Durham, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Durham, NC STRs averaged $160 ADR at 63.5% occupancy in April 2026, with occupancy up 9.1% year-over-year across roughly 7,900 active listings.
Quick Answer: Durham, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 67%. average monthly revenue is $2,964. average daily rate is $159. the top operator is Evolve with 106 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Raleigh/Durham regional market, which includes Durham. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Durham.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Durham is a city of 301,877 residents and one of the three corners of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, alongside Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Durham County drew 13.5 million visitors in 2025, generating over $1 billion in visitor spending. Demand is anchored by Duke University, the Durham Bulls baseball club, Research Triangle Park (one of the largest research parks in the US), a nationally recognized food and restaurant scene, and major arts venues including the Durham Performing Arts Center.
The STR market encompasses approximately 7,922 active listings. Entire-place units account for the majority at 6,456, with private rooms adding 1,470 and shared rooms 21. The bedroom distribution skews toward 1-bedrooms at 3,077 listings, followed by 3-bedrooms (1,991), 2-bedrooms (1,874), 4-bedrooms (729), and 5-bedrooms (251). Channel distribution is Airbnb-dominated: 4,858 listings are Airbnb-only, 2,714 are on both platforms, and only 375 are VRBO-only, reflecting Durham’s urban character and younger traveler demographic.
In April 2026, Durham STRs averaged $160 per night at 63.5% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $101 and average monthly revenue of $2,783. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 9.1% and revenue grew 9.0%, while ADR was essentially flat at -0.2%. The overall market score is 87.6 out of 100, with rental demand scoring 92.1 and seasonality at 94.2, two of the highest sub-scores in this market batch.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $104 | $1,664 |
| Feb | 63% | $109 | $1,738 |
| Mar | 65% | $116 | $2,058 |
| Apr | 63% | $123 | $2,090 |
| May | 63% | $131 | $2,231 |
| Jun | 68% | $125 | $2,330 |
| Jul | 70% | $115 | $2,196 |
| Aug | 68% | $113 | $2,161 |
| Sep | 65% | $114 | $1,991 |
| Oct | 68% | $121 | $2,303 |
| Nov | 64% | $121 | $2,089 |
| Dec | 59% | $116 | $1,969 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Durham
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 106 | 3,065 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Coveted Hospitality | 99 | 1,152 | ★ 4.18 |
| 3 | Landing | 91 | 10 | ★ 3.72 |
| 4 | Landing, Inc. | 74 | 174 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | Triangle short term rentals | 69 | 1,400 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Durham?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,077 |
| 2 bed | 1,874 |
| 3 bed | 1,991 |
| 4 bed | 729 |
| 5 bed | 251 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $175 |
| Luxury | $257 |
| Professionally Managed | $174 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,458 |
| Entire Place | $3,285 |
| House | $3,192 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 61.1% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 34.2% |
Investment Analysis
Durham’s investment case centers on its strong, consistent demand base. A rental demand score of 92.1 and seasonality score of 94.2 reflect that the market generates reliable occupancy across the calendar year with minimal seasonal swing. Year-over-year revenue growth of 9.0% in April 2026 signals demand recovery after a 2022-2023 softening period.
Typical home values run approximately $400,000, with a median sale price of $371,742 in April 2026. At April 2026’s average monthly revenue of $2,783, annualized gross revenue approximates $33,398, implying a gross yield of roughly 8.4% against the typical home value. The 2025 annual average monthly revenue was $2,588, which implies a more conservative annualized revenue of approximately $31,056 and a gross yield of about 7.8% on the same base.
The ADR spread across tiers is unusually narrow. All-listing ADR averaged $160, entire-home listings averaged $177, and professionally managed properties averaged $177 as well, essentially at parity with the entire-home tier. The luxury tier averaged $257. This near-parity between all-listing, entire-home, and professionally managed ADR suggests that the Durham market does not heavily reward professional management through rate premiums alone, and that operational efficiency and occupancy optimization are more important levers here.
For-sale inventory in April 2026 was 1,076 units with a sale-to-list ratio of 0.919 (homes selling at approximately 91.9% of asking price) and median days-to-pending of 17. The sub-1.0 sale-to-list ratio indicates some negotiating room in the acquisition market compared to many competitive metros.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Durham guests book an average of 37 days in advance, a moderate lead time consistent with a blend of university event demand (planned well in advance), business travel (often booked closer to the date), and leisure visitors. The 37-day average gives operators roughly a 5-week pricing window before each stay.
Average length of stay is 4.34 nights, which reflects a mix of business travelers staying 2-3 nights, academic and Duke University visitors, and leisure guests taking long weekends. The near-4.5-night average is longer than a purely corporate market and suggests a meaningful leisure component tied to Durham’s food scene, the Durham Bulls, and Research Triangle tourism.
The combination of moderate lead time and moderate stay length means Durham properties benefit from a mix of advance bookings for events and last-minute fill from the steady business travel stream. Operators should maintain flexible cancellation policies to capture both segments while pricing event weekends at a premium.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Durham’s short-term rental regulatory status is partially unresolved in primary sources as of mid-2026, and investors should verify requirements directly before operating.
The clearly confirmed obligation is tax: Durham County levies a 6% room occupancy tax on rentals of fewer than 90 days, in addition to North Carolina state and local sales taxes (approximately 4.75% state rate plus applicable local). Major booking platforms including Airbnb collect and remit the 6% county occupancy tax on hosts’ behalf, but hosts generally remain responsible for sales tax registration with the NCDOR.
On permitting: Durham’s Unified Development Ordinance does not contain a distinct short-term rental accessory-use category. Multiple 2026 host-guidance sources describe an annual Durham STR registration with the City Clerk, commonly cited at $200 per year for properties with 2 or fewer units and $400 per year for 3 or more units. Some sources also describe a Special Use Permit requirement and owner-occupancy distinctions for residential zones. These requirements could not be confirmed in primary Durham UDO or ordinance text. The correct status is uncertain rather than a definitive absence of any requirement.
Properties must meet Durham’s minimum housing code, including working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and safe electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. General occupancy is limited to no more than three unrelated persons per dwelling unit.
Investors should contact the Durham Planning Department and the City Clerk/Business Licensing directly to confirm current registration and permit requirements before listing. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Durham’s April 2026 ADR of $160 is below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting a budget-to-mid-range urban market positioning rather than a premium destination. Occupancy at 63.5% is above the US STR median of approximately 55%, supported by the strong institutional demand from Duke University and Research Triangle Park.
The market’s total score of 87.6 is among the highest in this analysis batch. The rental demand score of 92.1 and seasonality score of 94.2 place Durham in the top tier for consistent, year-round demand. The revenue growth score of 66.0 and investability of 64.8 are moderate, reflecting the lower absolute ADR and price-sensitive guest base relative to larger metros.
The professional management segment in Durham is fragmented and smaller than comparable cities. Evolve leads with 106 listings and 3,065 reviews at a 4.52 average rating. Coveted Hospitality manages 99 properties with 1,152 reviews at a 4.18 rating. Landing operates 91 listings (10 reviews, 3.72 rating), while Landing, Inc. holds 74 listings with 174 reviews at a 4.55 rating. Triangle Short Term Rentals rounds out the top five with 69 listings at a strong 4.78 average rating. The top 5 operators together account for 439 listings, roughly 5.5% of total active inventory, indicating a highly fragmented market where independent hosts dominate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Durham, North Carolina
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