

(* Starting 1-Bedroom Rent)

Which Reno Neighborhood is Right for You?

Moving to Reno and ready to start looking for your new home? Browse Apartment List to find that dream Reno apartment.

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Dr. Katherine Blake
CONTENT EDITOR
Dr. Katherine Blake is a content editor with Apartment List, where she helps ensure our renter and rental management content is fresh and informed by the latest data. Read More
Susan Finch
AUTHOR
Susan is an accomplished freelance writer whose passion for rental real estate, travel, and digital marketing has been the driving force behind her nearly 15-year career. Throughout her professional journey, Susan has become a seasoned veteran in creating compelling and informative content focused on the tenant/landlord relationship. Read More

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