Photo: Sarah Stierch (Missvain), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPeople retire to Reno for the sun, the air travel, the medical centers and the lack of a state income tax. This page sets out the numbers behind each of those and then how the move itself is organized when you are leaving a larger family home.
Taxes in retirement
Nevada collects no individual income tax; Census Bureau data for fiscal year 2024 show none collected. That includes pension and retirement account income at the state level, though federal tax still applies. The statewide sales tax has a 6.85 percent minimum with a county portion on top, so everyday purchases are taxed even though income is not.
Property taxes are set locally and are limited by a cap on yearly increases, covered on our property tax page. If you are a veteran or are blind, a separate exemption may apply; the homestead exemption page describes what Nevada offers.
Who lives here
Reno city has 273,212 people and a median age of 37.1, and Sparks has 110,024 with a median age of 37.2, according to the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey. The metro is not an age-restricted market. If you want neighbors closer to your own age, our Carson Valley retirement page covers Gardnerville and Minden, where median ages run 55.7 and 49.2.
Median home value is $548,300 in Reno and $483,800 in Sparks; median rent is $1,556 and $1,716. Many retirees sell a larger house elsewhere and buy or rent smaller here, which is where a downsizing move earns its keep.
Climate for retirees
NOAA's normals for the airport list a July high of 93.9 F, a January high of 47.7 F, 7.35 inches of precipitation and about 122 days a year with a freezing overnight low. Afternoons are sunny and dry. Ice on shaded roads in the morning is the main hazard. At 4,930 feet, altitude can feel real in the first weeks; see living at 4,500 feet.
Care and travel
Reno is the region's medical center, with hospitals, a VA health system and specialists described on our healthcare page. Reno-Tahoe International lists 20 or more nonstop destinations and more than 130 daily arrivals and departures, which matters when family lives elsewhere. Details are on the airport page.
How a retirement move is planned
O'Brien's helps families with senior and downsizing moves, and our senior moving service covers sorting help, packing, the move and unpacking. Many households use vault storage from $40 per month at the Sparks warehouse for the pieces that do not fit in the new home yet; see estate and downsizing storage.
Start with a free in-home estimate and 10 free heavy-duty boxes you keep. The estimate is itemized and in writing, and the inventory and condition report come before packing. Call 775-359-6683.