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Living in
South Lake Tahoe.
About
Life in South Lake Tahoe
Living here means committing to a seasonal lifestyle where winter weather shapes your entire year—we're talking an average of 88 inches of snow annually, with Highway 50 closing regularly, so you can't just casually drive to Sacramento when you feel like it. The town itself is split pretty clearly: the eastern end near the Nevada border is pure tourism infrastructure (casinos, hotels, ski resorts), while the western side around "The Y" is where actual residents cluster in a more residential vibe, though even here you're living in a mountain town that feels tourist-dependent. Housing costs reflect the geography and outdoor access—median home prices sit around $680,000 and median rent is $1,606, which is real money, but the median household income of $82,002 keeps it somewhat reachable, and you'll find that 39% of units are owner-occupied while 61% are rentals, meaning there's flexibility if you're not ready to buy.
South Lake Tahoe at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Foreign-Born
19.2%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Lake Tahoe: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Lake Tahoe, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (46.5%), and 20.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.5%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.0%
of households
Married Couples
38.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in South Lake Tahoe
In South Lake Tahoe, rent runs 21% below the CA average, and home values are 7% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,007
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1973
median year built
Vacant Homes
42.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $656,906 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below CA average
Unemployment in South Lake Tahoe
Unemployment in El Dorado County, which includes South Lake Tahoe, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
South Lake Tahoe: El Dorado County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
El Dorado County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What South Lake Tahoe Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.5 min avg
How South Lake Tahoe residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Lake Tahoe, most residents drive alone to work (60%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 41 mi
Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Small hub2.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 mi
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 122% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Lake Tahoe runs 122% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
730.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,419.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Lake Tahoe Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 70 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
El Dorado County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In El Dorado County, which includes South Lake Tahoe, the most common type is heavy snow, with 70 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2024 | 106 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 94 | Heavy Snow | $23,000 |
| 2022 | 82 | High Wind | $100,000 |
| 2021 | 81 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 66 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 61 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 58 | Heavy Snow | $220,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
184 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
El Dorado County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in El Dorado County, which includes South Lake Tahoe, is typically good — 320 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
320
per year
Moderate Days
44
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
El Dorado County, county-wide
Climate77°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Lake Tahoe has mild summers (avg high 77°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/28°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
77°/41°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/29°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.5"
Annual Snowfall
179.0"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
223
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
75
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 18°F | 2.81" |
| Feb | 43°F | 19°F | 3.75" |
| Mar | 48°F | 24°F | 2.87" |
| Apr | 53°F | 28°F | 1.27" |
| May | 62°F | 33°F | 1.32" |
| Jun | 72°F | 38°F | 0.55" |
| Jul | 80°F | 43°F | 0.39" |
| Aug | 80°F | 41°F | 0.36" |
| Sep | 73°F | 35°F | 0.28" |
| Oct | 62°F | 29°F | 1.43" |
| Nov | 51°F | 23°F | 1.94" |
| Dec | 43°F | 18°F | 3.49" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Barton Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Carson Valley Health
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.1 mi away · Gardnerville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe's student/teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 35.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in South Lake Tahoe
Public · 2-year · 3,660 students · in-state tuition $1,131 · 11% graduate · median earnings $44,569 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Yosemite National Park, 78 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Yosemite National Park (78 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Yosemite National Park
National Park
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe Library
1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe
Cities Near South Lake Tahoe
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Lake Tahoe?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Lake Tahoe FAQ
Is South Lake Tahoe, California affordable?⌄
South Lake Tahoe's median rent is $1,606/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $82,002/year. Median home value is $682,400.
Is South Lake Tahoe, California safe?⌄
South Lake Tahoe's violent crime rate was 731 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1419 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Lake Tahoe, California?⌄
El Dorado County, which includes South Lake Tahoe, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Lake Tahoe, California?⌄
The cost of living in South Lake Tahoe is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,606/month and median household income is $82,002/year. The median home value is $682,400. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Lake Tahoe, California?⌄
The average commute in South Lake Tahoe is 17 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from