Lynchburg, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Lynchburg, VA STRs averaged $144 per night at 57.0% occupancy in April 2026 across 1,338 active listings.
Quick Answer: Lynchburg, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 52%. average monthly revenue is $2,236. average daily rate is $142. the top operator is Hallin And Co Management with 38 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lynchburg’s short-term rental market spans approximately 1,338 active listings across the city’s historic neighborhoods, university district, and James River corridor. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $144 and occupancy of 57.0%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,262 per listing. RevPAR was $82.
The listing mix is strongly oriented toward entire-place rentals: 1,179 listings (88%) are whole-home or whole-apartment units, with 158 private rooms and one shared room rounding out the inventory. By bedroom count, studios and 1-bedroom units form the largest segment at 521 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (353), 3-bedroom (295), 4-bedroom (113), and 5-bedroom and above (55).
Airbnb is the dominant booking channel, with 853 listings appearing only on Airbnb, 48 listed exclusively on VRBO, and 437 active on both platforms simultaneously.
Year-over-year as of the April 2026 data point, occupancy rose 3.0% while ADR declined 6.1%, resulting in a net revenue gain of 7.5%. The 2025 annual average occupancy was 53.2% at an ADR of $139 and average monthly revenue of $2,106, up from $2,094 in 2024.
Lynchburg draws more than 742,000 out-of-market visitors annually, supported by Civil War history, 40-plus miles of urban trails along the James River, craft breweries, Liberty University, and the University of Lynchburg. Visitor spending totaled $409.9 million in FY2025. The market’s composite score of 92.2 out of 100 reflects strong investability (89.6) and rental demand (87.3), partially offset by a revenue growth score of 59.2.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45% | $96 | $1,297 |
| Feb | 56% | $102 | $1,387 |
| Mar | 57% | $108 | $1,705 |
| Apr | 56% | $115 | $1,763 |
| May | 56% | $150 | $2,143 |
| Jun | 57% | $120 | $1,954 |
| Jul | 63% | $112 | $1,975 |
| Aug | 63% | $120 | $2,082 |
| Sep | 57% | $118 | $1,819 |
| Oct | 60% | $123 | $2,108 |
| Nov | 53% | $119 | $1,765 |
| Dec | 49% | $107 | $1,554 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lynchburg
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hallin And Co Management | 38 | 1,712 | ★ 4.91 |
| 2 | Heart of Virginia Realty | 21 | 4,523 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | Leisr Stays | 18 | 1,212 | ★ 4.92 |
| 4 | Evolve | 15 | 564 | ★ 4.69 |
| 5 | All Belong Co | 13 | 1,915 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lynchburg?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 521 |
| 2 bed | 353 |
| 3 bed | 295 |
| 4 bed | 113 |
| 5 bed | 55 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $149 |
| Luxury | $229 |
| Professionally Managed | $173 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,744 |
| Entire Place | $2,375 |
| House | $2,531 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 63.8% |
| vrbo | 3.6% |
| both | 32.7% |
Investment Analysis
Lynchburg offers a low entry price relative to revenue potential. At a typical home value of $265,000 and 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $2,106, an investor projecting a full-year average generates approximately $25,272 annually, implying a gross yield of roughly 9.5% before operating expenses.
The ADR spread across listing tiers reveals where premium rates concentrate. Luxury-tier listings averaged $239 per night in April 2026, a 66% premium over the $144 market-wide average. Professionally managed listings averaged $179, a 24% premium over the market average, indicating that professional management adds measurable rate yield even separate from the luxury segment. Entire-home listings averaged $150 ADR.
Revenue by property type further supports single-family positioning: houses averaged $2,390 per month and entire-place listings $2,387, compared to $2,002 for apartments. The house-to-apartment monthly gap is approximately $388.
ADR declined 6.1% year-over-year in April 2026 while occupancy rose 3.0% and total revenue increased 7.5%. Annual average monthly revenue grew from $2,094 in 2024 to $2,106 in 2025. Lynchburg’s $265,000 typical home value is well below national STR investment market medians, providing a lower-cost entry point relative to the revenue return. The housing snapshot showed 344 for-sale listings as of April 2026, with a median days-to-pending of 21 days, indicating an active resale market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Lynchburg guests book an average of 40 days in advance, placing the typical booking window in the 5-to-6-week range. This moderate lead time reflects a mix of planned leisure trips (university-event visitors, history tourism) and shorter-notice bookings. Operators should publish rates and availability at least six weeks ahead to capture the majority of demand.
Average length of stay is 3.8 nights. At this stay length, a property at 57% occupancy fills approximately 4 to 5 bookings per month (roughly 17 occupied nights divided by 3.8 nights per booking). Operators setting 2- or 3-night minimums can maximize occupancy without significant mid-week gaps; minimum stays much above 4 nights would reduce booking volume and occupancy materially.
The 40-day lead time also means that last-minute price adjustments within two weeks of arrival will affect only a portion of reservations. Operators relying on dynamic pricing tools get the most benefit from setting rates at least six weeks ahead of each date.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lynchburg permits short-term rentals citywide under a registration-based ordinance (City Code Chapter 35.2). Each property must be registered through the city’s online Citizen Portal. Once an application is approved, the registration fee is $150 per property. If ownership of the property changes, a new registration fee is required.
Owner occupancy is not required, and there is no primary-residence requirement, meaning investor-owned non-owner-occupied STRs are permitted citywide subject to zoning compliance. Occupancy is capped at four unrelated guests; if two or more occupants are related, one additional unrelated person is permitted.
STR revenue is subject to a 6.5% transient occupancy (lodging) tax plus $1 per room per night, remitted monthly to the Commissioner of the Revenue. A City Council proposal to raise the rate to 12.5% was voted down in May 2025; the 6.5% rate remains in effect. No maximum nights-per-year cap applies.
Enforcement is complaint-driven and rated moderate. An operator who accumulates three violations of state or local law within one year may be prohibited from operating. The city does not conduct proactive inspections. No off-street parking is required, and rental units must comply with the Uniform Statewide Building Code.
Market Comparison
Lynchburg’s 57.0% occupancy in April 2026 exceeds the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%. Its $144 ADR sits well below the national median of roughly $220, reflecting Lynchburg’s positioning as a mid-market, value-oriented destination rather than a premium tourist market.
The composite market score of 92.2 out of 100 places Lynchburg among high-scoring mid-size secondary markets, driven by investability (89.6) and rental demand (87.3). Revenue growth score (59.2) is the primary drag, consistent with the 6.1% year-over-year ADR decline in April 2026, despite overall revenue growing 7.5% on volume.
Among the top five operators, Hallin And Co Management leads by listing count with 38 listings and a 4.91 guest rating. Heart of Virginia Realty operates 21 listings with the largest accumulated review base at 4,523 reviews and a 4.78 rating. Leisr Stays holds 18 listings with a 4.92 rating. The national platform Evolve operates 15 listings at a 4.69 rating, and All Belong Co rounds out the top five with 13 listings at a 4.95 rating. The five operators combined manage 105 listings, approximately 7.8% of the 1,338-listing market. The market remains fragmented, with most inventory held by independent hosts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lynchburg, Virginia
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