South Lake Tahoe city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

South Lake Tahoe city is a small city located in California. The total population is 21,319. It ranks as the 340th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in South Lake Tahoe city is 39.3 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in South Lake Tahoe city is $73,940. This is 23% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $630,200. Housing costs are 9% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 46.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in South Lake Tahoe city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (59.2% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Asian population (6.1%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

34.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for South Lake Tahoe city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.