El Centro Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in California, United States
Is Airbnb profitable in El Centro in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for El Centro, California, United States to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for El Centro, based on AirROI data from April 2024 to March 2025, reveals key trends in the niche market of 41 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in El Centro, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the El Centro Airbnb data is crucial. Leveraging the low regulation environment is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Let's dive into the specifics.
Key El Centro Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in El Centro (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in El Centro is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Seasonality significantly impacts earnings. Our analysis, based on data from the past 12 months, shows that the peak revenue month for STRs in El Centro is typically June, while September often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in El Centro across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $4,040+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $2,669 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $1,765 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $827, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in El Centro
El Centro Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the El Centro STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Februarysees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while August experiences the lowest (low season). Effective strategies, like adjusting minimum stays or offering promotions, can boost occupancy during slower periods. Here's how different property tiers perform in El Centro:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 86%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 73% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
- Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 51%.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 24% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in El Centro
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in El Centro (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in El Centro involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in El Centro typically peaks in March and dips lowest during October. Leveraging Airbnb dynamic pricing tools or strategies based on this seasonality can significantly boost revenue. Here's a look at the typical nightly rates achieved:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) command rates of $184+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $141 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $84 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $70 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in El Centro
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in El Centro (2025)
Peak Season (June, January, May)
- Revenue averages $2,186 per month
- Occupancy rates average 49.9%
- Daily rates average $109
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $1,992 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 49.3%
- Daily rates hold near $111
Low Season (February, August, September)
- Revenue drops to average $1,814 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 52.0%
- Daily rates adjust to average $108
Seasonality Insights for El Centro
- The Airbnb seasonality in El Centro shows moderate seasonality with distinct peak and low periods. While the sections above show seasonal averages, it's also insightful to look at the extremes:
- During the high season, the absolute peak month showcases El Centro's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $2,371, occupancy reaching a high of 60.5%, and ADRs peaking at $120.
- Conversely, the slowest single month of the year, typically falling within the low season, marks the market's lowest point. In this month, revenue might dip to $1,723, occupancy could drop to 45.3%, and ADRs may adjust down to $106.
- Understanding both the seasonal averages and these monthly peaks and troughs in revenue, occupancy, and ADR is crucial for maximizing your Airbnb profit potential in El Centro.
Seasonal Strategies for Maximizing Profit
- Peak Season: Maximize revenue through premium pricing and potentially longer minimum stays. Ensure high availability.
- Low Season: Offer competitive pricing, special promotions (e.g., extended stay discounts), and flexible cancellation policies. Target off-season travelers like remote workers or budget-conscious guests.
- Shoulder Seasons: Implement dynamic pricing that balances peak and low rates. Target weekend travelers or specific events. Offer slightly more flexible terms than peak season.
- Regularly analyze your own performance against these El Centro seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in El Centro (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in El Centro? This section highlights key areas, outlining why they are attractive for hosts and guests, along with notable local attractions. Consider these locations based on your target guest profile and investment strategy.
| Neighborhood / Area | Why Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal) | Key Attractions & Landmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial Valley | A popular destination for tourists visiting the California desert. Proximity to nature and outdoor activities makes it appealing for travelers looking for adventure and relaxation in the desert landscape. | Salton Sea, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Imperial Valley Desert Museum, Jacumba Hot Springs, Coyote Canyon |
| Drew Park | Quiet and residential, ideal for families and longer stays. Close to amenities and the main highway, making it convenient for access to surrounding areas. | Local parks, Restaurants, Shopping centers, Historical sites, Outdoor activities |
| Heber | Located near the Salton Sea, Heber attracts visitors looking for a unique desert experience and local culture. It's a small community with a friendly atmosphere. | Salton Sea, Local festivals, Farmers markets, Desert wildlife |
| Calexico | Border town with a mix of cultures. Great for those looking to experience cross-border attractions and close proximity to Mexico. | Calexico Migration Center, Downtown Calexico, Cultural festivals, Art galleries |
| Brawley | Known for its agricultural industry, Brawley offers a slice of rural California and is often a stop for travelers heading to the desert areas. | Brawley Cattle Call, Local parks, Agri-tourism, Historical landmarks |
| Niland | A small town near the Salton Sea, popular for unique attractions like the Bombay Beach and Slab City, drawing visitors interested in offbeat experiences. | Salvation Mountain, Bombay Beach, Slab City, Desert tours |
| Calipatria | With its proximity to the Salton Sea and historic sites, Calipatria serves as a quiet retreat close to nature and outdoor experiences. | Calipatria Historical Society, Local parks, Salton Sea |
| El Centro Downtown | The central hub of El Centro, where visitors can find local shops, dining, and entertainment options. Ideal for urban travelers looking to explore the city. | Imperial Valley Mall, Local eateries, Civic Center, Art galleries |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in El Centro (2025)
While El Centro, California, United States currently shows low STR regulations, specific Airbnb license requirements might still exist or change. Always verify the latest short term rental regulations and Airbnb license requirements directly with local government authorities for El Centro to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, finding no licensed listings among those analyzed)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in El Centro (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in El Centrobased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
Spacious, Functional and Updated
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
The Corner Cottage
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Yucca
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Spacious and equipped house for a pleasant stay
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Rainfall Bath*Full Kitchen*4KTV*W/D*Early check-in
Entire Place • 1 bedroom
Cosy two bedroom guest house.
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.
Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in El Centro (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in El Centro based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro | 2 | $74,548 | 70 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Rafael | 2 | $68,479 | 80 | 4.97/5.0 |
| Jorge | 2 | $66,572 | 8 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Patty | 2 | $57,213 | 169 | 4.99/5.0 |
| Lindsay | 2 | $49,638 | 114 | 4.74/5.0 |
| Raul | 3 | $45,589 | 274 | 4.91/5.0 |
| Tam | 4 | $38,309 | 25 | 4.88/5.0 |
| Claudia | 3 | $35,003 | 67 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Jawwad | 1 | $32,480 | 162 | 4.94/5.0 |
| Sotero | 1 | $29,641 | 32 | 4.66/5.0 |
Analyzing the strategies of top hosts, such as their property selection, pricing, and guest communication, can offer valuable lessons for optimizing your own Airbnb operations in El Centro.
Dive Deeper: Advanced El Centro STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for El Centro. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsEl Centro Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for El Centro
- The El Centro Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 68.3% of the 41 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- However, a notable 31.7% share for Private Rooms suggests opportunities for budget-conscious travelers or hosts renting out spare rooms.
- Looking at the property type distribution in El Centro, House properties are the most common (58.5%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 58.5% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 14.6% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
- Smaller segments like outdoor/unique (combined 2.4%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.
El Centro Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for El Centro
- The dominant room capacity in El Centro is 1 bedroom listings, making up 31.7% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms properties represent 53.7% of the active Airbnb listings in El Centro, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- A significant 21.9% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in El Centro.
El Centro Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for El Centro
- The most common guest capacity trend in El Centro vacation rentals is listings accommodating 2 guests (31.7%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely couples or solo travelers.
- Properties designed for 2 guests and 4 guests dominate the El Centro STR market, accounting for 46.3% of listings.
- 19.4% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in El Centro.
- On average, properties in El Centro are equipped to host 3.1 guests.
El Centro Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for El Centro
- The most common availability pattern in El Centro falls within the 181-270 days range, representing 56.1% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 78.1% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 91-180 days range is most frequent in El Centro (56.1%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 24.4% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
El Centro Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
13 listings
33.3% of total
2 Nights
7 listings
17.9% of total
3 Nights
3 listings
7.7% of total
4-6 Nights
1 listings
2.6% of total
7-29 Nights
6 listings
15.4% of total
30+ Nights
9 listings
23.1% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in El Centro is 1 Night, adopted by 33.3% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for shorter, flexible bookings.
- A significant segment (23.1%) caters to monthly stays (30+ nights) in El Centro, pointing to opportunities in the extended-stay market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 1 Night minimum stay, as 33.3% of El Centro hosts use this setting.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 23.1% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in El Centro.
El Centro Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Flexible
12 listings
33.3% of total
Moderate
11 listings
30.6% of total
Firm
7 listings
19.4% of total
Strict
6 listings
16.7% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for El Centro
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in El Centro is Flexible, used by 33.3% of listings.
- There's a relatively balanced mix between guest-friendly (63.9%) and stricter (36.1%) policies, offering choices for different guest needs.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Flexible policy to align with the 33.3% market standard in El Centro.
- Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in El Centro.
El Centro STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for El Centro
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in El Centro is 23 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during September (average 30 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in July (average 11 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Fall (28 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Winter (15 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (23 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in El Centro.
- During July, focus on last-minute booking availability and promotions, as guests book with very short notice (11 days avg.).
- Target marketing efforts for the Fall season well in advance (at least 28 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these El Centro averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in El Centro (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for El Centro
- Essential amenities in El Centro that guests expect include: Air conditioning, Smoke alarm, Wifi, TV. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Carbon monoxide alarm, Essentials, Free parking on premises are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for El Centro: Air conditioning, Smoke alarm, Wifi, TV.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: TV.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Carbon monoxide alarm or Essentials to increase appeal.
- Highlight unique or less common amenities you offer (e.g., hot tub, dedicated workspace, EV charger) in your listing description and photos.
- Regularly check competitor amenities in El Centro to stay competitive.
El Centro Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for El Centro
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in El Centro consists of primarily domestic travelers (96%), often arriving from nearby San Diego, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Spanish.
- Domestic travelers account for 96.3% of guests.
- Key international markets include United States (96.3%) and Mexico (2%).
- Top languages spoken are English (57.1%) followed by Spanish (31%).
- A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Target domestic marketing efforts towards travelers from San Diego and Los Angeles.
- Tailor amenities and listing descriptions to appeal to the dominant Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) demographic (e.g., highlight fast WiFi, smart home features, local guides).
- Highlight unique local experiences or amenities relevant to the primary guest profile.
- Consider seasonal promotions aligned with peak travel times for key origin markets.
Nearby Short-Term Rental Market Comparison
How does the El Centro Airbnb market stack up against its neighbors? Compare key performance metrics like average monthly revenue, ADR, and occupancy rates in surrounding areas to understand the broader regional STR landscape.
| Market | Active Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Avg. Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho San Diego | 26 | $8,486 | $514.80 | 53% |
| Thousand Palms | 32 | $8,286 | $679.73 | 42% |
| GlenOak Hills | 37 | $7,383 | $604.16 | 40% |
| Lakeside | 34 | $6,212 | $473.19 | 49% |
| Bermuda Dunes | 142 | $6,113 | $599.75 | 38% |
| Mount Helix | 38 | $5,514 | $482.38 | 50% |
| Indio | 1,365 | $4,788 | $488.34 | 37% |
| Palm Springs | 3,402 | $4,564 | $461.58 | 39% |
| Casa de Oro | 47 | $4,549 | $294.43 | 59% |
| Coachella | 383 | $4,232 | $547.80 | 40% |