Some of you have probably seen my previous posts asking questions about different areas around the U.S. My wife and I are slowly researching possibly leaving the New Jersey area. I am 40 years old and semi-retired, and any work that I do can easily be done from home, so jobs isn't an issue. We have a young child and we're likely to have another, and so we're basically looking for an area with good schools, fairly cheap to live, safe and at least somewhat family friendly, and hopefully a little excitement or a few things to do (we like to occasionally go to casinos for fun, thus the idea of possibly moving to Reno). We're not swimmers or beach people at all, although avoiding the freezing cold parts of the country is still always a plus.

Reno seems to be similar to NJ weather-wise, yet much cheaper in terms of housing and taxes (both property and income taxes). Also, there seems to be some nightlife, with a few casinos for fun, and Lake Tahoe within driving distance as well. We're not skiers or swimmers, but even just having an area as beautiful as Lake Tahoe nearby seems to be a major plus.

Any thoughts or help from anyone who knows the Reno area? Any specific regions to look in? Anyone....Bueller? :)

John

"Reno seems to be similar to NJ weather-wise"

I don't think so.

Niece lives there. If you've never lived out west, the differences will be startling.
Expect colder winters and hotter summers anywhere away from the coast in the higher elevations. Without the water vapor (ie, humidity) the temperature variation (seasonal and intraday) is much more dramatic. 20 degree temperature drops as the sun sets is not unusual.
Apparently, veggie gardens are really tough to pull off in Reno, with <90-100 day growing season.

That said, if you can adapt to that you'll be fine. You prepare with layers of clothing every day. (That was true in San Diego, too.)
You won't miss NJ taxes, that's for sure.

John,

One of the best places online to get information about a place within the United States is a site called 'City-Data'

For your city of interest go to this link:

http://www.city-data.com/city/Reno-Nevad....


When they say 'data' they mean it. Like, data on steroids, an exhaustive amount of information about nearly any town or city within the U.S.

There is the cut and dry long list of things such as climate, population makeup, crime rate, even a listing for every toxic location in town. (those that are public record at any rate).

But, where City-data.com really shines is the heavily contributed Forum section where regular people ask and answer 'boots on the ground' questions to get a parochial view of what is really going on in town.

In this case, there is a good one, entitled: 'A year into our move to Reno/Sparks - our thoughts'

http://www.city-data.com/forum/reno-spar....

One interesting passage of many by this one individual, since weather has been a key part of the conversation here in this thread:

Quote:

A few myths about Reno....

-Snowfall... Reno is a desert folks. People who talk about the Snow flat out haven't lived here, or in a place that actually gets snow. Reno is essentially home to a crazy weather reality. It is not uncommon for their to be 6+ inches of snow pouring down in the Sierras - but not even a drop of rain hits the valley.
My sister from LA never believed me when I told her this... you know when she finally did... Driving up here to visit she had to put on chains over the 80... finally got into Reno... and boom... no weather... The Sierras protect the valley. The average winters in Spokane, St. Louis, Chicago, and Philly had by FAR more snow then you get here. Really there were only two storms this year that actually had notable snow down in the valley.... Which is crazy seeing the Sierras themselves are experiencing one of their best snow years in the last couple of decades.

There are over 200 other posts in the forum specifically speaking about Reno. I think you will find a lot of enlightenment by reading through them all.

I have compared the forum contributions to places I know of well or have lived in myself and found them to be highly accurate.

Great stuff, thanks!

Wow, city-data.com ****ing rules.