Santa Cruz Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in California, United States
Is Airbnb profitable in Santa Cruz in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for Santa Cruz, California, United States to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for Santa Cruz, based on AirROI data from April 2024 to March 2025, reveals key trends in the market of 282 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in Santa Cruz, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in Santa Cruz (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz is typically July, while February often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in Santa Cruz across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $12,443+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $7,676 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $4,406 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $2,226, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the Santa Cruz STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Julysees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while January 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 Santa Cruz:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 84%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 71% 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 28% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in Santa Cruz
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in Santa Cruz (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in Santa Cruz involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in Santa Cruz 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 $649+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $414 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $257 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $158 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in Santa Cruz
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in Santa Cruz (2025)
Peak Season (July, June, August)
- Revenue averages $7,918 per month
- Occupancy rates average 60.2%
- Daily rates average $331
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $6,228 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 49.2%
- Daily rates hold near $337
Low Season (January, February, December)
- Revenue drops to average $4,968 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 39.3%
- Daily rates adjust to average $363
Seasonality Insights for Santa Cruz
- The Airbnb seasonality in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $8,630, occupancy reaching a high of 65.0%, and ADRs peaking at $385.
- 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 $4,573, occupancy could drop to 37.9%, and ADRs may adjust down to $311.
- 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 Santa Cruz.
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 Santa Cruz seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in Santa Cruz (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in Santa Cruz? 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Westside | A popular residential area known for its proximity to the beach and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Ideal for families and vacationers looking for beach access and local attractions. | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Main Beach, Santa Cruz Wharf, Natural Bridges State Beach, Cowell Beach |
| Downtown Santa Cruz | The vibrant downtown area features shopping, dining, and nightlife, making it an attractive spot for visitors looking to immerse themselves in the local culture. | Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Local shops and eateries, Rebel Kitchen, The Catalyst |
| Capitola | A charming seaside village with its quaint shops and restaurants, Capitola offers a picturesque beach experience, making it highly sought after by tourists and renters alike. | Capitola Village, Capitola Beach, Shadowbrook Restaurant, The Esplanade, Capitola Wharf |
| Seabright | A tranquil beach community adjacent to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, perfect for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience with close access to the action. | Seabright State Beach, Santa Cruz Harbor, Seabright Brewery, Arana Gulch, Mariners Point |
| East Cliff | Known for its beautiful ocean views and coastal walking paths, East Cliff attracts visitors seeking scenic beauty and outdoor activities. | East Cliff Drive, Its Beach, Twin Lakes State Beach, Scarlett's, The Point |
| Soquel | A suburban area just a few minutes from Santa Cruz, known for its wineries and laid-back atmosphere, appealing to visitors looking for a more relaxed vibe. | Bargetto Winery, Kresge Estate Winery, The Soquel Creek, Local parks and trails, Soquel Village |
| Felton | Nestled in the redwoods, Felton is ideal for those looking to experience nature and outdoor activities while being a short drive from Santa Cruz attractions. | Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton Covered Bridge, Roaring Camp Railroads, Local hiking trails, Pogonip Open Space |
| Aptos | Aptos offers stunning beaches and a quaint village atmosphere, drawing visitors for its relaxed charm and beautiful scenery. | Aptos Beach, Seacliff State Beach, Aptos Village, The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Local shops and restaurants |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in Santa Cruz (2025)
While Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, finding no licensed listings among those analyzed)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Santa Cruz (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in Santa Cruzbased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
Luxury Oceanview Compound for 30
Entire Place • 14 bedrooms
WOW! Luxury 5000sf Oceanview next to Main Beach
Entire Place • 9 bedrooms
Alpine Retreat with Pool, Sauna, and Hot tub LS1
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Sunlit Surf Retreat
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Vistamar on Seabright Beach
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
West Cliff Villa
Entire Place • 8 bedrooms
Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.
Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in Santa Cruz (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in Santa Cruz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek | 5 | $1,304,677 | 164 | 3.97/5.0 |
| Ovr | 8 | $804,976 | 1321 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Michael And Ashlie | 6 | $800,164 | 1203 | 4.95/5.0 |
| Janiece | 7 | $482,728 | 443 | 4.85/5.0 |
| Laurel | 3 | $433,637 | 69 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Sean | 1 | $407,473 | 32 | 4.97/5.0 |
| Rex | 4 | $379,165 | 1036 | 4.87/5.0 |
| Surf City | 9 | $375,346 | 316 | 4.78/5.0 |
| Gabriela | 1 | $343,191 | 14 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Beachnest Vacation Rentals | 5 | $306,264 | 29 | 2.88/5.0 |
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 Santa Cruz.
Dive Deeper: Advanced Santa Cruz STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for Santa Cruz. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsSanta Cruz Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for Santa Cruz
- The Santa Cruz Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 83% of the 282 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- Looking at the property type distribution in Santa Cruz, House properties are the most common (64.5%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 64.5% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 19.9% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
- Smaller segments like outdoor/unique (combined 0.4%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.
Santa Cruz Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for Santa Cruz
- The dominant room capacity in Santa Cruz is 1 bedroom listings, making up 31.6% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms properties represent 53.2% of the active Airbnb listings in Santa Cruz, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- A significant 33.6% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for Santa Cruz
- The most common guest capacity trend in Santa Cruz vacation rentals is listings accommodating 2 guests (23.8%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely couples or solo travelers.
- Properties designed for 2 guests and 8+ guests dominate the Santa Cruz STR market, accounting for 43.3% of listings.
- 38.3% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in Santa Cruz.
- On average, properties in Santa Cruz are equipped to host 4.3 guests.
Santa Cruz Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for Santa Cruz
- The most common availability pattern in Santa Cruz falls within the 91-180 days range, representing 32.3% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 61.0% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 181-270 days range is most frequent in Santa Cruz (31.9%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 39.7% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
Santa Cruz Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
65 listings
25.1% of total
2 Nights
68 listings
26.3% of total
3 Nights
23 listings
8.9% of total
4-6 Nights
15 listings
5.8% of total
7-29 Nights
14 listings
5.4% of total
30+ Nights
74 listings
28.6% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in Santa Cruz is 30+ Nights, adopted by 28.6% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for longer commitments.
- A significant segment (28.6%) caters to monthly stays (30+ nights) in Santa Cruz, pointing to opportunities in the extended-stay market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 30+ Nights minimum stay, as 28.6% of Santa Cruz hosts use this setting.
- If feasible, allowing 1-night stays, especially midweek or during low season, could capture last-minute bookings, as only 25.1% currently do.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 28.6% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Super Strict 30 Days
8 listings
3.2% of total
Super Strict 60 Days
5 listings
2% of total
Flexible
28 listings
11.1% of total
Moderate
78 listings
30.8% of total
Firm
47 listings
18.6% of total
Strict
87 listings
34.4% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for Santa Cruz
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in Santa Cruz is Strict, used by 34.4% of listings.
- A majority (53.0%) of hosts in Santa Cruz utilize Firm or Strict policies, indicating a market where hosts prioritize booking security.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Strict policy to align with the 34.4% market standard in Santa Cruz.
- With 34.4% using Strict terms, this is a viable option in Santa Cruz, particularly for high-value properties or during peak demand periods.
- Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for Santa Cruz
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in Santa Cruz is 58 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during July (average 84 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in February (average 45 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Summer (78 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Winter (51 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (58 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in Santa Cruz.
- For July stays, consider implementing length-of-stay discounts or slightly higher rates for bookings made less than 84 days out to capitalize on advance planning.
- Target marketing efforts for the Summer season well in advance (at least 78 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these Santa Cruz averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in Santa Cruz (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for Santa Cruz
- Essential amenities in Santa Cruz that guests expect include: Wifi, Smoke alarm, Heating, Carbon monoxide alarm. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Essentials, Hot water, TV are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for Santa Cruz: Wifi, Smoke alarm, Heating, Carbon monoxide alarm.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: Wifi, Smoke alarm, Heating, Carbon monoxide alarm.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Essentials or Hot water 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 Santa Cruz to stay competitive.
Santa Cruz Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for Santa Cruz
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in Santa Cruz consists of primarily domestic travelers (93%), often arriving from nearby San Francisco, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Spanish.
- Domestic travelers account for 93.0% of guests.
- Key international markets include United States (93%) and United Kingdom (1.7%).
- Top languages spoken are English (61.6%) followed by Spanish (15%).
- 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 Francisco 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 Santa Cruz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Point | 15 | $14,673 | $993.70 | 55% |
| Del Monte Forest | 101 | $9,923 | $908.42 | 45% |
| Moss Beach | 33 | $9,049 | $627.14 | 54% |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | 303 | $8,195 | $647.28 | 47% |
| Castroville | 18 | $7,518 | $503.72 | 51% |
| Carmel | 34 | $7,097 | $521.06 | 49% |
| Stinson Beach | 91 | $6,976 | $683.22 | 46% |
| Montara | 24 | $6,855 | $425.39 | 53% |
| Sand City | 10 | $6,438 | $428.56 | 60% |
| Ross | 10 | $6,326 | $481.09 | 53% |