Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Merced, California, United States
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Merced? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in Merced:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Merced?
The short-term rental market in Merced shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $1,074 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $2,417 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $3,907+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $507
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Merced
The market in Merced shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 42% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 64% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 81%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 21%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Merced
Daily rates in Merced vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $72 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $145 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $191+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $41
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Merced
Peak Season (June, May, March)
- Revenue peaks at $2000.06 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 51.54%
- Daily rates average $103.94
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $1672.35 per month
- Occupancy maintains 43.71%
- Daily rates hold at $96.90
Low Season (September, August, January)
- Revenue drops to $1036.81 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 32.48%
- Daily rates adjust to $90.46
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Merced in 2025?
Yes! Merced demonstrates moderate seasonality with good off-peak opportunities, featuring a growing occupancy rate of 44% and solid monthly revenue averaging $1672 and The market's 163 active listings indicate growing demand with plenty of opportunity for new properties. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in Merced
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Merced | The vibrant heart of Merced featuring shops, restaurants, and community events. Ideal for guests wanting to experience local culture and entertainment. | Merced Courthouse Museum, Playhouse Merced, Merced Farmers Market, Applegate Park Zoo |
| University of California, Merced | With a growing student population and faculty, this area is perfect for short-term rentals catering to students, visitors, and university events. | UC Merced campus, Lake Yosemite, Yosemite National Park access, local eateries |
| North Merced | A suburban area with family-friendly amenities and parks, attracting families and groups looking for a comfortable stay. | Merced Mall, Lake Yosemite, Grocery stores, Local parks |
| South Merced | A quieter neighborhood with residential charm, ideal for guests seeking peace while still being close to city amenities. | Local parks, Community centers, Grocery stores, Neighborhood cafes |
| East Merced | Emerging area with new developments and access to major roads, appealing to travelers who need convenient transportation. | Merced College, Civic Center, Nearby shopping centers, Parks |
| Atwater (near Merced) | A neighboring city close to Merced offering affordable accommodations and access to regional amenities, popular for family reunions and groups. | Atwater Park, Local dining options, Shopping centers, Military Museum |
| Winton (near Merced) | A small town experience for those looking for rural charm, appealing to travelers wanting a quieter, pastoral setting. | Winton Public Park, Local markets, Community events, Nearby farms |
| Los Banos (near Merced) | A short drive from Merced, this area offers a more rural getaway with fishing and outdoor activities, appealing to nature lovers and travelers seeking adventure. | Los Banos Park, San Luis Reservoir, Wildlife areas, Fishing spots |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Merced?
We recommend checking directly with Merced's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (0% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Merced
The Merced Hub
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Cozy home featuring 120” theater, near park & UC
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
6BR home in Merced
Entire Place • 6 bedrooms
Spacious Merced Vacation Rental!
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Cozy Family Home Near UC Merced and Yosemite
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Spacious Merced Home ~ 4 Mi to Downtown!
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Merced
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Merced
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by private room listings (50.9%), with house and others properties comprising 90.8% of inventory
- Untapped potential in boutique & hotels, apartment & condo, outdoor & mobile, unique stays segments (9.2% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 163 properties in Merced shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 24.5% of the market. The market tends to favor larger properties, with 1 bedroom and 3 bedrooms together representing 41.1% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (24.5%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (1.8%)
- Market concentration: 41.1% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors larger properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 163 properties in Merced reveals that 8+ guests properties dominate the market, representing 15.3% of all listings. The average property accommodates 3.0 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 8+ guests and 2 guests make up 30.1% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 8+ guests (15.3% of market)
- Least common capacity: 7 guests (2.5% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 3.0 guests per property
- Market concentration: 30.1% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 163 properties in Merced, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (39.9% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 91-180 days (31.3% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 271-366 days (39.9%)
- Most common booking duration: 91-180 days (31.3%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 68.7%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 31.9%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
62 listings
41.9% of total
2 Nights
46 listings
31.1% of total
3 Nights
13 listings
8.8% of total
4-6 Nights
5 listings
3.4% of total
7-29 Nights
9 listings
6.1% of total
30+ Nights
13 listings
8.8% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 73.0%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 3.4% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (8.8%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 81.8% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Consider monthly stay discounts to capture the growing extended-stay market
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Super Strict 30 Days
1 listings
0.7% of total
Flexible
37 listings
26.8% of total
Moderate
26 listings
18.8% of total
Firm
22 listings
15.9% of total
Strict
52 listings
37.7% of total
Key Insights
- Strict is the preferred policy at 37.7% of listings
- The market shows a balanced distribution between guest-friendly (45.6%) and strict (53.6%) policies
- Strong market consensus around Strict policies
- Super Strict 30 Days policies are least common at 0.7% of listings
Recommendations
- Market supports various policies - choose based on your property type and target guests
- Strong market preference for Strict policies suggests this should be your baseline
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Mar, Apr, Nov, averaging 35 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Aug, Sep, Jan, averaging 23 days
- Spring shows the longest average booking window at 35 days, while Winter has the shortest at 25 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Spring bookings at least 35 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Aug-Jan when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Merced
Every property in Merced comes standard with Wifi. Below shows the distribution of other amenities:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 85.1% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: Germany (2.4%) and Canada (1.8%)
- English is the top language at 68.5%, followed by Spanish (20%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 8.9%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for Los Angeles and Merced markets
- Develop localized content for Germany and Canada
- Prioritize English and Spanish language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding Merced. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Point | 14 | $17,197 | $1060.21 | 54% |
| Big Sur | 10 | $13,758 | $1307.48 | 49% |
| Del Monte Forest | 102 | $10,351 | $907.23 | 47% |
| Carmel-by-the-Sea | 309 | $8,776 | $666.30 | 48% |
| Castroville | 17 | $7,310 | $487.40 | 52% |
| Carmel | 34 | $7,238 | $515.98 | 51% |
| Wawona | 62 | $7,189 | $515.43 | 48% |
| Marina | 58 | $6,665 | $379.64 | 53% |
| Pajaro Dunes | 65 | $6,643 | $528.38 | 44% |
| Pleasure Point | 101 | $6,479 | $474.19 | 53% |
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