Reno receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
Reno
Opportunity
66 · Top 30%
vs70 · Top 23%
Growth
62 · Top 30%
vs66 · Top 26%
Climate
72 · Top 31%
vs74 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
31 · Bottom 21%
vs21 · Bottom 9%
Housing affordability
65 · Bottom 9%
vs65 · Bottom 8%
Access
56 · Bottom 18%
vs75 · Bottom 49%
Economic stability
60 · Top 40%
vs77 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Mount Vernon-Anacortes | Reno | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 131,328 | 563,020 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,263 | $87,485 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,140 | $47,688 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 76/sq mi | 66/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $545,100 | $502,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,536 | $1,592 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.1% | 61.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 32.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 10.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 393 | 3,151 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.0 | 5.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.9% | -17.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 83.0" | 7.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 70 mi | 44 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 24.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.1 | 39.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, coastal flooding.
Reno
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Reno
64
Your Score
60
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metro Area · Reno, NV Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology