Why Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is not Lake Tahoe

I hear time and time again “Coeur d’Alene is Lake Tahoe 2.0” or “Coeur d’Alene is going to be just like Lake Tahoe and price everyone out”.

It is true that we have a beautiful lake and the demand for our area is skyrocketing.

I’m going to explain to you why Coeur d’Alene is not Lake Tahoe and why it is so much better!

Let’s start with a simple comparison between the two locations.

Coeur d’Alene

Coeur d’Alene lake – 30,000 acres
Average rain – 26.6 inches
Average snowfall – 42.4
Population – 52,917
Summer high – 81.7
Average Residential Home Price – $360,000

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe – 122,200 acres
Average rain – 23.3
Average snowfall – 142.4 inches
Population – 22,382
Summer high – 79.5
Average Residential Home Price – $508,696

The stats above are showing some basic differences between the two places. As you can see we don’t get nearly the snow as many people think up here. As I write this on January 13, 2021, we have no snow on the ground in town!

Lets jump into some of the main differences I see.

Coeur d’Alene is a growing city and not only a vacation destination

Both Lake Tahoe and Coeur d’Alene explode during the summer. Tourists from all around the world visit both locations for their lakes, skiing, and resort life. The difference with Coeur d’Alene is that it isn’t only a resort town. It is a city building its infrastructure to take on high demand and flourish.

You can move here, work a full time job and support your family while living here. Coeur d’alene is growing fast, no doubt. With the growth brings new jobs, more tax revenue, bigger investors, and even more demand for the area. North Idaho is home to some large companies such as Quest, Kochava, Xcraft, Continuous Composites, Five23, Safeguard Equipment and many more. These companies are all new here in the last 10 years!

Twenty miles from Coeur d’Alene is another city, Spokane, with an international airport. Spokane has a population of over 500,000 and continues to grow at a rapid pace similar to Northern Idaho. It is home to Amazon Fulfillment, Gonzaga University, and Kaiser Permanente. Healthcare is a very prominent industry in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

Social Isolation During non-peak Seasons

Both Coeur d’Alene and Lake Tahoe have peak seasons during the summer and winter allowing for a huge fluctuation in population. During off seasons Lake Tahoe can feel isolated with not much to do socially.

Coeur d’Alene always has things to do. Even during the Covid19 pandemic, Idaho was open and thriving. People are required to wear masks, but business owners got to choose whether to be open or not.

Coeur d’Alene has many full-time residents allowing for social activities to take place all around town.

Cost of Living

Both locations have real estate prices that keep rising,daily. That’s because both locations are beautiful and offer a quality of life that can not be bought. Prices of real estate are not the only thing that matters though!

Coeur d’Alene tends to have a lower cost on everyday items. As I write this gas is only $1.97 at the local Costco. This allows residents to do more with the money they earn.

Proximity to Large Cities

Lake Tahoe is located in Northern California, a state with the highest population in the United States. This gives it close proximity to millions of people who love getting out of town for a vacation, oftentimes crowding the lake. This also allows any laws passed in these major cities to also affect Lake Tahoe.

Coeur d’Alene is located in Northern Idaho, a state with the 39th lowest population. Making it a travel destination for most. I have never been on the lake and felt it is too crowded. Along with that the tourists that do visit tend to be kind people looking to enjoy the quality of life up here.

Both Coeur d’Alene and Lake Tahoe are gorgeous destinations. Find out which one you like best by taking a nice vacation to each!