Living in Midtown Reno
Midtown Reno is one of those places that makes more sense when you experience it from the sidewalk.
Coffee shops, restaurants, murals, older storefronts, local businesses, apartments, historic homes, and newer development all exist within a relatively compact part of central Reno.
But Midtown isn’t simply a collection of places to eat and shop.
It is also a residential district with older homes, smaller multifamily properties, infill development, and streets that connect quickly with downtown Reno and the surrounding central neighborhoods.
If you’re considering living in Midtown Reno, understanding the difference between the commercial corridor and the residential streets surrounding it is one of the most important places to start.
Midtown Reno at a Glance
Location: Immediately south of downtown Reno in central Reno
City: Reno, Nevada
County: Washoe County
Primary ZIP Codes: 89502 and 89509
Elevation: Approximately 4,500 feet above sea level, with some variation by location
Primary Corridor: South Virginia Street
General District Boundaries: California Avenue, Regency Way, Holcomb Avenue, and Humboldt Street
Nearby Areas: Downtown Reno, Old Southwest Reno, Wells Avenue, Virginia Lake, and the Truckee River corridor
Major Streets and Corridors: South Virginia Street, California Avenue, Plumb Lane, Holcomb Avenue, and nearby Arlington Avenue
Landscape: Central Reno urban and residential streets with established landscaping, commercial corridors, and infill development
Housing: Older single family homes, small multifamily properties, apartments, condominiums, renovated residences, and newer infill development
What is Midtown Reno?
Midtown Reno is a central Reno district immediately south of downtown.
South Virginia Street forms the commercial spine of the area, where restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, services, murals, and other local businesses occupy a mix of older buildings and newer development.
Move away from Virginia Street and Midtown changes.
Residential streets contain older single family homes, smaller multifamily properties, apartments, converted properties, and newer infill development.
That combination is an important part of understanding Midtown.
It isn’t entirely commercial.
It isn’t entirely residential.
And it doesn’t feel exactly like downtown Reno or the established residential neighborhoods farther west.
Midtown sits between those experiences.
Understanding Midtown Reno’s Geography
Midtown is a recognized Reno district, but neighborhood terminology and real estate search geography do not always line up perfectly.
The City of Reno generally defines the Midtown District between California Avenue, Regency Way, Holcomb Avenue, and Humboldt Street.
South Virginia Street runs through the district and forms its primary commercial corridor.
Downtown Reno begins immediately to the north. Old Southwest lies to the west and southwest. The Wells Avenue area is east of Midtown, while Virginia Lake is farther south.
Those relationships matter when searching for a home.
A listing described as being “near Midtown” may not actually sit within the Midtown District itself.
ZIP codes create the same problem.
Midtown overlaps portions of 89502 and 89509, but both ZIP codes extend well beyond Midtown.
That means buyers should evaluate the location of individual listings rather than assuming a ZIP code or marketing description defines the neighborhood.
The Two Sides of Midtown
One of the easiest ways to understand Midtown is to separate the commercial experience from the residential one.
The South Virginia Street Corridor
South Virginia Street is the most recognizable part of Midtown.
Restaurants, coffee shops, bars, boutiques, salons, services, murals, and other businesses line the corridor, creating a more active streetscape than many residential parts of Reno.
The corridor has also experienced redevelopment and reinvestment over time, resulting in a mix of older storefronts, renovated buildings, and newer construction.
Midtown’s Residential Streets
Move away from South Virginia Street and the environment changes quickly.
Residential portions of Midtown include older single family homes, smaller multifamily buildings, apartments, converted properties, and established landscaping.
Some streets feel distinctly residential even though restaurants, businesses, and central Reno destinations may be only a few blocks away.
That transition between commercial activity and residential streets is one of Midtown’s defining characteristics.
A Saturday in Midtown Reno
Midtown is one of the easiest Reno neighborhoods to experience without planning much at all.
Start with coffee.
Walk South Virginia Street and you’ll pass restaurants, murals, shops, services, and buildings representing different periods of Reno’s development.
Turn onto one of the surrounding streets and the city changes almost immediately.
Older houses, apartments, mature landscaping, and smaller residential buildings sit behind the commercial corridor.
From Midtown, you can continue north toward downtown and the Truckee River or head west toward Old Southwest and California Avenue.
By evening, dinner, drinks, entertainment, and local events can all be relatively close.
Midtown’s appeal isn’t based on one attraction.
It comes from having residential streets and an active commercial district occupying the same compact part of Reno.
Homes and Real Estate in Midtown Reno
Housing in Midtown is different from what buyers encounter in many newer Reno communities.
Instead of large master planned subdivisions, Midtown contains properties developed across different periods.
Buyers may encounter older single family homes, small multifamily buildings, apartments, condominiums, renovated residences, converted properties, and newer infill construction.
Lot sizes, parking arrangements, building age, renovations, density, and proximity to commercial activity can vary considerably from one property to another.
That makes the individual block especially important.
A home a short distance from South Virginia Street can offer a very different immediate environment from a property directly along a commercial corridor.
With older properties, buyers may also want to understand previous renovations, electrical and plumbing systems, roofing, sewer connections, heating and cooling systems, additions, permits, and other major components of the home.
Midtown should be evaluated property by property rather than as one uniform housing market.
Midtown Reno vs. Old Southwest Reno
Midtown and Old Southwest sit next to each other, but they are not the same neighborhood.
Midtown has a stronger commercial and mixed use identity centered around South Virginia Street, with restaurants, businesses, apartments, older homes, and infill development located within a relatively compact area.
Old Southwest is primarily residential and extends through established neighborhoods southwest of downtown, including areas associated with Newlands, Plumas Street, and Virginia Lake.
Both areas contain older housing and provide relatively central Reno locations, but their development patterns and immediate surroundings can feel very different.
Someone comparing Midtown and Old Southwest should look at the specific property, surrounding block, housing type, parking, proximity to commercial activity, and access to the parts of Reno they expect to use regularly.
Midtown Reno vs. Downtown Reno
Midtown and downtown Reno are directly connected but have different development patterns.
Downtown contains Reno’s traditional urban core, including larger commercial buildings, hotels, casinos, entertainment venues, offices, apartments, and development along the Truckee River.
Midtown begins south of downtown and generally shifts toward lower scale commercial buildings, restaurants, local businesses, older residential properties, apartments, and smaller multifamily development.
The transition can happen quickly when traveling south through central Reno.
Understanding that relationship is useful for buyers who want access to downtown while comparing different housing environments nearby.
What Should Buyers Look at in Midtown Reno?
Start with the exact location.
In Midtown, a few blocks can change the immediate surroundings considerably.
Look at whether the property is directly on or near a commercial corridor or farther into a residential street.
Consider parking, traffic, sidewalks, housing density, nearby businesses, building age, previous renovations, and the condition of major property systems.
For condominiums or properties within an association, review the applicable HOA documents, fees, rules, insurance information, and financial documents.
For older houses or converted properties, understanding permits and previous improvements may also be important.
And when looking at an online listing labeled “Midtown,” verify where the property actually sits.
Midtown is a meaningful Reno geographic entity.
It should not become a label for every property located somewhere near central Reno.
Frequently Asked Questions About Midtown Reno
Where is Midtown Reno?
Midtown Reno is located immediately south of downtown Reno in central Reno.
The City of Reno generally defines the Midtown District between California Avenue, Regency Way, Holcomb Avenue, and Humboldt Street, with South Virginia Street forming its primary commercial corridor.
What ZIP codes are in Midtown Reno?
Midtown overlaps portions of ZIP codes 89502 and 89509.
Neither ZIP code represents Midtown exclusively, so buyers should not use ZIP codes alone to determine whether a property is actually within the Midtown District.
Is Midtown Reno the same as downtown Reno?
No.
Midtown is directly south of downtown Reno but is a distinct district.
Downtown contains Reno’s traditional urban core, while Midtown combines the South Virginia Street commercial corridor with surrounding residential streets, older homes, apartments, small multifamily properties, and infill development.
Is Midtown Reno the same as Old Southwest Reno?
No.
The neighborhoods are adjacent, but they have different geographic and development identities.
Midtown is centered around South Virginia Street and includes a significant commercial and mixed use component.
Old Southwest is primarily residential and extends west and southwest through established central Reno neighborhoods.
What types of homes are in Midtown Reno?
Midtown includes older single family homes, small multifamily properties, apartments, condominiums, renovated residences, converted properties, and newer infill development.
Housing can vary considerably by street and individual property.
Is Midtown Reno walkable?
Parts of Midtown have a relatively concentrated mix of restaurants, coffee shops, businesses, services, and residential properties, particularly around the South Virginia Street corridor.
Walkability still varies by the exact property and destination, so buyers should evaluate the specific location rather than assuming every part of Midtown offers the same pedestrian access.
How close is Midtown Reno to downtown Reno?
Midtown sits immediately south of downtown Reno.
The exact distance depends on where in Midtown you begin and the downtown destination you are traveling to.
South Virginia Street provides a direct north south connection between the two districts.
Does Midtown Reno have newer homes?
Yes, but much of Midtown’s housing and building stock is older.
Newer infill development and renovated properties exist alongside older single family homes, apartments, condominiums, and small multifamily buildings.
Buyers interested in newer construction should evaluate individual properties because Midtown was not developed as one modern master planned community.
What should I know before buying a home in Midtown Reno?
Pay close attention to the individual property and its immediate surroundings.
Housing age, renovations, parking, density, proximity to businesses, traffic patterns, property systems, and the character of the surrounding block can vary considerably.
Buyers should also verify that a property marketed as “Midtown” is actually located where they expect it to be.
Explore More of Reno
Midtown is one part of Reno’s larger collection of neighborhoods and residential areas.
Compare Midtown with Old Southwest, South Reno, and other parts of the city to understand how Reno’s housing, geography, development patterns, and access to amenities change from one area to another.
➡️ Explore Our Moving to Reno Guide
