Truckee, CA Community Guide | Explore the Area

Welcome to Truckee

Truckee is a historic railroad town in the Sierra Nevada, about 15 minutes from Palisades Tahoe and Northstar and roughly 20 minutes from the shore of Lake Tahoe. Its downtown still has the brick storefronts of the 1800s, now home to restaurants, breweries, shops, and live music.

What to Love:

It feels like a real town. Truckee has a hospital, schools, a regional airport, an Amtrak station, and about 16,000 people who live here full time. Trails start practically at your door, and summer street festivals fill downtown.

Local Lifestyle:

Truckee works year-round, which is rare in a mountain town. Locals ski in winter, bike and paddle in summer, and still meet at the farmers market and downtown events. Neighborhoods run from historic downtown cabins to forested subdivisions and gated golf communities.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping:

Moody's Bistro & Lounge, Pianeta, Cottonwood, and Squeeze In are local favorites, and downtown has breweries, coffee shops, galleries, and boutiques along Commercial Row. Truckee Thursdays brings music and food to the street each summer.

Things to Do:

The Truckee River Legacy Trail follows the river through town, and Donner Memorial State Park and Donner Lake are just west of downtown. Northstar, Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, and Tahoe Donner Downhill are all a short drive away.

Schools:

Truckee is the center of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, with Truckee Elementary, Glenshire Elementary, Alder Creek Middle School, and Truckee High School. Tahoe Expedition Academy is a private option.

Amenities of Truckee Real Estate:

Neighborhoods include Tahoe Donner, Glenshire, Prosser Lakeview, Sierra Meadows, Donner Lake, and the gated golf communities of Martis Valley. Truckee is in Nevada County and has been an incorporated town since 1993. Interstate 80 and Highway 89 meet here, Reno-Tahoe International Airport is about 45 minutes away, and the California Zephyr stops downtown.

If you are weighing Truckee, I would love to help you compare its neighborhoods and find the one that feels like home.

Property Listings

Price

Living Area

Multi-level shingle-sided home with elevated decks among pine trees on a rocky hillside

For Sale

MLS® 20262006

Overview for Truckee, CA

19,231 people live in Truckee, where the median age is 43.4 and the average individual income is $78,107. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

19,231

Total Population

43.4 years

Median Age

Medium

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

$78,107

Average individual Income

Around Truckee, CA

There's plenty to do around Truckee, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.

16

Car-Dependent

Walking Score

38

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score

Points of Interest

Explore popular things to do in the area, including Marco Polo Grill, Ames Deli Mart, and Z Marketplace.

Name	Category	Distance	Reviews	Ratings by Yelp
Visit the Marco Polo Grill page on Yelp Search 12790 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Dining	0.22 miles	1 review	5/5 stars
Visit the Ames Deli Mart page on Yelp Search 12716 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$	0.39 miles	3 reviews	4/5 stars
Visit the Z Marketplace page on Yelp Search 12716 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$	0.39 miles	59 reviews	4.3/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Donner page on Yelp Search 12850 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Dining	0.46 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the The Lodge Restaurant & Pub page on Yelp Search 12850 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$$	0.46 miles	259 reviews	3.8/5 stars
Visit the Pizza on the Hill page on Yelp Search 11509 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Dining · $$	0.69 miles	117 reviews	3.2/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Donner Snowplay page on Yelp Search 12790 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.2 miles	39 reviews	1.7/5 stars
Visit the Trout Creek Recreation Center page on Yelp Search 12790 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.28 miles	27 reviews	3.6/5 stars
Visit the Rec Pool page on Yelp Search 12790, 17290 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.3 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Lap Pool page on Yelp Search 12790, 17290 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.31 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Conecta Preschool page on Yelp Search 12716 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.38 miles	4 reviews	3.3/5 stars
Visit the Pacific Century Clubs page on Yelp Search 12849 Roundhill Dr on Google Maps	Active	0.43 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Donner Golf Course page on Yelp Search 12850 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.46 miles	31 reviews	3.5/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Donner Driving Range page on Yelp Search 12850 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.46 miles	1 review	5/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Donner Association page on Yelp Search 11509 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.63 miles	10 reviews	2.1/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Donner Rec Hut page on Yelp Search 11509 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.69 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Three Feathers Holistic page on Yelp Search 17400 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	0.73 miles	7 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Thy Rod & Staff page on Yelp Search 12611 Hillside Dr on Google Maps	Active	1.06 miles	2 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Coyote Moon Golf Course page on Yelp Search 10685 Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Active	1.32 miles	90 reviews	2.9/5 stars
Visit the Tahoe Dirt Bikes page on Yelp Search 12675 Lee Rd on Google Maps	Active	1.48 miles	42 reviews	4.9/5 stars
Visit the Ron's Home Bar page on Yelp Search 11300 Chalet Rd on Google Maps	Nightlife	1.3 miles	0 reviews	0/5 stars
Visit the Gudrun Hartig, CMT page on Yelp Search Northwoods Blvd on Google Maps	Beauty	0.72 miles	16 reviews	5/5 stars
Visit the Healing Hands Mobile Massage & Bodywork page on Yelp Search 13974 Copenhagen Dr on Google Maps	Beauty	0.85 miles	30 reviews	5/5 stars

Demographics and Employment Data for Truckee, CA

Population Households Employment

Truckee has 7,655 households, with an average household size of 2.5. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Truckee do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 19,231 people call Truckee home. The population density is 73 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

19,231

Total Population

Medium

Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.

43.4 years

Median Age

52 / 48%

Men vs Women

Population by Age Group

0-9:

0-9 Years

10-17:

10-17 Years

18-24:

18-24 Years

25-64:

25-64 Years

65-74:

65-74 Years

75+:

75+ Years

Education Level

Less Than 9th Grade
High School Degree
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Degree

7,655

Total Households

2.5

Average Household Size

$78,107

Average individual Income

Households with Children

With Children:

Without Children:

Marital Status

Married

Single

Divorced

Separated

Blue vs White Collar Workers

Blue Collar:

White Collar:

Commute Time

0 to 14 Minutes

15 to 29 Minutes

30 to 59 Minutes

60+ Minutes

Schools in Truckee, CA

All ()

Primary Schools ()

Middle Schools ()

High Schools ()

Mixed Schools ()

The following schools are within or nearby Truckee. The rating and statistics can serve as a starting point to make baseline comparisons on the right schools for your family. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Type

Name

Explore Other Neighborhoods

A wooden dock leads to a pine-lined beach with rows of colorful kayaks.

Rubicon Bay

A quiet, tree-lined pocket of the West Shore beside D.L. Bliss State Park and the Rubicon Trail.

Lake Tahoe’s turquoise water, forested shoreline, and snowcapped mountains on a clear day.

North Shore

Calm coves, wooded neighborhoods, and easy access to two big ski resorts, from Dollar Point to Kings Beach.

Snow-covered two-story home with orange and gray siding, an attached garage, and tall evergreens.

Winter Creek

A wooded Truckee-area neighborhood with a quiet setting and mountain-modern homes.

Two mountain homes, including a log cabin with a balcony, sit below a forested hillside.

Spring Creek

A residential Truckee-area neighborhood with creekside charm and easy access to town.

Agate Bay

A quiet stretch of north shore between Carnelian Bay and Tahoe Vista, with lake access and mountain views.

Golf course with sand bunkers, a putting green, and trees in bright summer sunshine.

Schaffer's Mill

A forested golf community between Truckee and Northstar with a course designed by Johnny Miller and John Harbottle III.

Concrete patio with a circular stone fire pit beside a wooden deck, overlooking a forest.

Martis Camp

A private Tom Fazio-designed golf and recreation community in Martis Valley.

Golf course with striped fairways, sand bunkers, a pond, and evergreen forest.

Lahontan

A private golf community near Truckee with a Tom Weiskopf-designed course and forested homesites.

Mountain lake reflecting pine forest and rocky peaks, with a small cabin on the wooded shore.

Serene Lakes

A small lake community on Donner Summit with a private recreation setting and winter views.

Alpine lake reflecting pine trees and granite shoreline beneath a pink dusk sky.

Soda Springs

A small mountain community on Donner Summit with heavy snowfall, nearby ski areas, and a historic feel.

Blue-roofed gazebo and colorful autumn trees reflected in a still park pond.

Sparks

Reno's neighbor to the east, with newer neighborhoods, a walkable downtown at Victorian Square, and a marina.

Reno

Nevada's biggest city in the Truckee Meadows, with a major airport, a lively downtown, and the Sierra close by.

Aerial view of a snow-covered mountain resort village surrounded by evergreen forest and distant mountains.

Northstar Village

The walkable center of Northstar, with the Big Springs Gondola, shops, dining, and ski-in condos.

Two timber mountain homes beside a paved driveway, with stone landscaping and a forested hillside.

Mountainside at Northstar

A residential neighborhood on the hillside above Northstar Village with mountain views and quick lift access.

Two-story log home with stone columns, wide balconies, and pine trees surrounding it.

Old Greenwood

A Jack Nicklaus-designed golf community near Truckee with a clubhouse, trails, and mountain-modern homes.

Two-story log cabin with wood balconies, surrounded by pine trees.

Gray's Crossing

A forested golf community between Truckee and Northstar with a course designed by Johnny Miller and John Harbottle III.

Rocky mountain slope with pine trees and autumn foliage overlooking a distant lake.

Tahoe Donner

A large, amenity-rich Truckee community with ski, golf, trails, and a beach club at Donner Lake.

Alpine stream and lake beneath snow-covered mountains, surrounded by pine forest and rocky meadows.

Sierra Meadows

A residential Truckee neighborhood with a relaxed feel and easy access to town and trails.

Concrete patio with a circular stone fire pit overlooks a green lawn and pine forest.

Russel Valley

Lake shoreline bordered by autumn marsh grasses, green plants, and a distant forest.

Prosser Lakeview

A hillside Truckee neighborhood with views of Prosser Creek Reservoir and the Sierra.

Sunlit wooded hills rise above a dry grassy valley.

Juniper Hills

A quiet Truckee residential neighborhood with forested lots and an easygoing, local feel.

Ducks swimming across a pond beside golden reeds and autumn shrubs.

Glenshire

A quiet residential neighborhood just east of Truckee with its own elementary school and easy river access.

Elevated view across a wooded lakeside town to Lake Tahoe and forested mountains.

Crystal Bay

A small Nevada lakeshore community on the California state line, with historic casinos and quiet lakefront streets.

Wooden dock on clear turquoise water, with sailboats and a pine-lined shore.

Tahoma

A small, wooded West Shore community near Sugar Pine Point State Park, with easy access to the water.

Lake Tahoe inlet framed by golden autumn trees, with a long pier and distant mountains.

Tahoe City

Where the lake meets the Truckee River, Tahoe City is the walkable hub of the north and west shores.

Hillside city neighborhood with dense homes and colorful Victorian-style houses in the foreground.

Sunnyside

A friendly West Shore stretch just south of Tahoe City, known for its marina, lodge, and easy access to the slopes.

Lakeside cabin framed by golden autumn trees, overlooking a lake and forested mountains.

Homewood

A laid-back West Shore town with lake views, a ski area, and a working marina.

Yellow kayaks float in Lake Tahoe’s clear shallows, with forested mountains beyond.

Tahoe Vista

A north shore community with public beach access, a regional park, and a relaxed pace between Carnelian Bay and Kings Beach.

Wooden boardwalk leads through beach grasses to the ocean beneath a pink dusk sky.

Kings Beach

A lively, walkable beach town at the state line with a wide public beach and a refreshed town center.

Snowy Tahoe ski slope overlooking the blue lake and snow-covered mountains.

Granlibakken

A wooded hillside community above Tahoe City with a lodge, sledding hill, and quiet streets.

Lake Tahoe with clear blue water, granite boulders, evergreen pines, and snow-covered mountains beyond.

Dollar Point

A hillside neighborhood just east of Tahoe City with lake views, trails, and a private beach community feel.

Carnelian Bay

A relaxed north shore village with a marina, a beach, and two local favorites for breakfast and dinner.

Skiers on a snowy Tahoe mountainside overlooking the lake and forested peaks.

The Village at Palisades Tahoe

A pedestrian village at the base of Palisades Tahoe with shops, dining, events, and condo residences.

Modern mountain lodge glowing at dusk, with stone terraces and a landscaped waterfall.

Everline Resort & Spa

A full-service resort and spa in Olympic Valley, formerly the Resort at Squaw Creek, with condo-hotel residences.

Alpine Meadows

Tucked between Truckee and Tahoe City, the community of Alpine Meadows is a forested, family-friendly ski village that is now part of Palisades Tahoe.

Rocky river winding through autumn trees and evergreen forest.

Verdi

A small Nevada town on the Truckee River at the California line, minutes from Reno and a short drive to Truckee.

Snow-covered homes among pine trees, with a broad mountain valley beyond.

Martis Valley

A broad valley between Truckee and Northstar with trails, open space, the Truckee Tahoe Airport, and several golf communities.

Donner Summit

A high-elevation pocket of the Sierra above Truckee with granite peaks, historic rail routes, and small ski areas.

Donner Lake

A glacial lake just west of Truckee with public beaches, a state park, and homes from lakefront to hillside.

Snowy ski slopes and evergreen forest overlooking Lake Tahoe and distant mountains.

Northstar

A ski-in, ski-out resort community near Truckee, with a walkable village, a gondola, and golf in summer.

Truckee

A historic Sierra town with a real downtown, four-season recreation, and easy access to Lake Tahoe and the Reno airport.

Incline Village

A lakefront community on Tahoe's Nevada shore with private beaches, Diamond Peak, and no state income tax.

West Shore

A quieter, wooded stretch of shoreline from Sunnyside to Rubicon Bay, with state parks, calm water, and a small-town feel.

Aerial view of Lake Tahoe at sunset, with pink reflections, distant mountains, and a forested shoreline.

North Lake Tahoe

From Tahoe City to Kings Beach, North Lake Tahoe pairs quiet shoreline towns with two of the Sierra's biggest ski resorts.

Olympic Valley

The valley at the base of Palisades Tahoe, where the 1960 Winter Olympics were held and a walkable village sits at the lifts.

Snow-covered ski slopes and resort buildings among evergreen trees beneath a clear blue sky.

Palisades Tahoe Lodge

Condo-hotel residences steps from the lifts in the Village at Palisades Tahoe, formerly the Squaw Valley Lodge.

View All

Truckee CA Real Estate & Luxury Mountain Homes

Welcome to Truckee

What to Love:

Local Lifestyle:

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping:

Things to Do:

Schools:

Amenities of Truckee Real Estate:

Property Listings

$1,095,000

$935,000

$925,000

$845,000

$625,000

$615,000

$615,000

$615,000

$125,000,000

Overview for Truckee, CA

19,231

43.4 years

Medium

$78,107

Around Truckee, CA

16

Car-Dependent

38

Somewhat Bikeable

Points of Interest

Demographics and Employment Data for Truckee, CA

19,231

Medium

43.4 years

52 / 48%

7,655

2.5

$78,107

Schools in Truckee, CA

Explore Other Neighborhoods

Rubicon Bay

North Shore

Winter Creek

Spring Creek

Agate Bay

Schaffer's Mill

Martis Camp

Lahontan

Serene Lakes

Soda Springs

Sparks

Reno

Northstar Village

Mountainside at Northstar

Old Greenwood

Gray's Crossing

Tahoe Donner

Sierra Meadows

Russel Valley

Prosser Lakeview

Juniper Hills

Glenshire

Crystal Bay

Tahoma

Tahoe City

Sunnyside

Homewood

Tahoe Vista

Kings Beach

Granlibakken

Dollar Point

Carnelian Bay

The Village at Palisades Tahoe

Everline Resort & Spa

Alpine Meadows

Verdi

Martis Valley

Donner Summit

Donner Lake

Northstar

Truckee