California · Market rankings
Highest Occupancy Vacation Rental Markets in California
Where California short-term rentals keep the calendar full. San Francisco models highest at 70% occupancy.
Modelled estimate
| # | Market | Modelled occupancy | Nightly rate | Occupancy | Peak season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CASan Francisco County | 70% | $292 | 70% | Apr–May–Jun |
| 2 | Anaheim, CAOrange County | 70% | $252 | 70% | Apr–May–Jun |
| 3 | Santa Monica, CALos Angeles County | 68% | $392 | 68% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 4 | San Diego, CASan Diego County | 68% | $292 | 68% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 5 | Santa Barbara, CASanta Barbara County | 66% | $412 | 66% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 6 | Venice, CALos Angeles County | 66% | $332 | 66% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 7 | Carlsbad, CASan Diego County | 65% | $318 | 65% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 8 | Coronado, CASan Diego County | 64% | $432 | 64% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 9 | Huntington Beach, CAOrange County | 64% | $318 | 64% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 10 | Oceanside, CASan Diego County | 64% | $282 | 64% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 11 | Newport Beach, CAOrange County | 63% | $432 | 63% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 12 | Laguna Beach, CAOrange County | 62% | $452 | 62% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 13 | Napa, CANapa County | 62% | $412 | 62% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 14 | Palm Springs, CARiverside County | 62% | $352 | 62% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 15 | Monterey, CAMonterey County | 62% | $352 | 62% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 16 | Healdsburg, CASonoma County | 60% | $452 | 60% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 17 | Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAMonterey County | 60% | $452 | 60% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 18 | Sonoma, CASonoma County | 60% | $365 | 60% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 19 | Palm Desert, CARiverside County | 60% | $298 | 60% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 20 | South Lake Tahoe, CAEl Dorado County | 60% | $312 | 60% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 21 | Pismo Beach, CASan Luis Obispo County | 60% | $282 | 60% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 22 | La Quinta, CARiverside County | 58% | $318 | 58% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 23 | Paso Robles, CASan Luis Obispo County | 58% | $298 | 58% | Jul–Aug–Sep |
| 24 | Yosemite West, CAMariposa County | 58% | $318 | 58% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 25 | Joshua Tree, CASan Bernardino County | 58% | $252 | 58% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 26 | Mammoth Lakes, CAMono County | 57% | $352 | 57% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 27 | Truckee, CANevada County | 57% | $365 | 57% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 28 | Mariposa, CAMariposa County | 56% | $228 | 56% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 29 | Big Bear Lake, CASan Bernardino County | 55% | $282 | 55% | Jan–Feb–Mar |
| 30 | Groveland, CATuolumne County | 55% | $248 | 55% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
| 31 | Lake Arrowhead, CASan Bernardino County | 54% | $292 | 54% | Jun–Jul–Aug |
Occupancy is the modelled annual average for a well-run, professionally priced listing — not a first-year figure for a new listing. Operating costs are modelled at 32% of gross revenue for a nightly rental (cleaning, supplies, utilities, platform fees, maintenance, insurance) and 14% for a monthly rental. Financing assumes a 25% down payment and a 30-year loan at 7%. These are planning assumptions, not quotes — replace them with your own numbers.
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