Why Truckee

Facts and Demographics

Why Truckee

Truckee is a vibrant mountain town committed to creating a community where people want to live, work and play. Reflecting this commitment to our quality of life, Town leaders are focused on fostering a thriving business climate that supports and retains local businesses and attracts new business opportunities. READ BLOG POST ABOUT OUR AUTHENTIC TOWN. Visit our WHY TRUCKEE PAGE. 

Location

Located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Truckee is just 200 miles northeast of San Francisco, California; 100 miles east of Sacramento, California; 40 miles west of Reno, Nevada; and 12 miles north of Lake Tahoe, California. Planes, trains, and automobiles are three convenient ways to get to Truckee.  Highway I-80 runs right through Truckee, as does Amtrak along the Transcontinental Railroad, which passes right through town, and Truckee Tahoe Airport provides for daily private and charter flights.

Elevation

Downtown Truckee: 5,980 ft.
Donner Summit: 7,239 ft.
Donner Peak: 8,019 ft.
Mt. Judah: 8,243 ft.

Population

Town of Truckee: 17,470
(source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census) Summary File1.ESRI Forecasts for 2020 and 2025

Climate

Average Summer Temperature:
40-79 degrees Fahrenheit

Average Winter Temperature:
17-42 degrees Fahrenheit

Average Total Snowfall:
201 inches

Average Total Precipitation:
30 inches (source: Western Regional Climate Center)

Coldest Spot in the Nation?
Truckee has often been recognized as the coldest spot in the nation, but not during the winter ski season as one might expect. These nippy temperatures are noteworthy because they occur from June through early October. While it may be true, it really doesn’t give a true picture of Truckee’s pristine California weather pattern. Official temperatures are taken at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, located in Martis Valley. On clear nights, cool air from the high mountains sink downslope into the valley, a high-elevation basin. The dense air mass settles into the basin, creating a chilled microclimate contributing to the chilly readings. As the sun begins to rise, so does the temperature, creating enviable summer and fall temperatures.

Terrain

The Truckee Donner area has expansive granite mountain, vista, meadow, and lake terrain.

Town Boundary

34 square miles of largely developed land in the eastern portion of Nevada County.
Vacant/Underutilized: 28.4%
Residential: 27.0%
Permanent/Protected Open Space: 18.8%
Roads/Railway Right-of-Way/Other: 12.2%
Parks, Lakes, Public/Institutional: 10.8%
Commercial/Office: 1.5%
Industrial/Mining: 1.3%

Government

Truckee was first established in 1863 and incorporated in 1993. The Town of Truckee is one of three incorporated cities in Nevada County (Grass Valley and Nevada City are the other two). The Town is governed by five council members, elected at large for four-year terms. Elections are held every other year, and terms are staggered.

Sales Tax (State and Local): 8.375%
(7.5% State of California, .125% Nevada County Library Tax; .5% Truckee Measure V – Roads; .25% Truckee Measure R — Trails)

Sales Tax Revenue
2020/2021: $6,197,845
2019/2020: $4,939,562
2018/2019: $4,598,381
2017/2018: $4,342,553
2016/2017: $4,067,588
2015/2016: $4,057,947

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): 12%
Note: Effective 1/1/2021, TOT increased from 10% to 12%.
2020/2021: $5,463,657
2019/2020: $3,988,560
2018/2019: $4,464,925
2017/2018: $3,399,228
2016/2017: $3,414,610
2015/2016: $2820,319

Property Tax
2020/2021: $12,780,840
2019/2020: $12,083,871
2018/2019: $11,523,966
2017/2018: $10,874,121
2016/2017: $10,367,240
2015/2016: $9,749,656

Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District (TTBID) 1.25%

The Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District (TTBID) was renewed through a resolution of the Truckee Town Council September 20, 2020. This 1.25% assessment on hotel, property management, and individual vacation home rentals funds Visit Truckee-Tahoe, the Destination Marketing & Management Organization (DMMO) for Truckee that promotes sustainable tourism.

Housing

Single Family:

  • Median price: $1,210,000
  • Average days on market: 23
  • Homes sold: 676

Condos/Townhomes:

  • Median price: $710,000
  • Average days on market: 30
  • Condos sold: 229

Average monthly rent: $3000

Source: Dickson Realty, Truckee, from Tahoe Sierra Multiple Listing Service, for Truckee zip code 96161, sold 4/1/21-3/24/22 (as of 4/13/22). Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Community Renewable Metrics

Truckee Donner Public Utility District’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

2019  63% RPS
2018  65% RPS
2017  66% RPS
2016  61% RPS
2015  48% RPS

Town of Truckee + Town Hall
10183 Truckee Airport Rd., Truckee, CA 96161
Phone (530) 582-7700
Fax (530) 582-7710
www.townoftruckee.com

Truckee Facts