Castro Valley, California Short-Term Rental Market
Castro Valley STRs averaged $133/night at 69.3% occupancy in April 2026, with a total market score of 88.5 out of 100 driven by near-perfect year-round demand.
Quick Answer: Castro Valley, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 80%. average monthly revenue is $3,157. average daily rate is $150. the top operator is Blueground with 163 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Oakland regional market, which includes Castro Valley. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Castro Valley.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Castro Valley is an unincorporated suburban community in Alameda County’s East Bay, approximately 20 miles southeast of San Francisco. While not a traditional tourism destination, it functions as a practical base market for Bay Area visitors, UC Berkeley-area travelers, and regional business transients, supported by proximity to Lake Chabot and Anthony Chabot Regional Parks.
As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $133.37 and occupancy of 69.3%, producing average monthly revenue of $2,551 per active listing. RevPAR stood at $92.48. Despite the relatively modest nightly rates, the market’s total score of 88.52 out of 100 is high, supported by a seasonality score of 99.13 (near-perfect year-round demand), rental demand score of 83.23, and revenue growth score of 85.35.
The listing mix is dominated by entire-place rentals (6,161 of 8,885 classified listings), with private rooms at 2,648 and shared rooms at 76. The private-room share is notably high at 29.8% of classified listings, reflecting the Bay Area’s significant home-sharing culture. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units dominate with 5,469 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (1,678) and 3-bedroom (1,017). Larger properties make up 489 four-bedroom and 208 five-bedroom listings.
Channel distribution is Airbnb-heavy: 6,784 Airbnb-only listings, 1,839 on both platforms, and 262 VRBO-only. VRBO’s share is minimal, consistent with urban Bay Area markets.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy rose +1.68 percentage points, ADR was essentially flat at -0.01%, and revenue grew +2.91%.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63% | $111 | $1,979 |
| Feb | 69% | $114 | $2,011 |
| Mar | 70% | $117 | $2,254 |
| Apr | 68% | $118 | $2,208 |
| May | 72% | $125 | $2,394 |
| Jun | 76% | $130 | $2,617 |
| Jul | 77% | $127 | $2,679 |
| Aug | 75% | $126 | $2,612 |
| Sep | 72% | $121 | $2,350 |
| Oct | 70% | $120 | $2,355 |
| Nov | 65% | $118 | $2,089 |
| Dec | 63% | $120 | $2,108 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Castro Valley
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 163 | 72 | ★ 4.45 |
| 2 | Evolve | 73 | 1,431 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | 2B Living | 28 | 60 | ★ 4.45 |
| 4 | Jonajo Consulting | 25 | 889 | ★ 4.87 |
| 5 | Academic Housing Rentals Inc. | 24 | 57 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Castro Valley?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 5,469 |
| 2 bed | 1,678 |
| 3 bed | 1,017 |
| 4 bed | 489 |
| 5 bed | 208 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $188 |
| Luxury | $267 |
| Professionally Managed | $198 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,864 |
| Entire Place | $3,915 |
| House | $3,287 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 76.4% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 20.7% |
Investment Analysis
No housing snapshot data is available for Castro Valley in this dataset, so a gross yield calculation cannot be performed. The April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,551 annualizes to approximately $30,600 before operating expenses. The 2025 annual average of $2,597 per month annualizes to approximately $31,200.
The tier data shows the spread available to well-positioned operators. Luxury-tier listings achieved an ADR of $224.77 in April 2026, 68% above the all-listing average of $133.37. Professionally managed properties averaged $163.82 per night, matching the entire-home average of $163.61. Entire-place listings averaged $3,090 per month in April, well above the all-listing average of $2,551, indicating the upside from owning versus room-sharing.
From a trend perspective, ADR has risen from $100 in 2017 to $135 in 2025, a 35% increase over eight years. Annual average revenue grew from $1,882 in 2017 to $2,651 in 2022, then moderated to $2,597 in 2025. The 2025 revenue figure is the second highest on record, reflecting a recovery from the 2023-2024 dip.
The investability score of 45.66 is the market’s weakest dimension, reflecting relatively low absolute revenue against likely high East Bay real estate acquisition costs. However, the combination of near-constant year-round demand (seasonality 99.13) and strong rental demand (83.23) means the market is highly predictable for operators who focus on consistent occupancy rather than peak-season rate premiums. The minimal regulatory burden under Alameda County’s light-touch framework is also a positive factor for operators.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Castro Valley guests book an average of 29.8 days in advance as of April 2026, approximately one month of lead time. This is the shortest booking window of the five markets in this batch, consistent with a Bay Area suburban market where guests plan on a compressed timeline relative to destination vacation markets.
Average length of stay is 6.98 nights, approaching a week-long stay. This is the longest average stay of any market in this batch and reflects Castro Valley’s urban extended-stay profile: Bay Area business travelers, relocation stays, and visitors on extended family trips tend to book longer than destination leisure travelers.
The 6.98-night average has significant operational implications. At that length, a property hosts fewer than five guest groups per month, reducing cleaning frequency and turnover costs compared to short-stay markets. Operators can set minimum-stay requirements of 5-7 nights without significantly compressing bookings in this market. Pricing adjustments should be implemented 3-5 weeks ahead of any anticipated high-demand periods given the compressed lead time.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Castro Valley is unincorporated and governed by Alameda County rather than a city. Alameda County has not adopted a dedicated short-term-rental ordinance as of mid-2026. Short-term rentals are permitted.
Operators must register their unit with the Alameda County Rental Housing Registry (adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2022) and obtain a county business license. No STR-specific permit is required beyond these general business and rental registrations. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no maximum nights cap.
A Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) does apply to lodging stays of 30 days or less in unincorporated Alameda County under County Ordinance Code Chapter 2.132, administered by the Treasurer-Tax Collector. The specific current TOT rate could not be confirmed from a primary county source during data collection. Operators must confirm the current rate directly with the Alameda County Treasurer-Tax Collector at (510) 272-6800 before commencing operations. Airbnb may collect and remit county TOT on hosts’ behalf in some California jurisdictions; confirm current treatment with both Airbnb and the county.
One important restriction: accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Alameda County’s unincorporated areas generally may not be rented for stays under 30 days, effectively barring short-stay STR use of ADUs. Standard residential zoning, plus county noise and parking regulations, apply.
Enforcement is rated minimal. No major regulatory changes to the STR framework were identified for 2024-2025.
Market Comparison
Castro Valley’s April 2026 ADR of $133.37 is well below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting its role as an affordable urban Bay Area accommodation option rather than a premium leisure destination. However, occupancy of 69.3% is well above the national median of approximately 55%, demonstrating consistently strong demand despite the below-median rate.
RevPAR of $92.48 is below the national benchmark (approximately $121 at median rates and occupancy), reflecting the low ADR. The market’s value proposition is volume and consistency rather than premium pricing.
The five largest property managers in this market are Blueground (163 listings, 72 reviews, 4.453 rating), Evolve (73 listings, 1,431 reviews, 4.501 rating), 2B Living (28 listings, 60 reviews, 4.445 rating), Jonajo Consulting (25 listings, 889 reviews, 4.868 rating), and Academic Housing Rentals Inc. (24 listings, 57 reviews, 4.752 rating). Blueground leads by listing count but has very few reviews per listing. Jonajo Consulting has the highest average rating among the top five at 4.868, with a meaningful review base for its size. Academic Housing Rentals’ name reflects the educational institution demand that partially drives this market, given Castro Valley’s position between Cal State East Bay and the broader UC Berkeley corridor.
The total market score of 88.52 is the highest of the five areas in this batch and places Castro Valley in the top tier of suburban Bay Area STR markets by composite performance. The dominant strength dimensions are seasonality (99.13) and rental demand (83.23). The main weakness is investability (45.66), tied to the combination of low absolute revenue and high East Bay real estate prices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Castro Valley, California
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