Trying to decide between Meridian ID and Reno NV

[Novatoman]

Reno has few advantages over Meridian - it is larger (almost 3.5 times) and feels less suburban (more like Boise), less isolated, and has no state income tax.

Meridian is Boise's suburb. It is very calm, clean, has high quality, inexpensive housing, water, lower elevation, cooler in summer (which is good), safe, but a bit boring. Please note, Boise is an isolated area, long drive from any other major city. You would have to fly to go visit other places (~$300).

If you are considering Meridian, please also consider Eagle and Boise. They are close neighbors.

Bottom line. I think you should visit them both and see where you 'feel' better. They are both good IMO.

[hellosherry]

We had a similar dilemma when looking to move. We looked at both Reno and Boise (rather than Meridian). I spent a week every year traveling to Reno when I was growing up because we lived a couple hours away from Reno at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and have now lived in Boise since January. We chose Boise despite its state income tax which is costing us tens of thousands of dollars per year over Reno because it has a better downtown, is safer, and feels more family friendly.

Weatherwise, both are very similar but Reno gets much more wind than Boise. Boise hardly gets any wind at all which is very nice. If you look at the stats, Reno also gets much more sunny days than Boise. I think it's 252 vs 220. Boise has more greenbelt for biking and walking. I think Reno has some space but it is not as extensive.

I didn't want my kids to grow up around casinos which is a huge part of the Reno economy. You can see it in the skyline, casinos are the center of the city. Reno is right next to Lake Tahoe which is beautiful, but if you go to the Nevada side, South Tahoe is littered with casinos as well.

Reno airport is international while Boise is not. But I think Reno airport can be really expensive to fly in and out of because of all of the tourists. I remember trying to fly into Reno to get to Tahoe for some snowboarding a few years ago and it was outrageous. You can probably just drive the couple hours to Sacramento if you can find a cheaper fare from there. Boise, you will have to connect to a major hub before you can fly out of the country which sucks but the airport itself is nice and easy to get through.

Reno is close to some big cities, but don't try to drive to them on the weekends because traffic is insane going and coming from the bay area.

Good luck with your choice. I haven't been to Reno in years and I'm sure it's a very beautiful city that you will be happy with, but Boise is such a gem and I feel lucky to live here. There's just a great vibe in the city and the people are amazing. Salt of the earth, friendly, helpful, chatty, and just great people.

[lluvia]

I would think the overall cost of living would be a major factor unless you have money to burn.
And from what I've researched, Idaho is more affordable vs. Nevada.

[Nn2036]

Originally Posted by lluvia

I would think the overall cost of living would be a major factor unless you have money to burn.
And from what I've researched, Idaho is more affordable vs. Nevada.

Depend on the OP income, Nevada's no income tax is also an advantage.

[banjomike]

I have lived in Caldwell, close to Meridian, and in Reno.

The greatest difference between them is Reno is a 24-hour a day city and Meridian is not. The second greatest difference is Reno is a city built on easy money, and Meridian is not.

That's simple to say, but hard to understand unless you've spent time in both places. Meridian is what you would expect a growing city to be; it has all the typical problems that come from growth, but the folks who live there lead lives that are pretty much just the same as anywhere else. Folks go to work around the same time, come home around the same time, and do things just like they're done all over the country.

Reno is centered on keeping the casinos going. That means a young family may have a father who's working days, while mom is working nights. Oftentimes, their shifts overlap, causing mom to have to leave while dad is still at work.

That means the kids have some unsupervised time as they grow and age. Reno is an adult's playground, but doesn't have much for young kids to do. The little kids are cared for and have supervision; there are lots of day-care centers, of course, but once they reach Jr. High and High school age, old enough not to need the care of small children, I saw packs of them roaming around Reno and Sparks like packs of young coyotes, looking for something to do.

They weren't bad kids or good kids. They were just kids. Reno is awash with all the problems that come with going day and night full blast and all the stuff that gambling brings- a lot of alcoholism, despair, and very easy addiction to gambling.

Every grocery, gas station, laundromat, drug store, etc. all have a line or two of slot machines, and every one of them is being pulled day and night by folks who are dumping their change (and more) into them after buying some bread and milk or a bottle of aspirin.

Gambling is so omnipresent it is impossible not to be tempted by the slots. I am no gambler; never have been, but after I left and added it up, I dropped around $800-1,000 of wages into the slot machines and poker games there, a quarter at a time, wasting both time and a lot more money than I realized. Everyone does it there to some degree. 50¢ turns into $15.00 real fast once a machine pays off a buck or two.

Meridian has none of that.

As a parent, that alone made all the difference to me. I lived in Caldwell for almost 5 years before moving back to my home town, Idaho Falls. I was happy in Caldwell; if not for family concerns, I probably would have stayed, or eventually moved to Meridian or Boise to be closer to my work.

I lasted in Reno exactly 1 month. I made over twice the money there as I made in Boise, but 30 days was all it took to convince me I would never be happy in Reno. And I never looked back in my rear view mirror when I left.

[MikesChevelle]

I would heavily consider west Boise. Might be the best of both worlds.....

We live in an apt downtown (Boise) and LOVE it

[Sunny vale]

Meridian would be our choice!
We live in California, but several of my kids graduated from University of Neva, Reno, we have friends there, and even considered moving there, but......
Meridian and the Boise area is more wholesome. If you've watched 'It's a Wonderful Life', it's kind of like the difference between Bedford Falls and Potterville. Yeah, the vice is more concentrated in downtown Reno, but there are still prostitution, gambling, and lots of pay day loan stores in the suburbs.
Also, Reno seems to us to be becoming an extension of California. Boise seems more laid back. Real estate is more expensive in Reno than Boise. The people you encounter will be more like Californians too --- even though there are a lot of nice people from California.
Many places to the east of the Sierras get lots of wind, including Reno. Almost everyday, the mountains create a strong wind that blows through Reno. Although the views of the Sierras are beautifu from Renol, the wind can be maddening. Reno is warmer in the winters than Boise. However, wherever you go in the Sierras, you will be contending with California crowds. We don't go near Lake Tahoe in the summer because it's just too crowded to enjoy.

[IdahoBroker]

Originally Posted by Nn2036

Sorry, but your son see downtown Reno not the real Reno where people live.

Reno has plenty of shiny new car dealerships, jewelry stores, art galleries, non-chain restaurants.

Good point. I guess that would be like basing your overall impression of Las Vegas based on the Strip. However, I know when I compare downtown Boise to downtown Reno or downtown Las Vegas, it is a very easy choice on where I would prefer my kids to be at night!