Population 29,381 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in South Lake Tahoe
Household size in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.76 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.81 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.82 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.83 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | +0.07 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in South Lake Tahoe are small: just 2.30 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.48 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 53 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4 | 36.7 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.9 | 38.7 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 39.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +2.9 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of South Lake Tahoe is 43.8 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.4, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 12.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 12.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 11.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | −1.7 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in South Lake Tahoe: 6.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 8.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. South Lake Tahoe has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in South Lake Tahoe
Renters in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8% | 37.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.4% | 40.4% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.2% | 39.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.0% | 37.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.8 pts | −0.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in South Lake Tahoe than nationally: 39.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 37.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 8.8 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.9% | 9.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.7% | 8.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 46.4% | 6.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.5% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 40.5% of the housing in South Lake Tahoe, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has edged up 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1985 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in South Lake Tahoe run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,061 | $1,199 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,038 | $1,254 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,249 | $1,488 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,905 | $2,018 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$844 | +$818 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in South Lake Tahoe costs $1,905 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the wider Sacramento area ($2,018). Rent has climbed $844 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in South Lake Tahoe
Bachelor's degrees in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.5% | 30.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 30.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.7% | 33.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.4% | 37.4% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.8 pts | +7.2 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in South Lake Tahoe (40.4%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 14.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.8% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.8% | 87.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.9% | 89.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 89.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +3.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in South Lake Tahoe is a bit above the national rate: 91.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in South Lake Tahoe
| Period | South Lake Tahoe | Sacramento area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 9.7% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 12.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −3.5 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in South Lake Tahoe runs below the national rate: 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 46 have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
South Lake Tahoe compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lake Tahoe | 2.30 | 43.8 | 6.4% | 39.0% | 40.5% | 1973 | $1,905 | 40.4% | 91.8% | 3.6% |
| Echo Lake | 2.35 | 42.0 | 16.9% | 3.2% | 50.1% | 1970 | $2,948 | 42.2% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Stateline | 1.99 | 51.2 | 7.2% | 44.9% | 32.7% | 1977 | $1,793 | 48.4% | 97.6% | 5.2% |
| Zephyr Cove | 2.10 | 58.8 | 3.7% | 19.5% | 51.7% | 1975 | $1,779 | 54.2% | 96.7% | 4.2% |
| Glenbrook | 2.05 | 64.8 | 1.5% | 4.7% | 45.8% | 1980 | $1,500 | 73.5% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Genoa | 2.20 | 64.5 | 5.5% | 17.2% | 15.1% | 1997 | $1,604 | 55.3% | 99.6% | 6.8% |
| Twin Bridges | 2.02 | 52.6 | 9.1% | 11.9% | 95.4% | 1954 | $1,612 | 50.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Tahoma | 1.98 | 46.0 | 4.1% | 29.1% | 79.7% | 1973 | $1,796 | 39.1% | 97.2% | 3.2% |
| Minden | 2.35 | 49.9 | 8.9% | 26.4% | 8.9% | 1995 | $1,569 | 36.0% | 96.2% | 2.7% |
| Sorensens | 3.61 | 39.8 | 8.0% | 21.8% | 72.1% | 1981 | $1,200 | 41.1% | 96.3% | 4.4% |
| Gardnerville Ranchos | 2.50 | 48.8 | 8.2% | 18.4% | 5.1% | 1988 | $1,484 | 23.0% | 91.2% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fremont, NE · Vestal, NY · Uniondale, NY · Ukiah, CA · Glenside, PA · Garden City, ID · Galt, CA · Gainesville, VA · Fridley, MN · Wasco, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up South Lake Tahoe. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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