Abilene, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Abilene, TX STRs averaged $203/night at 42.8% occupancy in April 2026, with no local STR permit requirement and a 15% combined hotel occupancy tax.
Quick Answer: Abilene, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 43%. average monthly revenue is $2,435. average daily rate is $203. the top operator is Evolve with 774 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Abilene, Texas is a mid-sized West Texas city of about 128,000 residents anchored by Dyess Air Force Base, three universities, and a regional commercial hub role. Its STR market is notable for a very accessible entry price relative to most Texas metros. As of April 2026, the market averaged $203/night ADR with 42.8% occupancy, yielding a RevPAR of $86.95 and average monthly revenue of $2,435.
Year-over-year trends in April 2026 show occupancy slightly up (+1.1%), ADR down 3.4%, and revenue essentially flat (-0.2%). The market is stable rather than growth-oriented at the revenue level, but the investability score of 89.01 out of 100 reflects the strong entry-cost case.
The listing base is large: 20,944 entire-place listings, 1,269 private-room listings, and 12 shared-room listings make up approximately 22,225 active listings. Channel distribution shows 10,311 Airbnb-only, 2,244 VRBO-only, and 9,670 on both platforms. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead at 7,144 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (5,660) and 2-bedroom (5,376) properties.
The market’s overall score of 62.99 is supported by its standout investability (89.01) and good seasonality profile (75.07), with rental demand (58.49) as the relative drag.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $161 | $1,617 |
| Feb | 41% | $161 | $1,627 |
| Mar | 50% | $211 | $2,695 |
| Apr | 41% | $206 | $2,331 |
| May | 44% | $231 | $2,675 |
| Jun | 53% | $271 | $3,768 |
| Jul | 53% | $275 | $4,009 |
| Aug | 42% | $236 | $2,766 |
| Sep | 39% | $215 | $2,247 |
| Oct | 42% | $205 | $2,398 |
| Nov | 41% | $201 | $2,222 |
| Dec | 37% | $190 | $2,096 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Abilene
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 774 | 27,617 | ★ 4.71 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 238 | 8,722 | ★ 4.67 |
| 3 | FCR Partners, LP | 103 | 172 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Neal’s Lodges | 97 | 170 | ★ 4.79 |
| 5 | 979 Vacation Property Services | 96 | 3,231 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Abilene?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,144 |
| 2 bed | 5,376 |
| 3 bed | 5,660 |
| 4 bed | 2,451 |
| 5 bed | 1,530 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $211 |
| Luxury | $443 |
| Professionally Managed | $315 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,679 |
| Entire Place | $2,513 |
| House | $2,608 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46.4% |
| vrbo | 10.1% |
| both | 43.5% |
Investment Analysis
Abilene is among the most accessible STR entry markets in Texas. Typical home value as of April 2026 was $214,916, with a median sale price of $250,167 and a median list price of $301,617. Inventory was substantial at 354 homes for sale, and the sale-to-list ratio of 0.829 suggests buyers have negotiating room.
At $2,435 average monthly revenue in April 2026, annualized revenue projects to approximately $29,219. Against a typical home value of $214,916, the implied gross yield is approximately 13.6%. This is a notably high gross yield figure, driven by the low entry price relative to the revenue floor, and reflects why the investability score reaches 89 out of 100.
Tier performance shows meaningful upside for quality listings. Luxury-tier listings averaged $443/night ADR versus $203 for the all-market rate. Professionally managed listings averaged $315/night, a 55% premium over the market ADR. Entire-home listings averaged $211/night.
Revenue by property type shows house listings at $2,608/month and apartment listings at $1,679/month, a $929/month gap. The low purchase price relative to that gap makes the rent-to-cost case stronger here than in higher-priced Texas markets.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Abilene bookings average a 38.74-day lead time as of April 2026, consistent with a mid-size city market where demand comes from a mix of leisure, military, and event-driven travel. Guests typically plan roughly 5 to 6 weeks in advance.
Average length of stay is 3.81 nights, slightly below 4 nights and consistent with a market that serves a mix of weekend leisure visitors and short-term contractor or military visitors. This shorter average stay means more frequent turnovers than destination outdoor markets, with associated cleaning logistics.
For event-driven weeks (Western Heritage Classic, West Texas Fair and Rodeo, Dyess Air Force Base change-of-command periods), booking windows likely compress, with last-minute demand absorbing remaining inventory. Operators who identify these event-period demand spikes and price dynamically can capture meaningful premiums above the ADR baseline.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Abilene is one of the more permissive STR markets in Texas. As of 2026, the city has not enacted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. There is no city-issued STR permit, registration system, or inspection regime specific to short-term rentals. Operators must comply with standard housing safety codes, building codes, and applicable zoning for their property type, but no STR license is required.
The primary compliance obligation is tax collection. All STR stays under 30 consecutive nights are subject to a combined Hotel Occupancy Tax of approximately 15%: 6% to the State of Texas, 7% to the City of Abilene, and 2% as a county venue tax. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit the city portion automatically; hosts may need to register separately with the Texas Comptroller for the state portion if not handled by the platform.
There are no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements, no cap on annual rental nights, and no specific guest-count or parking mandates in city code. Enforcement is complaint-driven rather than proactive.
No owner-occupancy requirements apply. The city’s permissive stance could change, as Texas municipalities retain the authority to regulate STRs. Verifying with Abilene Planning and Development Services at (325) 676-6237 before investing is advisable. HOA rules in specific subdivisions may impose additional restrictions.
Market Comparison
Abilene’s $203 ADR is slightly below the US median STR ADR of approximately $220, reflecting its West Texas mid-market positioning. Its 42.8% occupancy is below the national median of approximately 55%, consistent with a market where demand is spread across a large inventory base.
The investability score of 89.01 out of 100 places Abilene among the highest-investability markets in the dataset, driven primarily by the low entry cost relative to STR revenue generation potential.
Professional management is significant here. Evolve leads the market with 774 listings and 27,617 reviews (4.711 average rating), making it the dominant operator by a wide margin. Vacasa holds 238 listings with 8,722 reviews (4.665 rating). FCR Partners holds 103 listings with 172 reviews (4.684 rating). Together the top three operators hold 1,115 listings, or approximately 5.0% of the estimated 22,225 active listings. Evolve’s concentration here is higher than in most comparably sized markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Abilene, Texas
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