Bottom line
Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz County score similarly on the metrics that matter most for short-term rental returns. The right pick depends on whether you optimise for yield (lower regulation risk, higher RevPAR) or capital growth.
Head-to-head metrics
| Pacific Grove | Santa Cruz County | |
|---|---|---|
| Median occupancy | 42% | 42% |
| Median daily rate | $303 | $266 |
| Median RevPAR | $84.4 | $70.5 |
| Active listings | 191 | 1,368 |
| YoY occupancy | +10.8 pts | +12.4 pts |
| YoY daily rate | +6.3% | -0.7% |
| Regulation risk | — | — |
| Annual night cap | None | None |
| License required | No | No |
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