Dunsmuir, California Short-Term Rental Market
Dunsmuir STRs averaged $233/night at 52.3% occupancy in April 2026, with July peaks reaching 69.7%.
Quick Answer: Dunsmuir, California is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,715. average daily rate is $273. the top operator is Vacasa with 383 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the California North Area regional market, which includes Dunsmuir. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Dunsmuir.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dunsmuir is a small Northern California mountain town of approximately 1,644 residents situated along the Upper Sacramento River in Siskiyou County. The short-term rental market here is concentrated almost entirely in entire-place listings (8,508 of 9,339 total listings, or about 91%), reflecting the area’s appeal as a destination for outdoor recreation and nature tourism. Private rooms account for another 829 listings, with just 2 shared-room units.
In April 2026, the overall average daily rate stood at $232.74 and average occupancy reached 52.3%, yielding a RevPAR of $121.70 and average monthly host revenue of $3,229. On a year-over-year basis, ADR grew 2.9%, occupancy edged up 0.3%, and revenue rose 5.2%, indicating measured but consistent improvement.
Airbnb dominates the distribution channel mix: 4,873 listings appear exclusively on Airbnb, 628 on VRBO alone, and 3,838 on both platforms. By bedroom count, the market skews toward smaller units: 1-bedroom listings account for 3,775 of the total, followed by 2-bedroom (2,233), 3-bedroom (2,104), 4-bedroom (853), and 5-bedroom (360). The market’s overall StaySTRA score is 68.6 out of 100, with rental demand (75.9) and seasonality (73.8) as the top-performing sub-scores.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $180 | $2,217 |
| Feb | 49% | $183 | $2,216 |
| Mar | 52% | $187 | $2,624 |
| Apr | 55% | $194 | $2,811 |
| May | 58% | $206 | $2,976 |
| Jun | 66% | $226 | $3,857 |
| Jul | 70% | $222 | $4,173 |
| Aug | 65% | $217 | $3,818 |
| Sep | 56% | $205 | $3,078 |
| Oct | 53% | $195 | $2,830 |
| Nov | 51% | $195 | $2,520 |
| Dec | 49% | $193 | $2,591 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Dunsmuir
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 383 | 38,837 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | Evolve | 221 | 9,277 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Casago | 123 | 6,561 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Humboldt Retreats | 71 | 4,291 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 55 | 4,143 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Dunsmuir?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,775 |
| 2 bed | 2,233 |
| 3 bed | 2,104 |
| 4 bed | 853 |
| 5 bed | 360 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $285 |
| Luxury | $474 |
| Professionally Managed | $358 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,111 |
| Entire Place | $4,969 |
| House | $5,149 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.2% |
| vrbo | 6.7% |
| both | 41.1% |
Investment Analysis
Dunsmuir’s STR investment picture is shaped by a clear tier structure in rates. The all-listings ADR of $232.74 rises to $243.69 for entire-home listings, $306.60 for professionally managed properties, and $426.80 for luxury-tier units. Investors who move up the tier ladder can capture meaningfully higher nightly revenue.
At an average monthly revenue of $3,229, an operator running a well-positioned property could reasonably project annualized gross revenue around $38,750, though actual performance will vary by bedroom count, tier, and season. Houses specifically average $3,499 per month at the latest data point, while apartments average $2,050 and entire-place listings average $3,384.
Housing price data for Dunsmuir is not available in the current dataset, so a formal gross yield calculation cannot be made. Given the small-market context (population 1,644) and mountain-town seasonal dynamics, prospective investors should obtain local comparable sales data independently before underwriting returns. The market’s investability sub-score of 66.2 and revenue growth sub-score of 67.3 point to a modestly positive but not outsized investment signal.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Dunsmuir guests book an average of 44.6 days in advance, reflecting a moderate planning horizon typical of drive-to mountain destinations. This lead time gives operators a roughly 6-week pricing window to adjust rates before arrival, with meaningful opportunity to capture late demand for shoulder-season stays.
Average length of stay is 3.55 nights, positioning the market between pure weekend-getaway and week-long vacation profiles. A 3.6-night average means most guests arrive on Thursday or Friday and depart Sunday or Monday, which can reduce mid-week gaps if minimum stay policies are calibrated accordingly. Operators setting a 3-night minimum will generally align with guest booking behavior without leaving significant occupancy on the table.
For pricing strategy, the 44-day advance window suggests that dynamic pricing tools should be monitoring demand signals 5-7 weeks out, particularly heading into the June-August peak. Properties that are not priced competitively 30-45 days before a peak weekend risk losing bookings to faster-adjusting competitors.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Dunsmuir allows short-term rentals under Ordinance 570, adopted unanimously on August 19, 2021, and enforceable from April 1, 2022. Operators must obtain three credentials: a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate, a city business license (renewed each June), and a Transient Occupancy Tax registration. Initial registration costs $370 ($225 registration fee plus $145 inspection fee); annual renewal is $320. Certificates expire December 31 each year.
The total lodging tax is 14%, comprising a 12% city TOT (raised from 10% by Measure A in November 2024) and a 2% county and Tourism Improvement District assessment. Airbnb collects and remits TOT on behalf of hosts, but operators must still file quarterly gross-receipts reports with the city.
STRs are permitted in residential zones (R-1 through R-4) and in commercial zones (C-1, and second floor and above in C-2). Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior ADUs are explicitly prohibited from use as STRs. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements do not apply. There is no cap on annual rental nights. An operator may hold at most two registration certificates.
Occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom (excluding children under 5) during quiet hours (10 PM to 7 AM). Units must pass an initial city and fire department inspection, then undergo annual fire reinspection and city reinspection at least every three years. Enforcement is rated moderate: fines reach $500 per day for first violations and $1,000 per day for repeat violations, with three citations within 12 months triggering a 12-month certificate revocation.
Market Comparison
Dunsmuir’s April 2026 occupancy of 52.3% compares favorably to the US STR median of approximately 55%, placing it slightly below the national average but within normal range for a small mountain market with distinct seasonality. Its ADR of $232.74 is modestly above the US median of approximately $220, reflecting the area’s positioning as a nature-destination market with higher-than-average nightly rates relative to its market size.
The market’s total score of 68.6 on the StaySTRA composite index, driven by a rental demand sub-score of 75.9, indicates above-average traveler interest relative to available supply. The revenue growth sub-score of 67.3 and investability score of 66.2 are in the moderate range, consistent with a market that is performing steadily rather than surging.
Among professional operators in the market, Vacasa leads with 383 listings and 38,837 reviews (rating 4.67), followed by Evolve with 221 listings (4.68 rating), Casago with 123 listings (4.74), Humboldt Retreats with 71 listings (4.88), and Grand Welcome with 55 listings (4.68). Vacasa’s 383 listings represent the largest single-operator share of the market’s approximately 9,339 total listings, or about 4.1% of inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dunsmuir, California
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