Murphys, California Short-Term Rental Market
Murphys, CA STRs averaged $288/night at 41.2% occupancy in April 2026, with July reaching 64.3% occupancy and $5,034 average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Murphys, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $5,625. average daily rate is $360. the top operator is Evolve with 209 listings. market score is 58/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Northern Sierra Mtns regional market, which includes Murphys. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Murphys.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Murphys, CA is an unincorporated community in Calaveras County in the Sierra Nevada foothills, drawing visitors year-round for Gold Country wine touring, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, and proximity to Bear Valley ski area. The STR market carries 4,819 entire-place listings, 164 private-room listings, and 1 shared-room unit. Bedroom distribution: 1,083 one-bedroom, 1,037 two-bedroom, 1,882 three-bedroom, 735 four-bedroom, and 242 five-bedroom listings, with three-bedroom properties being the most common.
In April 2026, the market posted a $287.62 average daily rate, 41.2% occupancy, and $3,453 average monthly revenue per listing. RevPAR was $118.53. Year-over-year trends are flat: occupancy dipped 0.07 percentage points, ADR fell 0.83%, and revenue declined 0.60%, indicating a market in brief consolidation after the strong 2020 to 2021 post-pandemic surge. Channel split: 2,000 Airbnb-only listings, 320 VRBO-only, and 2,664 on both platforms. The market’s total investment score is 57.83 out of 100, with an investability score of 70.75.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37% | $266 | $2,829 |
| Feb | 46% | $271 | $2,936 |
| Mar | 40% | $258 | $2,992 |
| Apr | 46% | $262 | $3,277 |
| May | 54% | $280 | $3,714 |
| Jun | 61% | $303 | $4,686 |
| Jul | 64% | $291 | $5,038 |
| Aug | 54% | $285 | $4,300 |
| Sep | 44% | $269 | $3,255 |
| Oct | 46% | $254 | $3,286 |
| Nov | 42% | $248 | $2,616 |
| Dec | 46% | $272 | $3,165 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Murphys
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 209 | 10,374 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 139 | 6,780 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Cedar Creek Realty | 131 | 2,818 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | The Redwoods In Yosemite | 127 | 3,345 | ★ 4.60 |
| 5 | Yosemite's Scenic Wonders | 78 | 14,742 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Murphys?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,083 |
| 2 bed | 1,037 |
| 3 bed | 1,882 |
| 4 bed | 735 |
| 5 bed | 242 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $366 |
| Luxury | $615 |
| Professionally Managed | $462 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,740 |
| Entire Place | $5,726 |
| House | $5,915 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40.1% |
| vrbo | 6.4% |
| both | 53.5% |
Investment Analysis
Murphys presents a mid-tier investment profile with a solid ADR relative to entry costs, balanced against a recent flat revenue trend. The typical home value is $480,343, with active listings median-priced at $538,167 and 50 properties for sale.
At April 2026’s average revenue of $3,453 per month, projecting 12 months yields approximately $41,435 annually, a gross return of roughly 8.6% on a median-valued asset. The 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $3,805 provides a more stable underwriting benchmark. Professional management commands a significant premium: $360.82 per night versus the market average of $287.62, a 25% lift. Luxury-tier properties average $464.43 per night, 61% above the market average. Revenue for houses averages $3,540 per month and entire-place listings average $3,507. The market’s flat YoY metrics (occupancy -0.07%, ADR -0.83%, revenue -0.60%) suggest this market has stabilized from pandemic-era peaks. Historical data shows the 2021 peak annual ADR of $279 and revenue of $4,394 per month, with gradual moderation since.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Murphys guests book approximately 48.0 days in advance and stay an average of 3.15 nights. The 48-day lead window reflects the advance planning behavior of Bay Area and Sacramento-region wine country visitors. The 3.15-night average stay is consistent with a winery weekend getaway pattern (Friday to Monday). Operators who hold weekend minimum stays at 3 nights during peak wine season (May through October) while opening up 2-night minimums for midweek inventory can improve overall occupancy without sacrificing weekend revenue. The 48-day window gives pricing tools sufficient lead time to adjust rates as the booking window compresses, particularly for the July summer peak.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Murphys is in unincorporated Calaveras County, so short-term rentals are governed by county rules rather than a city code. Operating an STR requires registering with the Calaveras County Tax Collector to obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. The TOT rate is 12%, raised from 6% by voter-approved Measure G (effective December 14). Airbnb collects and remits the 12% TOT for listings in unincorporated Calaveras County. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement on record.
A countywide Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance (Title 20, Chapter 20.20) is in draft form and was released for public review in August 2024. When adopted, it will require every STVR to obtain a permit with occupancy caps tied to number of rooms and available parking, no live amplified music, no guests after 10pm, trash removal between occupancies, and a posted manager phone number. No nights-per-year cap is included in the draft. The final ordinance is pending Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors hearings; investors should monitor Calaveras County for the adoption timeline and final permit fee structure. Enforcement under the current framework is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
At 41.2% occupancy in April 2026, Murphys is below the US STR median annual occupancy of approximately 55%, which is expected for a shoulder month in a wine country market. The July peak of 64.3% is above the US median. The April 2026 ADR of $287.62 is well above the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium commanded in this Northern California wine and nature destination.
The top operator is Evolve with 209 listings and 10,374 reviews at a 4.730 rating. Vacasa follows with 139 listings and 6,780 reviews at a 4.467 rating. Cedar Creek Realty holds 131 listings at a 4.678 rating across 2,818 reviews. The Redwoods In Yosemite operates 127 listings at a 4.601 rating, and Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders holds 78 listings with 14,742 reviews at an exceptional 4.785 rating. The top three operators account for 479 listings. The presence of Yosemite-branded operators in the top five signals that this market overlaps with the broader Central Sierra/Yosemite visitor corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murphys, California
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