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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, South Lake Tahoe, CA has a Safety Score of 34/100 — higher crime than 66% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,266.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,952 of 2,957 US cities and #154 of 264 in California.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than South Lake Tahoe, CA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is South Lake Tahoe, California Safe?
South Lake Tahoe, California, is a resort city on the Sierra Nevada's eastern slope, renowned for its casinos and Heavenly Mountain Resort. Its pristine alpine lake attracts millions of visitors annually.
South Lake Tahoe has a safety score of 34/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,266.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
South Lake Tahoe ranks #154 out of 264 cities in California and #1952 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 34th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 66% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in South Lake Tahoe is aggravated assault, at 680.8 per 100K — 2.0x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, South Lake Tahoe's total crime rate increased by 10%, with violent crime rising 21.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
South Lake Tahoe Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 169 | 804.6 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 13 | 61.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 9 | 42.9 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 143 | 680.8 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 307 | 1,461.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 40 | 190.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 244 | 1,161.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 23 | 109.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
South Lake Tahoe vs California Average
How does South Lake Tahoe's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | South Lake Tahoe | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 804.6 | 518.0 | +55.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,461.6 | 2,161.3 | -32.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.4 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,266.1 | 2,679.3 | -15.4% |
South Lake Tahoe Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for South Lake Tahoe, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 21,005 | 2,266.1 | 804.6 | 1,461.6 |
| 2023 | 21,116 | 2,060.1 | 663.0 | 1,397.0 |
| 2022 | 21,525 | 2,267.1 | 645.8 | 1,621.4 |
| 2020 | 22,286 | 2,414.1 | 498.1 | 1,916.0 |
| 2019 | 22,116 | 2,532.1 | 501.9 | 2,030.2 |
South Lake Tahoe Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for South Lake Tahoe and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: California crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Lake Tahoe, California safe?
South Lake Tahoe has a safety score of 34/100, meaning it has less crime than about 34% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,266.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, South Lake Tahoe is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in South Lake Tahoe, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, South Lake Tahoe has a violent crime rate of 804.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,461.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does South Lake Tahoe compare to the national average?
South Lake Tahoe's total crime rate of 2,266.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 21,005 residents.
What types of crime are most common in South Lake Tahoe?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in South Lake Tahoe are larceny-theft (244 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (143 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 1.8x in the city.
Is South Lake Tahoe safe to visit?
Like any city, South Lake Tahoe has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 34/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.