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CA area data

South lake tahoe, CA

South lake tahoe, CA.

Population: 29,646 (Census ACS)

The median home value in South lake tahoe, CA is $678,003 — up 0.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $650,000 after a median 141 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,523/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, winterweather the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

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

$678,003

Median home value

+0.6%

1-year change

141

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$678,003
1-year appreciation
+0.6%
3-year appreciation
+0.6%
5-year appreciation
+0.9%
10-year appreciation
+66.4%
All-time peak (2022-06)
$762,005
House Price Index (state)
417.4 (-0.8% YoY)

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

Market activity

Median sale price
$650,000
Median list price
$699,000
Median price per sqft
$411
1-year sale-price change
+10.2%
Median days on market
141 days
Homes sold (recent period)
5
For-sale inventory
259
Sale-to-list ratio
95.7%
Active listings
22
1-year forecast
-1.0%
Days to pending
57 days
New listings (monthly)
81

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

Rents

Typical rent
$2,523/mo
1-year rent change
+4.6%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,510/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,580/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,950/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,600/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,990/mo

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

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
113.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

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
Schools include
Bijou Community, Mt. Tallac High, South Tahoe High, South Tahoe Middle, Tahoe Valley Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
avalanche, wildfire, winterWeather, drought, earthquake
Notable hazard ratings (county)
avalanche: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Low · inlandFlooding: Relatively Moderate · landslide: Relatively Moderate
FEMA flood zone
C
Flood risk level
Minimal
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)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

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

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
79.0°F
Average high
80.0°F
Average low
78.0°F
Annual precipitation
48.3 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)
44
Days with Good air quality
259
Days with Moderate air quality
101
Highest AQI recorded (year)
119

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

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 nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
BARTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-455 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,974
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
47,549
Average weekly wage
$1,188
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
429

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

How it compares

South lake tahoeState medianUS median
Median home value$678,003$702,573$289,727
Median sale price$650,000$696,000$325,000
Median days on market141 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$2,523/mo$2,767/mo$1,808/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 median home value in South lake tahoe, CA?
$678,003.
What is the median sale price in South lake tahoe, CA?
$650,000.
How long do homes take to sell in South lake tahoe, CA?
Median days on market: 141 days.
What is typical rent in South lake tahoe, CA?
Typical rent: $2,523/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in South lake tahoe, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: avalanche, wildfire, winterWeather, drought, earthquake.
Is South lake tahoe, CA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone C.
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, 2022-23).
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: 44. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in South lake tahoe, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for South lake tahoe

Selling a home in South lake tahoe, CA?

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Data last updated

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

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