Bottom line
San Mateo County and Santa Clara 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
| San Mateo County | Santa Clara County | |
|---|---|---|
| Median occupancy | 36% | 36% |
| Median daily rate | $159 | $114 |
| Median RevPAR | $40.2 | $21.4 |
| Active listings | 2,302 | 4,277 |
| YoY occupancy | +9.7 pts | +17.9 pts |
| YoY daily rate | +0.6% | +3.6% |
| Regulation risk | — | — |
| Annual night cap | None | None |
| License required | No | No |
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