Housing data for South Lake Tahoe, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA has an estimated 21,269 residents and 16,662 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a city in El Dorado County.
48.7% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,606 a month.
Its population shrank measurably since 2015–2019 (−3.1%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 21,269 (±30)
- Housing units
- 16,662 (±572)
- Households that rent
- 48.7%
- Median gross rent
- $1,606
- Residents since 2015–2019
- −3.1%
What stands out in South Lake Tahoe
Households that rent: 48.7% (±4.2 points) in South Lake Tahoe, higher than in El Dorado County (22.8%).
Homes in buildings of 5 or more units: 16.6% (±2.2 points) in South Lake Tahoe, higher than in El Dorado County (6.9%).
Homes built before 1980: 73.7% (±4.7 points) in South Lake Tahoe, higher than in El Dorado County (44.6%).
Average commute: 16.5 minutes (±1.9) in South Lake Tahoe, lower than in El Dorado County (28.6 minutes).
- Renters and owners in South Lake Tahoe
- Types of homes in South Lake Tahoe
- Age of homes in South Lake Tahoe
- Commute and cars in South Lake Tahoe
Housing in South Lake Tahoe at a glance
- Median rent: $1,606 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $1,733 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 51.8% of renters pay 30% or more of income
- Renters and owners: 48.7% of households rent
- Income and affordability: $82,002 median household income
- Home values: $682,400 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $2,698 median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $4,007 median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 16.6% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 53.2% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 73.7% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 10.0% rental vacancy rate
- Heating fuel: 80.2% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 16.5 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 731 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: −3.1% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 24.1% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 6.3% of homes have more than 1 person per room
South Lake Tahoe against El Dorado County, its state and the nation
| South Lake Tahoe | El Dorado County | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 21,269 (±30) | 192,662 (exact) | 39,287,377 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 16,662 (±572) | 94,653 (±60) | 14,644,735 (±1,665) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 48.7% (±4.2 points) | 22.8% (±1.1 points) | 44.1% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,606 (±$130) | $1,715 (±$65) | $2,036 (±$5) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $82,002 (±$8,109) | $108,845 (±$3,035) | $99,122 (±$310) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $682,400 (±$35,551) | $679,900 (±$12,105) | $734,700 (±$1,307) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $4,007 (±$620) | $4,753 (±$121) | $5,124 (±$17) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 73.7% (±4.7 points) | 44.6% (±1.6 points) | 56.0% (±0.2 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 16.5 minutes (±1.9) | 28.6 minutes (±1.0) | 28.7 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 91.4% (±2.4 points) | 92.5% (±0.9 points) | 93.5% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 41.1 years (±2.6) | 46.1 years (±0.2) | 37.9 years (±0.1) | 38.9 years |
South Lake Tahoe covers 10.1 square miles of land, about 2,113 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How South Lake Tahoe has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 21,939 (±31) | 21,269 (±30) | −3.1% | Measurable decrease |
| Housing units | 16,880 (±535) | 16,662 (±572) | −1.3% | Not a measurable change |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 (±$47) | $1,606 (±$130) | +57.5% | Up after inflation |
| Median home value | $403,600 (±$21,241) | $682,400 (±$35,551) | +69.1% | Up after inflation |
| Median household income | $49,390 (±$3,220) | $82,002 (±$8,109) | +66.0% | Up after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $1,799 (±$85) | $2,698 (±$150) | +50.0% | Up after inflation |
| Median real estate taxes | $2,381 (±$235) | $4,007 (±$620) | +68.3% | Up after inflation |
| Households that rent | 59.0% (±3.4 points) | 48.7% (±4.2 points) | −10.3 percentage points | Measurable decrease |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.3% (±2.0 points) | 10.0% (±4.3 points) | +5.7 percentage points | Measurable increase |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in South Lake Tahoe
In 2025, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department reported 731 violent and 1,419 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across El Dorado County, the departments that report recorded 250 violent and 619 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
Places near South Lake Tahoe
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meyers | 6.8 mi | $2,856 | $646,700 | 8.4% |
| Kingsbury | 6.8 mi | $1,769 | $1,077,200 | 34.3% |
| Genoa | 11 mi | — | $1,003,200 | 9.9% |
| Minden | 12 mi | $1,819 | $586,000 | 25.5% |
| Gardnerville Ranchos | 13 mi | $1,533 | $486,000 | 18.9% |
| Gardnerville | 13 mi | $1,241 | $487,300 | 48.5% |
| Indian Hills | 15 mi | $1,496 | $483,800 | 18.9% |
| East Valley | 15 mi | — | $874,300 | 0.3% |
Places in California most like South Lake Tahoe
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutter Creek | $1,572 | $543,800 | $88,478 | 44.7% |
| Bishop | $1,580 | $386,400 | $83,686 | 41.7% |
| Sebastopol | $1,902 | $845,700 | $87,684 | 43.7% |
| Point Arena | $1,917 | $436,000 | $108,095 | 48.3% |
| Kings Beach | $1,271 | $772,100 | $68,153 | 37.2% |
| Auburn | $1,501 | $672,500 | $82,674 | 37.6% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across California.
HUD Fair Market Rent for South Lake Tahoe, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,742 | $1,793 | $2,201 | $2,887 | $3,329 |
HUD income limits for South Lake Tahoe, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $27,600 | $46,000 | $73,600 |
| 2 people | $31,550 | $52,600 | $84,100 |
| 3 people | $35,500 | $59,150 | $94,600 |
| 4 people | $39,400 | $65,700 | $105,100 |
| 5 people | $42,600 | $71,000 | $113,550 |
| 6 people | $45,750 | $76,250 | $121,950 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $81,500 | $130,350 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $86,750 | $138,750 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $124,000.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about South Lake Tahoe
What is the average rent in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in South Lake Tahoe is $1,606 (±$130) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in South Lake Tahoe?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in South Lake Tahoe, CA is $1,310 (±$84) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Are renters in South Lake Tahoe rent-burdened?
51.8% of renting households in South Lake Tahoe pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
How many renters are there in South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has an estimated 4,634 (±459) renting households, 48.7% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in South Lake Tahoe?
The median household income in South Lake Tahoe is $82,002 (±$8,109) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $682,400 (±$35,551) for owner-occupied homes in South Lake Tahoe (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Is South Lake Tahoe growing?
In South Lake Tahoe, the number of residents went from 21,939 in 2015–2019 to 21,269 in 2020–2024 (−3.1%), a measurable decrease.
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — South Lake Tahoe city, California
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: South Lake Tahoe Police Department (ORI CA0090200)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for South Lake Tahoe city, California (place:73108, in state:06).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .