Etowah, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Etowah TN STRs averaged $164/night at 49.6% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 92.8 and one of the lowest typical home values in this dataset.
Quick Answer: Etowah, Tennessee is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 56%. average monthly revenue is $3,325. average daily rate is $218. the top operator is Evolve with 409 listings. market score is 73/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Tennessee Area regional market, which includes Etowah. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Etowah.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Etowah is a small historic railroad town of approximately 3,658 residents in McMinn County, southeast Tennessee. Its tourism identity centers on the restored 1906 L&N Depot (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure, a 50-mile scenic excursion through the Cherokee National Forest and over the Hiwassee Loop, one of only six rail loops in North America and the only one east of the Mississippi. The excursion runs March through November and is the primary anchor draw for visitors.
As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $164.44 and occupancy of 49.6%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,238 per listing. RevPAR was $81.54. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 0.9%, ADR gained 0.6%, and revenue grew 2.3%, pointing to steady but modest growth.
Approximately 12,488 active listings operate across channels. Entire-place rentals account for 95.0% of listings (11,859), with 612 private rooms and 17 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 1-bedrooms are the most common configuration (4,059), followed by 2-bedrooms (3,360), 3-bedrooms (3,024), 4-bedrooms (1,215), and 5-bedrooms (801). The overall market score is 73.3, with investability as the standout dimension at 92.8, the highest of any area in this batch.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $132 | $1,477 |
| Feb | 45% | $130 | $1,461 |
| Mar | 53% | $147 | $2,013 |
| Apr | 49% | $151 | $2,015 |
| May | 52% | $169 | $2,242 |
| Jun | 59% | $203 | $3,155 |
| Jul | 61% | $204 | $3,446 |
| Aug | 51% | $189 | $2,654 |
| Sep | 46% | $171 | $2,177 |
| Oct | 53% | $164 | $2,461 |
| Nov | 47% | $159 | $2,040 |
| Dec | 45% | $157 | $2,042 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Etowah
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 409 | 13,977 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 108 | 2,373 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | Byers & Harvey | 74 | 2,324 | ★ 4.86 |
| 4 | RedAwning | 63 | 846 | ★ 4.67 |
| 5 | RETREAT VACATIONS | 62 | 3,036 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Etowah?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,059 |
| 2 bed | 3,360 |
| 3 bed | 3,024 |
| 4 bed | 1,215 |
| 5 bed | 801 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $222 |
| Luxury | $371 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,057 |
| Entire Place | $3,411 |
| House | $3,732 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.5% |
| vrbo | 9.4% |
| both | 45.1% |
Investment Analysis
Etowah’s investability score of 92.8 is driven primarily by its exceptionally low cost of entry relative to revenue production. The typical home value in the area is $214,406, and the April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,238 projects to approximately $26,856 annualized. Against the typical home value, this implies a gross annual yield of approximately 12.5%, before operating expenses, management fees, and taxes. This is a notably high gross yield figure driven by the low acquisition cost relative to revenue.
For context: the $214,406 typical home value compares to $687,330 in Estes Park, which generated higher monthly revenue ($2,662) but at a gross yield of only 4.7%. The Etowah yield advantage is substantial.
The tier premiums are meaningful. Entire-home listings averaged $167.64 ADR versus $164.44 for all listings. Professionally managed properties averaged $202.26 ADR, a $37.82 premium. The luxury tier reached $278.19 ADR, nearly 70% above the all-listings average.
The 2025 annual average revenue was $2,463/month, consistent with the prior two years ($2,428 in 2024, $2,376 in 2023), indicating a stable if slowly growing market. The revenue growth score of 58.1 reflects this measured pace. House-type listings averaged $2,401/month in April versus $2,238 market-wide, a 7.3% premium.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Etowah guests book an average of 42.1 days in advance, just under 6 weeks. This moderate lead time reflects a regional leisure travel profile with guests planning trips at a medium-horizon cadence, consistent with the Southeast mountain and heritage tourism pattern.
Average length of stay is 4.0 nights, just above a long-weekend baseline. This suggests a mix of 3-night weekend getaways and 4- to 5-night short vacations, likely tied to the Hiwassee River Rail Adventure and surrounding Cherokee National Forest recreation. A 4-night average at 49.6% occupancy implies roughly 3 to 4 turnovers per month, a manageable operational cadence.
For operators, the 6-week booking window means pricing decisions set well in advance will hold. Peak June and July pricing should be locked in by May at the latest to capture the planning horizon of the rail excursion’s core audience.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Etowah’s STR regulatory environment is among the most permissive in Tennessee. No Etowah-specific STR ordinance was confirmed through available primary sources. Under Tennessee’s Short-Term Rental Unit Act (Public Chapter 972, 2018), municipalities cannot ban STRs outright; they may only apply reasonable health and safety rules, require a permit or application process, and suspend permissions after repeated violations. This makes Etowah an STR-permissive environment by default.
There is no confirmed owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no cap on nights per year exists at the state or local level.
On taxes, operators must collect Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus applicable local sales taxes. McMinn County imposes a 5% hotel/motel (occupancy) tax on short-term lodging. When bookings are made through platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, the platform typically collects and remits these taxes automatically.
Two items investors should verify directly with the City of Etowah: (1) whether the city requires a business license or local STR permit, and (2) how the property’s specific zoning district treats transient lodging. Enforcement severity is rated minimal given the small-town setting and absence of a confirmed dedicated STR program.
McMinn County has been actively expanding its tourism infrastructure, including hiring a dedicated Tourism Coordinator, which could lead to future lodging-related policy changes.
Market Comparison
Etowah’s April 2026 ADR of $164.44 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the market’s rural Tennessee location and lower overall price level. However, occupancy at 49.6% is near the national median of roughly 55%, and the low home value creates a gross yield picture that compares favorably to higher-priced markets.
The investability score of 92.8 is the highest in this batch, driven by the $214,406 typical home value producing a gross annual yield of approximately 12.5%. This contrasts with Estes Park (4.7% gross yield) and Estero (no housing data, but much higher ADR).
The operator market is Evolve-dominant but includes strong regional presence. Evolve leads with 409 listings and 13,977 reviews (4.73 rating). Vacasa follows with 108 listings (4.56 rating). Byers and Harvey hold 74 listings with the second-highest rating in the top five at 4.86 and 2,324 reviews. RedAwning has 63 listings (4.67 rating). RETREAT VACATIONS rounds out the top five with 62 listings and a 4.82 rating. Combined, these five operators hold 716 listings, approximately 5.7% of the active market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Etowah, Tennessee
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