Tahoe, California
What It Is Like to Retire in Tahoe
Vacationers and people in retirement love the vast area of Tahoe because of its scenery and recreational opportunities. This community offers world class skiing to boating, among other activities. Nearby areas like Squaw Valley and Mammoth Lakes offer lower key and less developed versions of Lake Tahoe that could also be considered as retirement destinations.
Lake Tahoe has suffered from much use and development. These activities have been linked to ‘clouding’ of the Lake’s amazingly blue waters. Currently, there is considerable conflict between the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and local homeowners and developers. Housing tends to be extremely expensive, especially near the lake and ski slopes. The Tahoe area includes many different smaller communities located near the lake. Forest fires can be a serious problem as seen in the summer of 2007. Lake Tahoe is located in Placer County in northern California. The lake’s surface is 6,229 feet above sea level. Photo of Ski Slope Overlooking Lake Tahoe courtesy of Wikipedia (public domain). For more information go to Retire in California. Don't miss Flo's two part article on retirement in the Tahoe area .
Where to Retire in Tahoe and Home Prices
There are a number of towns on or near the lake, all of them relatively small. They include Sunnyside-Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach, Dollar Point, and South Lake. Home prices have been negatively affected by the housing crisis. There are so many types of houses that prices are in a wide range. Zillow's Home Value Index for Tahoe City was $1,177,423 in mid-2024.
What Is Special about Tahoe
4 season interest, World class scenery, Great skiing, boating, and outdoor activities
What Is Not Special about Tahoe
It is isolated, particularly when hit by winter blizzards. Not much infrastructure in terms of communities for active adults or people in retirement. Forest fires
Who Will Like Retirement in Tahoe
People who live here tend to love the outdoors and get away from it all. For more information about how to retire in California or towns like Napa or Eureka
Local Economy Is Driven by
Tourism and real estate. For California Craigslist
Climate and Physical Environment
The area is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California and offers some of the most majestic scenery in the world. View Google Map for Lake Tahoe
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Lake Tahoe does not have much to offer for culture that we are aware of. Can some locals add more information?
Crime
Crime in the Tahoe area is just under the national average.
Medical facilities
Local facilities are limited - the resorts might offer the best care alternatives. Otherwise it might be a long drive in difficult conditions.
Transportation
The drive to San Francisco is about 2 hours in good weather
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