Pros and Cons for Lake Tahoe
Surrender by the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and straddling the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful and popular tourist and resident attractions of the entire Western United States.
Also part of the Great Sacramento area.
To learn more about the Great Sacramento area, please visit: Top 8 Cities in the Greater Sacramento Metropolitan Area.
Many people visit the area, while many others choose to make their home near the shores of the pristine lake. If you’re thinking about moving to the Lake Tahoe area, you may be wondering what it’s like to live in such a beautiful but busy spot.
Let’s dive into the pros and cons of living and working in the Lake Tahoe area so that you can decide if this spot is the right one for you and your family.
A Brief Overview
Background
The city around Lake Tahoe primarily sprang up within the last couple of centuries.
Lake Tahoe offered transportation for miners and loggers in the area and became home to several residents working in such fields.
History
After World War II, the introduction of casinos primarily in Nevada and the area’s spot along the highway brought another increase in traffic and citizenship to the area.
Since the 1950s, population growth has slowed, though the area still sees thousands of tourists each year.
Today
Lake Tahoe today, draws people to a variety of activities, from skiing (For more information on Lake Tahoe ski resorts, please visit: What Lake Tahoe ski Resort is right for you?) to water sports to motorcycling to hiking and biking.
There are many pros and cons to living in the busy area, which we’ll take a closer look at below.
The Pros for living in Lake Tahoe
The pros of living in Lake Tahoe are many.
1. Gorgeous Scenery and Outdoor Fun
The lake area is known around the United States for its gorgeous scenery!
This including the clear turquoise waters, brilliant emerald pine and giant sequoia trees (Lake Tahoe Trees), and stunning mountain vistas (10 Sierra Nevada Mountain Facts).
Winter activities include:
The area around the Lake is well known for its winter sports!
Ski Resorts
- Palisades Tahoe (Formally Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows)
- Heavenly Mountain Resort, Pros and Cons for Heavenly Ski Resort
- Northstar California Resort, Pros and Cons for NorthStar Ski Resort
- Homewood Mountain Resort
- Sierra at Tahoe
- Sugar Bowl
- Kirkwood, Pros and Cons for Kirkwood ski Resort
- Mt. Rose
- Donner Ski Ranch
- Diamond Peak
- Boreal
- Tahoe Donner
- Soda Springs
- Granlibakken
What else to do in the winter besides sking
In the colder, snowy months you can spend hours out skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, or ice skating.
- 12 Epic Lake Tahoe Winter Activities-That Are NOT Skiing
- Sleighrides
- 5 best Places to go Tubing or Sledding in Lake Tahoe
- Cross-Country Skiing in Lake Tahoe
- Where you can go Ice Skating In Lake Tahoe
Lots of winter activities
Summer activities include:
Whatever you love to do in the great outdoors, you’ll find that you have plenty of room to do it in Lake Tahoe!
In the summer months, you can:
- Hiking (Lake Tahoe Trails)
- Biking
- Spending time out of doors (The Ultimate Lake Tahoe Camping Guide)
- Horseback riding
- Jet Ski
- SUPing
- Boating
- Parasailing
- Plus more The Top 10 Best Summer Adventures in Lake Tahoe
- You’ll find tons of options to do so in Lake Tahoe!
2. Excellent Entertainment
There are so many places to enjoy in and around the lake (South Lake Tahoe & East Shore activities).
On the South side of the lake, you’ll find the most options for nightlife (Lake Tahoe Casinos), but the entire lake is surrounded by fabulous restaurants and taprooms, outdoor concerts (concerts at Commons Beach, Harveys Outdoor Area Concerts) fun tourist shops, gorgeous art studios, and much more!
Additional activities to do:
- Farmers’ markets
- Golf Courses
- Regular Library-Hosted Events
- Yoga Classes
- Dance Classes
- Lakeside Massages
These are just a few of the many family-friendly events and entertainment opportunities Lake Tahoe hosts year-round for anyone and everyone to enjoy.
3. Gorgeous Weather
Lake Tahoe is in the northern part of California.
While the summers still get fairly warm (up to the high 90s/low 100s at their peak), you’ll still get to enjoy all four seasons to their fullest.
In winter, you may see snowstorms and blizzards, while you can enjoy gorgeous tree colors in autumn and lush new blossoms all spring.
If you’re interested in California but want a bit more variety in the weather, Lake Tahoe is a fantastic option!
4. Central Location
Great base to travel from
Only an hour away from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and located right along Interstate 80, U.S. Route 50, and Nevada State Route 431, you can easily get in and out to wherever you need to go in California, Nevada, or beyond.
Plus, the Lake is only 3 to 4 hours from the Bay Area (Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco, Pier 39), so if you’re wanting to spend more time in that central part of California, it’s easily accessible from the lake’s shores.
In addition to the many great benefits of living in Lake Tahoe, you’ll find that there are some cons that may make it more difficult for your family.
The Cons of Lake Tahoe
1. Expensive Living and Home Prices
Gorgeous and popular area to live in, but it isn’t cheap.
The average home price in South side area is about $617,000, with a cost of living that is about 31.4% higher than the average around the United States.
There has been a pretty significant increase in population in the area, in the last several years, which has driven prices up pretty significantly. Remote work from home has created a great demand for homes in the Lake Tahoe area. This has also increased home values.
2. Heavy Tourism
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the West!
Therefore, you’ll have to be prepared to deal with tourists, heavy traffic, packed beaches, and long lines at ski resorts or other entertainment options. (Lake Tahoe Crowded Beaches, Lake Monsters…haha and more)
If you aren’t a fan of handling tourists and visitors or if you hate busy traffic, Lake Tahoe may not be the place for you.
3. Lack of Jobs
The biggest industries in the Tahoe area are in the dining and entertainment industry.
You may find it difficult to get a good job or lucrative career, unless you really want to work in that service industry (20 Best jobs in South Lake Tahoe, CA).
4. Wildfires
Lake Tahoe is right in the center of a very busy area for wildfires on both the Nevada and California sides (Living with Fire Tahoe).
You’re likely to see a ton of smoke and poor air quality in the area, especially during fire season.
The area is a fairly dry area year-round, so if you prefer humidity and the weather challenges of wetter areas, you may not be a fan of Lake Tahoe (CAL FIRE).
5. Average Schools
Unfortunately, it is not necessarily an area focused on providing families with the greatest place to live.
There are plenty of schools in the area, but most of them are only of average quality according to greatschools.org.
If you intend to move to the area, the highest-rated schools available are:
To Move Or Not To Move?
As you can see, there are many benefits to living in the Lake Tahoe area with its gorgeous scenery, tons of entertainment opportunities, and fabulous weather.
If you think that Lake Tahoe is the perfect place to settle down and enjoy some fun in a central location, reach out to me. I can help you find a home in your budget to help you and your family get settled in the area as quickly as possible. Give me a call today!
However, a heavy tourist population, lack of quality schools, and expensive cost of living may make it a challenge for some.
Then if Lake Tahoe is not right for you then, consider the other cities located in and around the Greater Sacramento Area.
To learn more read my top eight cities in Greater Sacramento area. Or, just go directly to my pros and cons for each city below:
- El Dorado Hills
- Citrus Heights
- Granite Bay
- Rocklin
- Folsom
- Lincoln
- Roseville
- Rancho Cordova
- Auburn
- Placerville
- Cameron Park
- Lake Tahoe
If you have any questions about real estate in the Tri-Valley area or the Greater Sacramento area, be sure and reach out to me.
I’d be delighted to help you find the best home for you and your family!
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Tri-Valley Area
My real estate spans from the East Bay (Tri-Valley) to the Greater Sacramento area.
If you would like to know more about the Tri-Valley area, please read: “Everything you need to know about the Tri-Valley area”
To better understand what each city has to offer, I have created a Pros and Cons videos and articles for each Tri-Valley Area:
To get my TOP PICKS for properties in the Tri-Valley area, please see below:
🏚️Get Warren’s Top Tri-Valley Homes under $$$ click the links below:🏠
- 🏡PLEASANTON ($1.4M)
- 🏡LIVERMORE ($800,000)
- 🏡DUBLIN ($1.2)
- 🏡SAN RAMON ($1.3)
- 🏡DANVILLE($1.4)
- 🏡ALAMO ($2M)
If you are thinking about purchasing or selling a home, please reach out to me by text, phone, or email.
If it is convenient, I can schedule a Zoom chat so we can discuss your home goals. Wishing you all the best on your home journey. Cheers!
eXp Realty
(925) 980-4603
DRE # 01861944
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