Auburn, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Auburn, WA short-term rentals averaged $149/night at 57.2% occupancy in April 2026 across 3,789 active listings.
Quick Answer: Auburn, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 73%. average monthly revenue is $3,834. average daily rate is $205. the top operator is Evolve with 103 listings. market score is 61/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Tacoma/Olympia regional market, which includes Auburn. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Auburn.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Auburn, Washington is a south King County suburb roughly 30 miles south of Seattle, accessible by Sounder commuter rail. Its visitor economy centers on gaming at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort (the Pacific Northwest’s largest casino), thoroughbred racing at Emerald Downs, outlet shopping at The Outlet Collection Seattle, and concert events at White River Amphitheatre, with supplemental demand from Boeing-related business travel. The short-term rental market recorded a $149.03 average daily rate and 57.2% occupancy in April 2026, producing $85.20 in revenue per available rental day and $2,329 in average monthly revenue per listing.
The market carries 3,789 total listings. Entire-place accommodations represent 3,034 listings (80.1%), private rooms 750 (19.8%), and shared rooms 5. Bedroom distribution is led by 1-bedroom units at 1,733 (45.7%), followed by 2-bedroom (830), 3-bedroom (704), 4-bedroom (353), and 5-bedroom (167). Airbnb dominates platform presence: 2,209 listings appear on Airbnb only, 1,420 on both platforms, and 160 on VRBO only.
Year-over-year, occupancy is essentially flat at -0.5 percentage points, ADR is up 3.6%, and revenue is nearly flat at -0.2%. Market scores reflect high rental demand (82.3) but modest investability (55.5), consistent with a suburban market where purchase prices relative to short-term rental revenue compress potential yields. Total score is 60.8.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $121 | $1,889 |
| Feb | 61% | $128 | $1,936 |
| Mar | 62% | $125 | $2,139 |
| Apr | 62% | $123 | $2,077 |
| May | 67% | $134 | $2,381 |
| Jun | 75% | $155 | $2,948 |
| Jul | 77% | $161 | $3,344 |
| Aug | 75% | $160 | $3,299 |
| Sep | 67% | $144 | $2,608 |
| Oct | 59% | $126 | $2,107 |
| Nov | 58% | $127 | $1,949 |
| Dec | 59% | $131 | $2,131 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Auburn
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 103 | 4,812 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 65 | 2,033 | ★ 4.63 |
| 3 | Amera Property Management | 25 | 641 | ★ 4.89 |
| 4 | Tip Top Management | 19 | 2,260 | ★ 4.87 |
| 5 | Blizzard Realty | 13 | 228 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Auburn?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,733 |
| 2 bed | 830 |
| 3 bed | 704 |
| 4 bed | 353 |
| 5 bed | 167 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $234 |
| Luxury | $345 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,088 |
| Entire Place | $4,414 |
| House | $4,067 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.3% |
| vrbo | 4.2% |
| both | 37.5% |
Investment Analysis
Auburn’s investability score of 55.5 is the lowest in this batch of markets, reflecting the challenge of achieving competitive returns in a high-cost Seattle-area suburb with a predominantly suburban guest base. April 2026 average revenue of $2,329 per listing annualizes to approximately $27,948 per year at the April rate, though summer months materially improve that figure (July historical average: $3,344).
Tier comparisons reveal a large professional management premium. The overall market ADR is $149.03, but entire-home listings average $170.37 per night, and professionally managed listings average $192.44 per night, a 29.1% premium above the blended rate. Luxury-tier listings reach $245.15 per night. These spreads indicate that quality and management positioning matter significantly in this market.
An unusual finding in the revenue data: entire-place listings averaged $2,633 per month while house listings averaged $2,426. This reversal from the typical pattern (where houses outperform) may reflect a mix of higher-value entire-place listings (such as condos near the casino or amphitheatre) versus single-family houses across a broader geographic area. Apartment listings averaged $2,112. No housing data was available for Auburn in this dataset; investors should source current King County home values independently, as Auburn home prices are influenced by proximity to Seattle and Boeing employment centers. Annual average revenue declined from $2,837/month in 2025 to $2,254 in the partial 2026 data, with 2025 the recent peak.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Auburn guests book an average of 33.3 days in advance, roughly five weeks before arrival. This is a moderately short lead time consistent with a metro-adjacent market where guests make decisions in the near term rather than planning far ahead. The casino, concert venue, and Boeing travel base all tend to book closer to the event date than traditional vacation travelers. Operators should maintain competitive pricing from listing time and not rely on early-booking premium strategies.
Average length of stay is 4.72 nights, among the longer averages in this batch. This extended average, combined with the relatively short booking lead time, points toward a significant extended-stay component: contractors, Boeing workers on rotations, and guests visiting relatives in the area. At 4.72 nights, common stay patterns include Monday through Friday or multi-weekend visits. Operators can capture this segment effectively by setting 4 to 5 night minimum stays and offering clean, functional accommodations suited to professional travelers as well as leisure guests.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Auburn, Washington requires short-term rental operators to hold two permits: an Administrative Permit under the city’s zoning code (Title 18) and a Rental Housing Business License. The Administrative Permit is circulated to neighbors for a 10-day appeal window before approval. If unopposed, it is approved subject to conditions including providing one on-site parking space for each guest room rented, in addition to the parking already required for the residence.
The Rental Housing Business License requirement applies to operators renting three or more rooms or operating a non-owner-occupied property. Owner-occupied homes renting two or fewer rooms are exempt from the business license. Properties subject to the business license that are communal residences also require initial and annual inspections. The initial permit fee is approximately $105, with annual renewal and an annual fee component tied to gross rental receipts.
Short-term rental is defined as transient occupancy of fewer than 180 continuous days. No published annual nights cap or owner-occupancy mandate for STRs specifically was identified. The combined local tax rate applicable to short-term rental guests is approximately 10.3% (combining Auburn’s retail sales and lodging components). Additional King County convention and trade center charges may apply; platforms such as Airbnb collect Washington state and local sales tax automatically, but operators should confirm exact rates via the Washington Department of Revenue rate lookup. Enforcement severity is assessed as moderate.
Market Comparison
Nationally, short-term rentals average approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR. Auburn’s April 2026 occupancy of 57.2% is slightly above the national median, reflecting the year-round event and business demand base. Its $149 ADR is well below the national average, consistent with a suburban King County market rather than a Seattle urban core or Pacific Northwest resort destination.
Evolve leads the Auburn market with 103 listings and 4,812 reviews at a 4.73 average rating. Vacasa holds 65 listings at a 4.63 rating. Amera Property Management holds 25 listings at a 4.89 rating (highest in the top five), and Tip Top Management holds 19 listings at a 4.87 rating across 2,260 reviews. The top four operators combined represent 212 listings, approximately 5.6% of total active supply, a highly fragmented market. The high ratings earned by smaller local operators like Amera and Tip Top suggest that boutique local management can compete effectively on guest experience against larger national platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auburn, Washington
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