Lincoln vs Lake Tahoe-Which One is the Best to Live in California?

1. Lincoln, CA

Lincoln, CA is a gorgeous city in the County of Placer, California, United States. The zip codes of Lincoln, CA are 95648 and 95765 while the area code is 916. The population of Lincoln, CA is 48,275. White Americans constitute 68.2% of the population, followed by Hispanics (13.5%), and Asians (6.13%). The remaining population constitutes mixed races.

The city covers a total area of 20.1 square miles. Lincoln, CA has a hot summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot and dry summers and cool and rainy winters. The Nisenan indigenous people, a branch of Maidu Indians, were the first known residents of present-day Lincoln, CA who remained in this area for more than 5000 years. By the start of the 19th century, European immigrants started settling there. These migrations multiplied during California’s Gold Rush (1848–1855).

In 1857, California Central Railroad was established to extend the Sacramento Valley Railroad through this area. The president of this project was Charles Lincoln Wilson, whose middle name became the new town’s name i.e. Lincoln, CA. This railroad project was finally completed in 1861. During the construction of the railroad project, the area earned the title of a ghost city. This perception changed during the 1870s when rich mineral deposits were discovered in the city.

In 1873, coal was discovered in Lincoln, CA and the city got industrial importance. The mining of coal revealed layers of good-quality clay as well. These clay deposits attracted people to the city. Large-scale pottery businesses such as Gladding, McBean & Co were established in the area and the economy started flourishing by leaps and bounds. Since then, people from surrounding areas have migrated to Lincoln, CA making it a diverse city today.

Even though Lincoln, CA is a small city, it provides a lot of recreational and fun-packed activities from golf clubs to tennis courts and parks to other outdoor activities. Downtown is the heart of the city where a ton of restaurants and shopping malls are present. McBean Memorial Park is an excellent spot to go if you want to enjoy a fun-filled day with family or friends. Foskett Regional Park has many attractions such as baseball fields, playgrounds, and soccer fields.

Lincoln, CA also has several shopping malls with state-of-the-art designs and beautiful locations. Lincoln Crossing Market, Lincoln Village at Twelve Bridges, and Lincoln Hills Town Center are the most convenient shopping malls which provide all the items from clothing to food and groceries to medical stores and other accessories. Awful Annies, Old Town Pizza, Kim’s Country Kitchen, Lincoln Speakeasy Taproom, and Dillan’s Bar are the best restaurants in Lincoln that are highly rated for their outstanding service and food.

Lincoln, CA is a paradise for golfers. Lincoln’s Hill Golf Club, the Turkey Creek Golf Club, and Catta Verdera Country Club are the finest golf clubs present in the city.

Portuguese Holy Ghost Festival and Loomis Eggplant Festival are the most celebrated festivals in Lincoln CA which are celebrated with all their colors.

Lincoln, CA is also home to many excellent schools known for providing the best curriculum, trained staff, and providing highest quality education to students. Twelve Bridges Elementary Schools, Lincoln Crossing Elementary School, Twelve Bridges Middle School, and Lincoln High School are the best public schools in Lincoln Inn. Rainbow Junction Preschool, Morningstar Montessori School, Lincoln Head Start, and Community Christian Schools are the renowned private schools of Lincoln, CA.

Verdera Village, Lincoln Crossing, and Downtown Lincoln are the most renowned neighborhoods of Lincoln, CA. Among them, Verdera Village is the most expensive neighborhood because of elegantly designed homes and nearby country clubs and golf courses. Lincoln Crossing and Downtown Lincoln are much more affordable neighborhoods in Lincoln.

Lincoln, CA has a high housing cost. The median price range of houses in Lincoln is $679,000 which is still more affordable than in other places in California. The average rent for a Lincoln apartment is 1500$. However, these expenses can be compensated by relatively affordable healthcare and transportation facilities.

Healthcare in Lincoln, CA is 6% cheaper than the national average while transportation is 25% less expensive than in the rest of California. The city also has a general aviation airport known as the Lincoln Regional Airport. In sum, Lincoln, CA is a blend of rural and urban life. It is the fastest-growing city in California because it has a large land around it which is being developed at a fast pace.

2. Lake Tahoe, CA

Lake Tahoe, CA is a resort city in California, which is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This city is full of beaches and ski resorts and is a perfect place for tourists. As per the estimates in 2021, Lake Tahoe, CA has a population of 21,414, and every year around 15 million people visit this tourist-friendly destination. Lake Tahoe, CA is the second deepest lake in the US with a depth of 1,645 ft, the first being Crater Lake, Oregon with a maximum depth of 1,943 ft.

Going back into history, we find out that the Lake Tahoe, CA area was initially inhabited by the Native Americans and it was the center of the Washoe Indian territory. These Washoe people used to worship the Cave Rock, which was the largest rock formation around the lake. Later when in 1931, the process of making a tunnel out of that stone was started, and locals protested. However, their protests weren’t successful, and finally, the tunnel was made, which exists today with the name of the Cave Rock Tunnel.

According to the US Census, Lake Tahoe, CA consists of an 80 percent white population and the rest 20 percent include Black Americans, Alaska Natives, Asians, American Indians, etc. Between 2016 and 2020, the average number of households has been 9,552. With a high school graduate percentage of 86.9 percent, Lake Tahoe, CA only sees 27.4 percent of bachelor’s or higher degree holders.

Due to its close proximity to Silicon Valley, Lake Tahoe, CA attracts businessmen especially tech billionaires to invest in property here. Hence, property prices in this area are skyrocketing. As per Forbes, one waterside property here was listed for $100 million. Due to the high prices, many locals are moving out of Lake Tahoe, CA. As far as the cost of living is concerned, Lake Tahoe, CA counts among the top 17 percent of the most expensive cities in the world with an average cost of living of $1,936.

The climate in Lake Tahoe, CA is visitors friendly across the year. But the most welcoming months are from March to May and then from September to November. January is the coldest and the snowiest month here while July is the hottest month of the year. So, overall you get to experience pleasant weather in Lake Tahoe, CA all year. Some of the natural disasters that Lake Tahoe, CA experiences are earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, tornadoes, severe storms, and hurricanes.

Yan can reach Lake Tahoe, CA by car, train, or air, anything that suits you. The closest airport here is 5km away from Lake Tahoe, CA, which is the Lake Tahoe Airport and the nearest passenger train service is the Amtrak Station. Due to this ease of transportation, people keep coming to this beautiful place all year.

Lake Tahoe, CA is heaven for those seeking family adventure with comfort and luxury. It has got plenty of spots where you can experience enjoyable moments. You can never run short of biking tracks and hiking trails in Lake Tahoe, CA. It has plenty of beaches and offers snow sports of all kinds including snowboarding, ice hockey, alpine skiing, ski jumping, etc. Not only this, but you can also do fishing, golfing, and boating as well. In short, Lake Tahoe, CA has got everything that a perfect tourism destination should.

Additionally, there are a number of places that you should visit during your stay at Lake Tahoe, CA. Some of them include Emerald Bay State Park, Taylor Creek Visitor CenterTallac Historic Site, Lower Eagle Falls, Inspiration Point Vista, Mt. Tallac Trail, etc. You can book helicopter tours to any place you want and enjoy the beautiful places of Lake Tahoe, CA. Most visitors take private boat and helicopter tours for getting the maximum out of their experience of visiting the beautiful water places present in the area.

Lastly, life in Lake Tahoe, CA is comfortable, peaceful, and adventurous enough for those who crave adventures. It has got all the attractions anyone would want in a place to have a home there. Tourists also love to visit Lake Tahoe, CA because of its budget-friendly lodging facilities. You get five-star resorts, rental homes, and picturesque motels. All of this adds to the experience of those visiting the place for the first time. But at the same time, high property prices, low house ownership rates, high earthquake risk, and dry weather are some of the cons, you should know before thinking of moving to Lake Tahoe, CA permanently.