Killeen, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Killeen STRs averaged $123/night at 59.4% occupancy in April 2026, driven by year-round military demand from nearby Fort Cavazos.
Quick Answer: Killeen, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $2,422. average daily rate is $133. the top operator is Second Home Hosting with 44 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Killeen is a city of approximately 160,616 residents in Bell County, Texas, adjacent to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), one of the largest U.S. Army posts. The proximity to Fort Cavazos generates year-round STR demand from military relocations, temporary duty assignments, graduation ceremonies, and visitor stays that insulate this market from the seasonal swings seen in tourist-dependent markets.
In April 2026, the market recorded an ADR of $123, occupancy of 59.4%, RevPAR of $73, and average monthly revenue of $2,010. Year-over-year, occupancy grew 0.92 percentage points, ADR rose 0.99%, and revenue declined 0.38%, indicating a stable but flat market.
The listing mix includes a meaningful share of private-room rentals, reflecting the room-rental demand common in military markets. Entire-place listings account for 1,464 units (82.6%), private rooms for 292 (16.5%), and one shared room. By bedroom count, three-bedroom (560) and one-bedroom (553) listings are nearly equal, followed by two-bedroom (336), four-bedroom (242), and five-bedroom or larger (65). Airbnb dominates the channel mix at 1,081 listings, with dual-listed at 625 and VRBO at only 51.
The market’s total investment score is 59.9 out of 100. The standout metric is seasonality at 92.7, reflecting the low month-to-month variability in this demand-consistent military market. Investability scores 77.0.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50% | $89 | $1,331 |
| Feb | 60% | $90 | $1,373 |
| Mar | 64% | $104 | $1,799 |
| Apr | 60% | $104 | $1,693 |
| May | 63% | $109 | $1,876 |
| Jun | 66% | $113 | $2,030 |
| Jul | 66% | $106 | $1,990 |
| Aug | 62% | $99 | $1,752 |
| Sep | 60% | $97 | $1,620 |
| Oct | 59% | $102 | $1,710 |
| Nov | 59% | $105 | $1,672 |
| Dec | 56% | $103 | $1,667 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Killeen
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Second Home Hosting | 44 | 243 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 36 | 893 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Baird Rental Management | 30 | 1,121 | ★ 4.92 |
| 4 | Meyers Adventures | 11 | 376 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | CRIBS | 6 | 25 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Killeen?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 553 |
| 2 bed | 336 |
| 3 bed | 560 |
| 4 bed | 242 |
| 5 bed | 65 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $155 |
| Luxury | $249 |
| Professionally Managed | $210 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,780 |
| Entire Place | $2,739 |
| House | $2,603 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 61.5% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 35.6% |
Investment Analysis
Housing transaction data is not available in the current snapshot for Killeen, so a gross yield calculation based on typical home value cannot be provided. Investors should obtain current comparable sales data independently.
On the revenue side, April 2026 average monthly revenue was $2,010. Weighting the 12 historical monthly revenue averages, the typical listing generates approximately $1,700 per month on average, or approximately $20,400 per year. The revenue range is narrow relative to most STR markets: January is the trough at $1,331 average and July is the peak at $1,990, a spread of approximately $660. This low volatility reflects the military-driven demand base.
Tier differentials show meaningful upside for the professionally managed and entire-home segments. The all-listings ADR of $123 compares to an entire-home ADR of $143 (a 17% premium) and a professionally managed tier of $180 (a 46% premium). Luxury listings average $227.
Revenue by property type in April 2026: entire-place listings averaged $2,276 per month, houses $2,115, and apartment-type listings $1,620. The 40% premium of entire-place listings over apartments reflects the preference of military visitors and large groups for standalone homes.
The $200 initial permit fee and $100 annual renewal make Killeen one of the lowest-cost markets to enter from a licensing standpoint. The 15% Hotel Occupancy Tax is the primary recurring cost operators must account for in pricing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Killeen guests book with the shortest lead time of any market in this analysis: just 21 days on average, or about three weeks. This reflects the market’s military demand profile, where personnel booking temporary accommodations near Fort Cavazos often confirm plans on short notice as assignment dates and travel orders are finalized.
Average length of stay is 5.39 nights, the longest in this batch, consistent with longer-duration military visits, training attendance, and month-long temporary duty stays that may span multiple booking periods.
For operators, the short lead time means last-minute pricing adjustments are highly effective here. Raising rates in the final two to three weeks before available dates is a viable strategy for this market. Conversely, setting rates too high months in advance and holding them may leave inventory empty, as military visitors tend to plan on shorter horizons. Dynamic pricing tools that respond to short-term demand signals will outperform static weekly rate structures in this market.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Killeen legalized and began actively regulating short-term rentals after the City Council approved an STR program on October 1, 2023, with mandatory registration launching May 1, 2024, under City Code Sec. 31-953. An STR is defined as any room, home, or guest house rented for fewer than 30 days.
Every operator must obtain an annual permit for each property. The permit costs $200 for the first year (including the initial inspection fee) and $100 per year for renewal. Registration is handled through the city’s vendor (Neumo, via hoteltaxonline.com). Each property must pass a health and safety inspection before permit issuance and at each renewal. Operators must carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance for the duration of the permit. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap.
The Hotel Occupancy Tax is 15% in total: 7% city, 2% Bell County, and 6% Texas state. The city portion is remitted via Avenu/Avalara and the state portion via the Texas Comptroller. Both must be collected from guests and remitted on a monthly basis.
Enforcement is handled by Code Enforcement and is described as moderate. Operating without a valid permit violates the city Code of Ordinances and may result in citations and fines.
Market Comparison
Killeen’s April 2026 ADR of $123 is well below the national STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the affordable-price-point, mid-market nature of a military-adjacent destination. Occupancy at 59.4% is near the national median of approximately 55%, and the high seasonality score of 92.7 places this market among the most demand-consistent in the country.
The market’s total investment score is 59.9. Investability scores 77.0, reflecting low regulatory barriers, consistent demand, and accessible entry costs. Revenue growth scores 56.6, consistent with the flat year-over-year trajectory in 2025-2026.
The professional management sector is smaller and less consolidated than in resort markets. Second Home Hosting leads with 44 listings and a 4.52 average rating across 243 reviews. Evolve manages 36 listings (4.54 rating, 893 reviews). Baird Rental Management holds 30 listings with the highest rating among the top five at 4.92 (1,121 reviews). Meyers Adventures manages 11 listings (4.86 rating, 376 reviews) and CRIBS manages 6 listings (4.89 rating, 25 reviews). The top five operators together account for only 127 listings, suggesting the market is largely operated by individual owners rather than institutional managers, which may present an opportunity for operators with professional management capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Killeen, Texas
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