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CA area data

South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Population: 29,646 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in South Lake Tahoe, CA is $668,669 — up 1.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $670,000 after a median 57 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,425/month. 8 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with avalanche, wildfire, winter weather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.7% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$668,669

Typical home value

+1.7%

1-year change

57

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$668,669
1-year appreciation
+1.7%
3-year appreciation
+0.5%
5-year appreciation
+0.2%
10-year appreciation
+66.8%
Peak value since 2000 (Jun 2022)
$745,548
House Price Index (state)
423.4 (-0.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$670,000
Median list price
$695,000
Median price per sqft
$467
1-year sale-price change
+3.1%
Median days on market
57 days
Homes sold (recent period)
189
For-sale inventory
265
Sale-to-list ratio
97.8%
Active listings
259
1-year forecast
+0.1%
Days to pending
53 days
New listings (monthly)
72

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,425/mo
1-year rent change
+4.8%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,742/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,793/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,201/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,887/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,329/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
8
Elementary schools
4
Middle schools
1
High schools
2
Avg student-teacher ratio
20.8 : 1
Schools include
Bijou Community, Mt. Tallac High, South Tahoe High, South Tahoe Middle, Tahoe Valley Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
avalanche, wildfire, winter weather, drought, earthquake
Notable hazard ratings (county)
wildfire: Relatively High · avalanche: Relatively High · winter weather: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · landslide: Relatively Moderate · lightning: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone C
NFIP flood claims on record
68
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 99% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
64.6%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Leviathan Mine (22.2 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
44.0°F
Average high
59.0°F
Average low
29.0°F
Annual precipitation
29.2 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
6b (extreme annual low -5 to 0°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
40
Days with Good air quality
320
Days with Moderate air quality
44
Highest AQI recorded (year)
115

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
4.8 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
1,853
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
2,681

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
11
Nearest airport
Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) (2 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
BARTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-455 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1974
Housing built before 1970
36.4%
Housing built 2000 or later
12.8%
Median annual property tax
$4,397
Mean commute to work
15 min
Households with broadband internet
81.3%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
48,073
Average weekly wage
$1,268
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
477

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

South Lake TahoeState medianUS median
Typical home value$668,669$695,380$288,527
Median sale price$670,000$696,000$325,000
Median days on market57 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$2,425/mo$2,786/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$4,397$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
$668,669.
What is the median sale price in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
$670,000.
How long do homes take to sell in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Median days on market: 57 days.
What is typical rent in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Typical rent: $2,425/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, wildfire, winter weather, drought, earthquake.
Is South Lake Tahoe, CA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within South Lake Tahoe, CA. 68 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is C. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 99% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near South Lake Tahoe, CA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve South Lake Tahoe, CA?
8 schools (4 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is South Lake Tahoe, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 4.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Good. Median AQI: 40. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 110.7 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for South Lake Tahoe

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents