Gilchrist, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Gilchrist STRs averaged $291/night at 40.2% occupancy in April 2026 across approximately 9,216 active listings.
Quick Answer: Gilchrist, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 64%. average monthly revenue is $6,976. average daily rate is $395. the top operator is Vacasa with 386 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Galveston regional market, which includes Gilchrist. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gilchrist.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gilchrist is a small unincorporated beach community on the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County, Texas, accessible via the free Galveston-Bolivar ferry or State Highway 87. The market draws primarily Texas day-trippers and seasonal beach vacationers from the Houston and Beaumont metros for Gulf beach recreation, surf and pier fishing, and birding at Bolivar Flats. The short-term rental market counts approximately 9,216 active listings, with entire-place rentals dominating at 9,046 (98.2%), private rooms at 161, and shared rooms at 9. Channel distribution leans heavily toward dual-listing: 5,994 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 2,160 are Airbnb-only, and 1,062 are VRBO-only.
As of April 2026, the market averaged $291.09 per night with a 40.2% occupancy rate, producing average monthly revenue of $3,361. RevPAR was $117.03. Year-over-year, April 2026 shows occupancy down 1.4% and ADR down 1.53%, while revenue grew 3.73%.
Bedroom mix skews toward larger beach houses: 3-bedroom units lead with 2,935 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (1,984), 1-bedroom (1,977), 4-bedroom (1,553), and 5-bedroom-plus (752). Market scores show revenue growth at 83.4 and investability at 78.0 out of 100, while seasonality scores at 47.5 reflect the sharp summer-peak pattern.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27% | $197 | $1,640 |
| Feb | 39% | $208 | $1,826 |
| Mar | 52% | $274 | $3,605 |
| Apr | 41% | $264 | $3,040 |
| May | 51% | $308 | $4,011 |
| Jun | 67% | $346 | $6,161 |
| Jul | 69% | $331 | $6,105 |
| Aug | 46% | $300 | $3,923 |
| Sep | 35% | $265 | $2,581 |
| Oct | 38% | $245 | $2,594 |
| Nov | 31% | $247 | $2,084 |
| Dec | 32% | $236 | $2,083 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gilchrist
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 386 | 21,460 | ★ 4.39 |
| 2 | Ryson Vacation Rentals by Vtrips | 370 | 7,450 | ★ 4.33 |
| 3 | Evolve | 354 | 17,277 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Sand `N Sea Properties | 195 | 1,185 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Cobb Real Estate | 190 | 3,899 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gilchrist?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,977 |
| 2 bed | 1,984 |
| 3 bed | 2,935 |
| 4 bed | 1,553 |
| 5 bed | 752 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $399 |
| Luxury | $625 |
| Professionally Managed | $447 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,560 |
| Entire Place | $7,056 |
| House | $8,025 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 23.4% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 65% |
Investment Analysis
Gilchrist offers a low entry cost relative to coastal Texas peers. The Zillow typical home value as of April 2026 is $395,970, and the median list price is $573,283 (no median sale price available in the current dataset). With 45 homes for sale, the market is relatively small in active inventory.
At the April 2026 average revenue of $3,361/month, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $40,332. Against the typical home value of $395,970, that implies a gross yield of approximately 10.2% before expenses, management fees, and taxes. The professionally managed tier averages $320.80/night vs. the market average of $291.09, an approximately 10% premium.
Revenue growth has been consistent over the long run, rising from $2,300/month (2017 annual average) to $3,601 (2025 annual average), a 57% increase. Post-pandemic normalization has brought occupancy from a peak of 51.4% (2021) to 43.4% (2025), with ADR largely offsetting that occupancy decline.
The dominant operating risk in Gilchrist is environmental, not regulatory. Hurricane Ike in 2008 destroyed approximately 99% of structures on the Bolivar Peninsula. The combination of hurricane exposure and coastal flooding affects insurance costs, financing availability, and potential extended vacancy after storm events. Investors must factor these risks and costs into return projections.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Gilchrist guests book an average of 36.9 days in advance as of April 2026, roughly five weeks out. This relatively short booking window is consistent with regional beach-vacation planning, where Houston and Beaumont metro residents make near-term summer and holiday weekend decisions rather than planning months ahead.
Average length of stay is 3.03 nights, the shortest of the five markets in this batch, consistent with the weekend-trip nature of regional beach visits. The short stays mean higher turnover frequency than lake or wine-country markets, increasing cleaning and coordination requirements per booking month. Operators should price weekends at a premium during peak summer months and look for opportunities to capture mid-week occupancy to offset the high weekend-concentration pattern.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Gilchrist is an unincorporated community in Galveston County with no city government and no city-level STR licensing. Short-term rentals are permitted with minimal local regulation. No STR-specific zoning, density caps, minimum-distance rules, or owner-occupancy requirements apply.
Operators are expected to register with the Galveston County Park Board of Trustees (approximately $50 annual registration fee, with a one-time setup fee cited for new or independently managed properties). The STR registration requirement and exact fee should be confirmed directly with the Park Board before operating, as published figures vary.
On taxes, Texas levies a 6% state hotel occupancy tax (HOT) on stays under 30 days. For unincorporated Galveston County, local HOT applies on top of the state tax, with the combined burden reported at approximately 15% (state 6% plus local up to 9%). Tax reporting is inconsistent in published sources; investors should verify the current county rate and remittance obligations directly with Galveston County before operating. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit state and local HOT on behalf of hosts in Texas.
Enforcement is minimal and complaint-based (noise, parking, safety) via the county sheriff rather than a dedicated STR compliance program.
Market Comparison
Gilchrist’s ADR of $291.09 is above the national STR median of approximately $220/night, reflecting premium pricing for Gulf beachfront access. Occupancy at 40.2% is well below the U.S. median of approximately 55%, driven by the sharp seasonal concentration in June and July and low winter occupancy.
RevPAR of $117.03 is below what the high ADR might suggest, because the low off-season occupancy depresses the annual average. The high seasonality score of 47.5 (lower scores indicate more concentrated seasonality) corroborates the market’s narrow revenue window.
The professional management landscape is well-developed and competitive. Vacasa leads with 386 listings and 21,460 reviews (average rating 4.39). Ryson Vacation Rentals by Vtrips follows with 370 listings and 7,450 reviews (rating 4.33). Evolve holds 354 listings and 17,277 reviews (rating 4.57). Sand ‘N Sea Properties operates 195 listings (rating 4.66, 1,185 reviews). Cobb Real Estate manages 190 listings (rating 4.79, 3,899 reviews). The top 5 operators account for 1,495 listings, approximately 16.2% of the approximately 9,216 total market listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gilchrist, Texas
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