Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in San Mateo, 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 San Mateo? 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 San Mateo:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in San Mateo?
The short-term rental market in San Mateo 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 $2,936 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $5,121 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $7,318+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $1,526
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in San Mateo
The market in San Mateo 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 59% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 80% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 90%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 31%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in San Mateo
Daily rates in San Mateo 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 $143 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $228 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $350+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $87
Daily Rate Variations by Month
Get Live San Mateo Market Intelligence 👇
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Explore Real-time Analytics
Seasonality patterns in San Mateo
Peak Season (June, July, October)
- Revenue peaks at $4419.32 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 65.23%
- Daily rates average $199.01
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $3724.09 per month
- Occupancy maintains 55.08%
- Daily rates hold at $190.61
Low Season (April, February, January)
- Revenue drops to $2918.07 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 46.69%
- Daily rates adjust to $185.80
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in San Mateo in 2025?
Yes! San Mateo demonstrates moderate seasonality with good off-peak opportunities, featuring a healthy occupancy rate of 55% and strong monthly revenue averaging $3724 and The market's 180 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 San Mateo
Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
---|---|---|
Downtown San Mateo | The vibrant center of the city with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. It's a hub for both business and leisure travelers due to its accessibility and amenities. | Central Park, San Mateo County History Museum, Downtown shops and restaurants, Events Plaza, San Mateo Performing Arts Center |
San Mateo Park | A charming and quiet residential neighborhood with beautiful homes and parks, ideal for families and travelers looking for a peaceful stay with easy access to the city’s amenities. | Central Park, Laurelwood Park, Pine Hill Park, Coyote Point Recreation Area, Los Prados Park |
Burlingame | Located just south of San Mateo, Burlingame offers a picturesque downtown area and proximity to the Bay. It's known for its upscale dining and shopping, attracting visitors looking for a serene suburban experience. | Burlingame Avenue, Coyote Point Park, Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia, Washington Park, The San Francisco Bay Trail |
Bayside | A beautiful waterfront area ideal for nature enthusiasts. It provides a perfect vessel for recreational activities and access to stunning bay views, making it attractive for outdoor lovers and families. | Coyote Point Recreation Area, Bayside Park, Poplar Creek Golf Course, San Mateo Shoreline, Bay Trail |
Hillsdale | A suburban neighborhood known for its shopping mall and proximity to major transportation links. It appeals to visitors looking for convenience and access to various attractions in the Bay Area. | Hillsdale Shopping Center, Gellert Park, San Mateo's Japanese Garden, Laurelwood Park, The San Francisco Bay Area |
Foster City | A planned community with a variety of outdoor activities and scenic waterways. Popular for families and professionals looking for a community feel while still being close to the urban areas of San Mateo and beyond. | Foster City Lagoon, Leo J. Ryan Park, Foster City Parks and Recreation, The San Francisco Bay Trail, Maguire Academy of Aeronautics |
Slice of Paradise | A fresh, emerging neighborhood filled with quaint shops and eateries. It attracts younger demographics and those seeking local experiences away from the mainstream tourist spots. | Local Art Galleries, Trendy Cafés, Riverside Walks, Community Events, Night Markets |
Bridgepointe | A retail and residential area that appeals to visitors looking for convenience and amenities. It's close to major roads and transportation options, making it ideal for short stays. | Bridgepointe Shopping Center, Nearby Restaurants, Coyote Point Recreation Area, Nature Trails, Community Parks |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in San Mateo?
We recommend checking directly with San Mateo's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (1% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in San Mateo
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LG Spacious Comfy Modern 8BR Group Retreat, Quiet
Entire Place • 8 bedrooms
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@ Marbella Lane - Modern Refreshing Home
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
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Tesla EV Charger Basketball Pool Table Hot Tub Spa
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
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Lovely 3b2b house with garden & grill 12min to SFO
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
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Lovely Home in Kid Friendly Neighborhood
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
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Spacious Modern House
Entire Place • 5 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in San Mateo
Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
Emily | 12 | $482,356 | 98 | 4.46/5.0 |
Alex | 3 | $300,047 | 55 | 3.32/5.0 |
Sharon | 4 | $278,229 | 434 | 4.95/5.0 |
Wendy | 3 | $189,118 | 118 | 4.51/5.0 |
Victor 5 | 3 | $153,388 | 189 | 4.69/5.0 |
Alvin | 6 | $143,767 | 803 | 4.75/5.0 |
Saik Kia | 2 | $131,099 | 110 | 4.87/5.0 |
Susan | 2 | $123,613 | 30 | 4.81/5.0 |
Kenny | 3 | $116,590 | 689 | 4.87/5.0 |
Jason | 1 | $114,095 | 42 | 5.00/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in San Mateo
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 entire home listings (61.7%), with house and apartment & condo properties comprising 85.0% of inventory
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 180 properties in San Mateo shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 31.7% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 3 bedrooms together representing 46.1% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (31.7%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (2.8%)
- Market concentration: 46.1% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 180 properties in San Mateo reveals that 2 guests properties dominate the market, representing 23.9% of all listings. The average property accommodates 3.0 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 2 guests and 4 guests make up 37.8% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 2 guests (23.9% of market)
- Least common capacity: 3 guests (2.8% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 3.0 guests per property
- Market concentration: 37.8% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 180 properties in San Mateo, the most common availability pattern is 91-180 days (31.1% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 181-270 days (32.2% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 91-180 days (31.1%)
- Most common booking duration: 181-270 days (32.2%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 57.2%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 44.4%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
41 listings
25.8% of total
2 Nights
44 listings
27.7% of total
3 Nights
11 listings
6.9% of total
4-6 Nights
10 listings
6.3% of total
7-29 Nights
14 listings
8.8% of total
30+ Nights
39 listings
24.5% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 53.5%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 6.3% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (24.5%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 60.4% 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
Flexible
20 listings
12.9% of total
Moderate
54 listings
34.8% of total
Firm
33 listings
21.3% of total
Strict
48 listings
31% of total
Key Insights
- Moderate is the preferred policy at 34.8% of listings
- The market shows a balanced distribution between guest-friendly (47.7%) and strict (52.3%) policies
- Strong market consensus around Moderate policies
- Flexible policies are least common at 12.9% of listings
Recommendations
- Market supports various policies - choose based on your property type and target guests
- Strong market preference for Moderate policies suggests this should be your baseline
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Jun, Jul, Aug, averaging 63 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Feb, Mar, Jan, averaging 34 days
- Summer shows the longest average booking window at 63 days, while Winter has the shortest at 36 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Summer bookings at least 63 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Feb-Jan when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in San Mateo
Every property in San Mateo comes standard with Wifi. Below shows the distribution of other amenities:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 82.6% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: Canada (3.8%) and China (2.3%)
- English is the top language at 69%, followed by Spanish (13.4%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 5.6%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for San Francisco and San Mateo markets
- Develop localized content for Canada and China
- 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 San Mateo. 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% |
Sonoma | 226 | $9,950 | $763.78 | 46% |
Eldridge | 18 | $9,899 | $862.21 | 44% |
Glen Ellen | 79 | $9,092 | $738.01 | 44% |
Carmel-by-the-Sea | 309 | $8,776 | $666.30 | 48% |
Dillon Beach | 79 | $8,690 | $647.65 | 44% |
Moss Beach | 35 | $8,668 | $635.23 | 51% |
Kenwood | 55 | $8,081 | $707.34 | 40% |
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