United States › California › South Lake Tahoe CITY · 2010 ACS
South Lake Tahoe California · 21,403 residents · 10.1 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 21,403 people, South Lake Tahoe is a city in California. Owners hold 39% of the housing stock. The typical home is worth $386,500, having more than doubled since 2000. That trails the California median by roughly 27%. The average commute runs 16 minutes. About 22% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 35.6
US median: 37.2
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 100%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
21K 22K 22K 23K 24K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 South Lake Tahoe Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $44,217
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,707 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $18,452 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 22.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Education & health services 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.9%
Public administration 1.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.7%
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$386,500
+100%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $152,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$895
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $642 in 2000
US average: $853
from 43.1% in 2000
61.1% rent
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
from 2.49 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 51.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
from 9.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 63.6%(15,016)
Hispanic / Latino 26.7%(6,294)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 59.9%(12,818)
Hispanic / Latino 31.1%(6,665)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 80.8% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 65.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 43.4%(4,071)
Women 15+
Never married 38.9%(3,636)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 22.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 42.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 29.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 59.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 43.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 10.4%(55)
Gulf War (1990s) 13.2%(70)
Share of the 531 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to South Lake Tahoe Head to head
Compare South Lake Tahoe to nearby cities SOUTH LAKE TAHOE VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in South Lake Tahoe, California? South Lake Tahoe, California has about 21,403 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in South Lake Tahoe, California? The typical household in South Lake Tahoe, California earns about $44,217 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is South Lake Tahoe, California expensive? In South Lake Tahoe, California, the median home is worth about $386,500, and the typical rent is about $895 a month.
How educated are people in South Lake Tahoe, California? About 21.7% of adults age 25 and over in South Lake Tahoe, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in South Lake Tahoe, California? About 17.7% of people in South Lake Tahoe, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has South Lake Tahoe, California grown since 1990? Yes, South Lake Tahoe, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 183 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.
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