Median household income is an important gauge of the standard of living and wealth distribution of communities in the Tahoe Basin. An increase in the median income for a community creates opportunities for its residents, ranging from educational attainment to community participation. While a decrease in median income is typically correlated to increases in crime and substance abuse. Furthermore, increases in median household income are likely to increase environmental stewardship through increased philanthropic spending. Reporting the median household income for Tahoe Basin communities provides both a comparison of economic health in different communities in the Tahoe Basin and an understanding of the trend within each community over time.