If there's a gold standard for friendliness in Reno, locals consistently put Old Southwest and Midtown at the top. These are older, established neighborhoods with tree cover, smaller lots, sidewalks, and the geography of porches — all the architecture of a community that meets on its front steps.
New residents of Old SW repeatedly mention being invited to neighbors' homes within their first weeks. Midtown carries the same energy with more density, more restaurants and bars, and a tighter walking radius. Both areas trade big-yard suburban space for human-scale streetscape — and locals are clear that's the trade that produces community.
What you give up: Square footage. New-construction finishes. Cul-de-sac parking. The houses are older — that's the point and the cost.