U.S. News and World Report used factors such as quality of life, job market, cost of living, and desirability to determine the best cities to live. These categories include indicators such as crime rates, air quality, migration trends, and surveys.
U.S. News & World Report ranked the top 150 most livable cities using data and inside information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Learn more about how U.S. News and World Report ranks this ranking.
Here are the rankings of cities in Nevada, the top 10 cities and the top 10 in the West:
Is Reno a good place to live?
Reno ranked No. 47 on U.S. News’ list of the Top 150 Cities to Live. Among cities within the Western United States, Reno ranked 10th. This is a similar ranking that Reno received in U.S. News’ “Best Places to Retire” report.
Similar rankings can be attributed to the fact that the factors that determine the ranking of “best places to live” are almost the same as those that rank retirement cities. The main difference between the two methodologies is that tax benefits for retirees and proximity to health care are factored into the ranking of retirement cities.
Reno’s outdoor recreation, family-friendly areas, schools, and job market compared to other areas may have contributed to its top three ranking. However, Reno also has higher rates of violent crime and property crime than other cities, which may be due to the population size of the largest small city. U.S. News noted that Reno’s crime rate is similar to other large cities of similar size.
Although the cost of living in Reno has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest and smallest cities offer better value compared to similarly sized cities when comparing average household income and average spending. US News reported that. However, U.S. News acknowledged that the cost of living varies widely across the Reno area. I used the contrast between living in downtown Reno and living near Lake Tahoe as an example.
Is Las Vegas a good place to live?
Las Vegas ranked 92nd on the list of the most livable cities in the United States. When compared only to other cities in the West, Las Vegas ranked 16th. Similar to Reno, U.S. News reported on a number of things to do and good schools that likely helped Las Vegas break out of the bottom three rankings.
Also, like the largest small cities, U.S. News reported that the cost of living value is excellent compared to similarly sized cities. However, housing costs in both Las Vegas and Reno are well above the national average in 2024.
Las Vegas’ crime rate is higher than the national average, but lower than other large cities of similar size, determined by U.S. News.
Las Vegas’ job market, which U.S. News deemed “unhealthy” compared to other cities of its size, may have been a major factor in the city’s significant drop in rankings over Reno.
Most livable city in the West
Boise, ID Boulder, CO San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Salt Lake City, UT Fort Collins, CO Denver, CO Portland, OR San Diego, CARENO, NV
Top 10 most livable cities in the US
Naples, Boise, FL, Colorado Springs, CO, Greenville, SC, Charlotte, NC, Rayleigh, NC, Chantsville, AL, Virginia Beach, VA, Austin, VA, Boulder, CO
