City profile
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Alpine County · Population 21,269
South Lake Tahoe is a town in Alpine County, CA with about 21,269 residents and a typical home value near $682,000. It is 20 miles from Carson City, NV, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Dry desert
Winter avg
34°F
Summer avg
70°F
Sunny days / yr
255
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$682,400
Typical monthly housing
$4,110
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
122
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 91/100
Top hazards: Wildfire, Landslide, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
41 mi to Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 65% Democratic / 33% Republican
Community
Population
21,269
Black population
0.3%
County
Alpine County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 21,269 residents
- Typical home value about $682,000
- 20 miles from Carson City, NV
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.