Tahoe Donner
Neighborhood in Truckee, California
Nevada County 96161
Hilly trails and rec centers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
As the biggest neighborhood in Truckee, Tahoe Donner has over 60 miles of hiking and biking trails across its 7,300 acres. These trails connect to each subdivision and lead to the area’s seven recreation centers. Alder Creek Adventure Center, on the neighborhood’s north side, is often the most talked about. “If I were to buy in this neighborhood,” says Collins, “I’d want to be close to the Adventure Center for cross-country skiing and mountain biking. You could walk there, right out of your back door.” Its Equestrian Center also offers pony rides, private lessons and even a monthly horse lease. The Downhill Ski Resort is only a couple of miles away, and its slopes have catered to beginners for roughly 50 years. Its new ski lodge is estimated to be up and running for the 2024-2025 season; in response to increased membership, the facility now features sizable dining spaces, direct lift access and other improvements. The Trout Creek Recreation Center is a popular spot for golfers, with a driving range and the Tahoe Donner Golf Course. This 18-hole, semiprivate course was voted the best course for North Lake Tahoe and Truckee by the Sierra Sun in 2021. The Northwoods Clubhouse is a favorite for families with children, says Christy Morrison, because its pool has slides and a beach-like entry. For an even bigger body of water, Donner Lake is at the base of the neighborhood, and Tahoe Donner residents have a private beach and marina. They can store kayaks and paddleboards here, provided they win the yearly lottery. All these recreation spaces are owned and operated by the Tahoe Donner Homeowners Association, and they’re funded by its 25,000-plus members. On top of the $2,900 association fee every year, members can pay a $400 recreation fee for family access.
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Neighborhood spots, restaurants and shops in Historic Truckee
For a postworkout meal, three recreation centers have full-service restaurants. Pizza on the Hill serves fresh pies and draft beer in the Northwoods Clubhouse; kids can jump around the neighboring playground while the order comes out. The Lodge Restaurant & Pub is right on the Tahoe Donner Golf Course, and its New American fare includes grilled mahi-mahi and elk. Alder Creek Café is in the Adventure Center, and its healthy dishes use organic and seasonal ingredients.Historic Truckee — which is also the downtown area — is about 3 miles east of Tahoe Donner. Its restaurants and shops are packed with tourists in the summer, when Lake Tahoe water sports are at their most popular. Centered on Donner Pass Road, this district is busy in winter, too, when the area’s seven ski resorts open their slopes. Shoulder seasons saw a spike in popularity after COVID-19, but as some remote workers return to the Bay Area, months like September and April are returning back to the locals. Some restaurants won’t be as crowded year-round, like the ironically named Tourist Club. With a sign for “Free Beer Tomorrow,” this dim-lighted bar has been a local favorite for more than 80 years, and regulars call it T-Club. Coffee And is two doors down for homestyle breakfast.
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Traditional cabins and A-Frames, seasonal market
Departing from the “mountain modern” look of newer neighborhoods, homes in Tahoe Donner still have that classic cabin feel: exposed wood, metal roofs and sizeable porches. They’re set back on sloping, forested lots that provide space between neighbors, and their abundant windows have views of the pines. A-frames are occasional, especially in the Gambrel style, and Collins says they’ve had a renaissance in the 2020s. These homes have roofs that also serve as the exterior walls. While square footage and build dates can influence prices, proximity to major thoroughfares is an even bigger determinant. Northwoods Boulevard and Alder Creek Road, for instance, get more traffic and noise; homes along these corridors are usually cheaper than ones tucked into subdivisions. Often near these busier streets, smaller one- and two-stories might need some updates, and they’re between $540,000 and $750,000. Midsized homes usually have some distance from these streets, and they’re between $750,000 and $1 million. Bigger, chalet-like homes are farthest away, and they might have a view of the Carson Range; they’re between $1 million and $2.3 million. Three condominium complexes are scattered throughout the neighborhood, and since they vary wildly in square footage, units range from $275,000 to $1.2 million. These prices are constantly changing, though, as the market shifts with the seasons. “There’s a lot of turnover,” says JB Benna, a Compass real estate agent who grew up in these Sierra Nevada Mountains. “You get a lot of second homeowners and people that want to rent out their cabin. Plus, the snow can get pretty intense up here, so a lot of properties will change hands after a big snow year.”In addition to amenity management, the Tahoe Donner HOA conducts yearly inspections of each home’s architecture, and any changes must be reported to them. They also enforce rules about on-street parking, vegetation removal and other aspects. Supplemented with California FAIR or similar fire insurance, trees must be trimmed to provide "defensible space" around each property.
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Biking into town, driving through the mountains
Tahoe Donner ranges from 6,750 feet to 7,350 feet in elevation, but its hilly trail system encourages walking and biking. People can use these trails to bike into downtown Truckee, for instance, as it’s only about a 3-mile trip from the base of the hill. However, this distance can increase with elevation, and cars are the more common option. “In lower Tahoe Donner, proximity to Donner Pass Road gives you more convenience,” says Morrison. “If you’re way up top on Ski Slope Road, you can get incredible views, but it can take you roughly a half-hour to get down there on a snowy day.” Roads often freeze, so snow chains are a must-have; police can check tires for these in the winter. Moreover, snow season damages roads, and construction season — as JB Benna puts it — follows the rest of the year. Tourist traffic can often clog up roads during winter and summer, but the addition of roundabouts has attempted to decrease backups in the 2000s. Interstate 80’s exit ramps often have a line of cars, but this freeway leads 30 miles east to Reno International Airport. Another option to Reno, Downtown Truckee has an AmTrak station.High marks for Tahoe-Truckee Unified Schools
Most schools are just south of the neighborhood, at the base of the mountains. Sierra Expeditionary Learning School is a public charter for kindergarten through eighth grade, and it was a California Distinguished School in 2023. Niche gives it an A and ranks it as the No. 1 public elementary school in the Reno area, ahead of 100-plus others. Truckee Elementary provides a B-plus-rated alternative for kindergarten through fifth grade, and students don’t need a charter application. About 2 miles north of Historic Truckee, Alder Creek Middle gets an A-minus from Niche. Truckee High is next to the elementary school of the same name, and it receives an A. Its career technical education courses are different from the other two high schools in the area; offerings include Engineering Technology and Product Innovation & Design.
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Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Jeremy Jensen
Video By
Anthony Pesa
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Peter Erdody
Peter Erdody
Chase International - SLT
(530) 314-7241
119 Total Sales
1 in Tahoe Donner
$189,000 Price
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Mark Digiacomo
Mark Digiacomo
Carr Long Real Estate
(530) 379-2502
23 Total Sales
3 in Tahoe Donner
$145K - $1.2M Price Range
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Justin Arnest
Justin Arnest
Responds QuicklyRealty ONE Group Complete
(279) 529-5276
191 Total Sales
1 in Tahoe Donner
$425,000 Price
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Wendy Poore
Wendy Poore
Sierra Sothebys Intl. Realty
(530) 317-4056
73 Total Sales
1 in Tahoe Donner
$580,000 Price
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Diana Graves
Diana Graves
Coldwell Banker Realty
(530) 278-6766
45 Total Sales
6 in Tahoe Donner
$75K - $2.3M Price Range
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Anna Aljabiry
Anna Aljabiry
Real Brokerage
(530) 309-0587
48 Total Sales
4 in Tahoe Donner
$135K - $1.9M Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 5th
- Public
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Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Tahoe Donner | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Tahoe Donner Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Tahoe Donner, Truckee sell after 48 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Tahoe Donner, Truckee over the last 12 months is $1,086,300, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$1,150,000
Median Sale Price
$1,086,300
Median Single Family Sale Price
$1,190,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$529,500
Median Studio Sale Price
$249,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
3%
Last 12 months Home Sales
246
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
3%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$578
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
5,411
Number of Homes for Sale
76
Median Year Built
1991
Months of Supply
3.70
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,101
Above the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,378
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,071
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
538
Average Studio Size Sq Ft
358
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
14,374
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jun 142 - 5pm
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Saturday, Jun 142 - 5pm
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Saturday, Jun 143 - 6pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,626
Median Age
48
Population under 18
17.7%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.6%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$155,391
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$169,568
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
97.9%
College Graduates
72.7%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
27.6%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
15°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
153''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
63
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
32
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Donner Lake
Waterside community with multi-generational residents, seasonal visitors
Gateway
Truckee-area neighborhood tucked in the Sierra Mountain Range
Prosser Lake Heights
Hillside neighborhood near Prosser Reservoir, close to Tahoe
Gray's Crossing
Golf course community in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, close to Lake Tahoe
Historic Truckee
Storied neighborhood with walkable shops and restaurants, short drive to Tahoe
Prosser Lakeview
Next to Prosser Reservoir, this neighborhood is popular with year-round locals
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