A California Mountain Town Nicknamed 'Mini Lake Tahoe' Has A Below Average Cost Of Living

If you're looking to live in California's Sierra Nevada mountains but want to escape the bustling vibe of spots like Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes, try Shaver Lake. What you order is what you get here — a tranquil retreat in an interesting town 50 miles from Fresno a four-hour drive from Los Angeles, and under three hours from San Francisco. If you visit in the warmer months of July and August, you can participate in fun water activities like boating and fishing. In the winter, you can fire up the snowmobile through the snow or ski.

Living in Shaver Lake is more affordable than many other California mountain towns. Here, you will get a better deal on real estate, which should interest you if you want the outdoor lifestyle on a budget. The outdoor access is phenomenal in the area. The town and its surrounding mountains make for a great place to live to enjoy the perks of the SIerra Nevada while avoiding many of its downsides.

Shaver Lake had a population of 580 as of 2020 Census. It is fondly dubbed California's "mini Lake Tahoe" — but without the crowds and high costs.The cost-of-living index here is just above the national average of 100, and this number tells you how much more or less you need to spend on basic expenses such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation in one place compared to another. Still, its below the California state average and far lower than in the resort towns. Shaver Lake has a cost of living, scored at 103.7 (3.7% more) according to Best Places. Yet, this is nearly 31% cheaper than the California average. This means if you spend $1,000 on groceries in an average U.S. location, a 3.7% increase would mean that in Shaver Lake, you'd spend $1,037 and $1,308 in other parts of California. 

The housing market further proves this relative affordability — the median home price at Shaver Lake stands at $699,000 per Realtor.com, far below Lake Tahoe's $760,000 and Mammoth Lakes' $1 million. The price of rent is also low, a two-bedroom goes for an average of $1,190 monthly, much less than California's $2,150 average. Niche took data from the U.S. Census, FBI, CDC, and other sources to rank Shaver Lake as one of Fresno County's best places to retire in 2025.

Living in Shaver Lake offers an outdoorsy lifestyle within a tight-knit community, especially if you enjoy water sports. The town's event calendar provides trout fishing derbies in the summer to fishing contests like the Shaver Lake Derby coming in September 2025. You can also try out paddleboards at the marina or enjoy nature walks led by local conservation experts. Plus, it's safer in Shaver Lake than many places in California, with crime rates, 50% lower than the state average. This is a vital metric when you consider the cost of crime for those living in America's most dangerous cities.

The mountains around Shaver Lake are still recovering from the 2020 Creek Fire, which burned nearly 380,000 acres in the region. If camping, you need to follow California laws on safe and legal fire. You'll also need a valid California Campfire Permit; luckily, it's free and you can grab one online at the Ready for Wildfire website.