City safety & data profile

South Lake TahoeCA

South Lake Tahoe, CA is a 22K-resident city in El Dorado County with a median household income of $82,002.

El Dorado County, California. Federal health, economic, and safety indicators for South Lake Tahoe, drawn from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, CDC PLACES, and CMS Hospital Compare. South Lake Tahoe has a population larger than 48% of the 4,640 U.S. cities Areazine tracks, a median home value of $682,400, and 1 hospital serving the surrounding area.

Data updated 2026-07-26

22K
Population
Top 52%
By size
$82,002
Median income
$682,400
Median home
9.3%
Poverty rate

The read on South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe posts a median household income higher than 52% of U.S. cities Areazine tracks, where 1 hospital serves the South Lake Tahoe area.

Top 48%
by median income, US cities
1
hospital in & near South Lake Tahoe

Where South Lake Tahoe income ranks nationally

Median household income vs. every place Areazine profiles (place-level ACS)

$82,002 Top 48% higher than 52% of 3,889 places Areazine profiles

$0–$20,000: 0 places Areazine profiles (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 71 places Areazine profiles (2%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 788 places Areazine profiles (20%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 1,055 places Areazine profiles (27%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 768 places Areazine profiles (20%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 515 places Areazine profiles (13%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 308 places Areazine profiles (8%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 171 places Areazine profiles (4%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 92 places Areazine profiles (2%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 47 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 28 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. $220,000–$240,000: 18 places Areazine profiles (0%). Above this entry. $240,000–$260,000: 28 places Areazine profiles (1%). Above this entry. CA $0 $260,000 every profiled place, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more places Areazine profiles. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (place-level) · 2024 ACS 5-year

The quick read

Reading South Lake Tahoe, CA beyond the headline numbers

South Lake Tahoe sits inside El Dorado County, California, at roughly 38.93°N, -119.98°W. Population 21,706, $82,002 median household income. Median home value $682,400, median rent $1,606. Poverty rate 9.3%, read against that income figure since two cities on the same median can differ underneath it.

CDC PLACES: South Lake Tahoe's highest-prevalence health measure is short sleep duration at 35.9%, then obesity at 30%. 1 hospital in/around South Lake Tahoe, 3/5 avg rating, 1 with an ER.

Sources: U.S. Census ACS, CDC PLACES, CMS Hospital Compare, plus live alerts for South Lake Tahoe from FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC. Comparison bars benchmark each metric against the national reference.

Population
21,706
South Lake Tahoe
Median Income
$82,002
+21% vs avg
Median Home Value
$682,400
+200% vs avg
Median Age
41.1
years

10-Year Trends 2013–2024

County-level trend (El Dorado County) - South Lake Tahoe's own historical series isn't separately published by the Census Bureau, so these year-over-year figures track the surrounding county, not the city alone.

20132024
Population
193K+6%
Median Income
$108,845+57%
Median Home Value
$679,900+89%
Poverty Rate
8%-11%
Unemployment
4.5%-63%

Economics

Economics indicators for South Lake Tahoe, CA
IndicatorValue
Median Rent
$1,606/mo
Poverty Rate
9.3% -35% vs avg
Unemployment 3.6%
Bachelor's Degree+ 35.9%
Work From Home 15.4%
Public Transit 2.3%

Population

White 66.8%
African American 0.3%
Asian 5.5%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.3%

Health Profile 15 measures

Health Indicators

Short Sleep Duration
35.9%
Obesity
30%
High Blood Pressure
29.3%
Physical Inactivity
22%
Binge Drinking
18.9%
Frequent Mental Distress
18%
Frequent Physical Distress
13.8%
Current Smoking
12.6%
Diabetes
10.3%
Current Asthma
10%

Preventive Care

Dental Visit 61.2%
Annual Checkup 70.3%

Other Measures

Lack of Health Insurance
9.4%
Coronary Heart Disease
5.6%
Stroke
3%

Hospitals 1 total

Rating Distribution
★★★★★
0
★★★★
0
★★★
1
★★
0
0
Average Rating
3/5
Total Hospitals
1
With ER
1
BARTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE · Acute Care Hospitals · ER
★★★☆☆

Frequently Asked Questions 6

What is the population of South Lake Tahoe, CA?
South Lake Tahoe, CA has a population of 21,706 people, located in El Dorado County, California.
What is the median household income in South Lake Tahoe?
The median household income in South Lake Tahoe, CA is $82,002 per year, per the U.S. Census ACS. The poverty rate is 9.3%.
What is the median home value in South Lake Tahoe?
The median home value in South Lake Tahoe, CA is $682,400. Median rent is $1,606/month.
What are the top health concerns in South Lake Tahoe?
The top health indicators in South Lake Tahoe include Short Sleep Duration (35.9%), Obesity (30%), High Blood Pressure (29.3%). Data from CDC PLACES.
How many hospitals are in South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has 1 hospital with an average rating of 3/5 stars. 1 have emergency departments.
What is the median age in South Lake Tahoe?
The median age in South Lake Tahoe, CA is 41.1 years. 35.9% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Safety Context

South Lake Tahoe, CA is located in El Dorado County, California. With a population of 22K and a $82,002 median household income, the community faces health challenges including short sleep duration and obesity. Residents have access to 1 hospital with an average rating of 3/5 stars. Safety alerts for the South Lake Tahoe area are monitored from federal and state agencies including FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC.

Safety Guides

Primary source data

Nearby Cities 8

Using South Lake Tahoe's profile

Use this as a starting research checklist, not a verdict on whether to live here.

  • Check live recalls, weather and hazard alerts scoped to the South Lake Tahoe area before relying on national headlines. Check your area
  • Read the poverty rate alongside the income figure, two places with the same median can have very different realities.
  • Compare South Lake Tahoe against California peers on any ranking lens. Explore California

Population and economics (income, home value, poverty, education) are place-level U.S. Census ACS; health is CDC PLACES; hospital counts reflect facilities in and around the city.

Data Sources

All data on this page comes from official U.S. government sources. Population and economic data from the Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates, place geography). Health data from the CDC PLACES program (2023). Hospital ratings from CMS Hospital Compare (2024). Climate data from NOAA. Education data from NCES. Cost of living from Bureau of Economic Analysis. Crime statistics, where referenced on Areazine, originate from the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Housing market figures referenced on Areazine come from HUD Fair Market Rents. Census economics and population are at place geography; some health and hospital indicators are reported at the county level (El Dorado County) where that is the smallest published unit.

Every figure on Areazine is published directly from official U.S. government sources, no number is typed in by an editor. City demographic and health figures are compiled directly from U.S. Census, CDC, and CMS releases, updated quarterly within 30 days of upstream release. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.