Leadville, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Leadville, CO STRs averaged $179/night at 40.9% occupancy in April 2026, in North America's highest incorporated city at 10,150 feet with non-resident STR licenses at capacity.
Quick Answer: Leadville, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,125. average daily rate is $244. the top operator is Evolve with 552 listings. market score is 67/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Colorado Area regional market, which includes Leadville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Leadville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Leadville, Colorado is the highest incorporated city in North America at approximately 10,150 feet of elevation, drawing outdoor recreation, mining heritage, and endurance-sports visitors year-round. The broader southern Colorado mountain region STR market reported 11,109 active listings as of the latest snapshot, though Leadville’s own city population is just 2,633, reflecting a wide regional dataset. In April 2026, listings averaged $179 per night at 40.9% occupancy (the seasonal trough for this market), yielding a RevPAR of $73. All three year-over-year metrics improved through April 2026: occupancy rose 2.54%, ADR increased 2.92%, and revenue grew 2.39%. Lake County lodging tax revenue grew 8.2% through Q3 2025, bucking Colorado statewide declines, indicating strong underlying demand. Supply in the regional dataset is almost entirely entire-place units: 10,381 of 11,109 listings (93.4%) are entire-place rentals. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom properties lead (3,557 listings), followed by 3-bedroom (3,021), 2-bedroom (2,842), 4-bedroom (1,119), and 5-bedroom (550). Channel distribution is nearly split: 5,581 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 4,614 on Airbnb only, and 914 on VRBO only. The market scored 66.7 overall on the investability index, with rental demand (73.3) as the top sub-score. The critical investor note for Leadville specifically: the city’s Class 2 (non-resident-occupied) STR license cap of 165 is currently full and on a waitlist.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $189 | $2,293 |
| Feb | 50% | $191 | $2,370 |
| Mar | 54% | $193 | $2,839 |
| Apr | 41% | $155 | $1,933 |
| May | 57% | $175 | $2,319 |
| Jun | 67% | $212 | $3,508 |
| Jul | 72% | $216 | $4,201 |
| Aug | 63% | $203 | $3,570 |
| Sep | 59% | $191 | $3,034 |
| Oct | 51% | $175 | $2,540 |
| Nov | 45% | $167 | $1,986 |
| Dec | 51% | $200 | $2,558 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Leadville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 552 | 35,001 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 218 | 11,513 | ★ 4.60 |
| 3 | Vacation Rental Collective | 164 | 8,344 | ★ 4.82 |
| 4 | Pinon Vacation | 111 | 8,032 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | VIP Vacation Services | 94 | 3,083 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Leadville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,557 |
| 2 bed | 2,842 |
| 3 bed | 3,021 |
| 4 bed | 1,119 |
| 5 bed | 550 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $252 |
| Luxury | $406 |
| Professionally Managed | $302 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,363 |
| Entire Place | $4,276 |
| House | $4,513 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 41.5% |
| vrbo | 8.2% |
| both | 50.2% |
Investment Analysis
Leadville’s combination of a high-altitude mountain destination, event-driven demand, and limited housing supply creates a distinctive investment profile. The Zillow typical home value was $504,516 as of April 2026, with a median list price of $619,167 against just 50 active for-sale listings, an exceptionally tight resale market. Using the 2025 full-year average of $3,240 per month, annualized revenue is approximately $38,900, implying a gross yield of about 7.7% against the $504,516 typical home value. Tier differentials are present: luxury-tier properties averaged $327 per night versus the all-listings ADR of $179 (an 83% premium), and professionally managed properties averaged $210 per night. By property type, houses generate approximately $2,354 per month versus $2,261 for entire-place listings and $1,717 for apartments. The most important investment constraint in Leadville is regulatory: Class 2 (non-resident-occupied) STR licenses are capped at 165, equal to 12% of the city’s residential parcels, and as of 2024-2025 the cap is full with an active waitlist. New non-owner investors cannot begin operating immediately and must register on the waitlist through the Deputy City Clerk. Investors who qualify for a Class 1 (resident-occupied, renting a portion of their primary home) license are not subject to the cap. The annual license fee is $325, and operators must collect and remit the 4.92% city accommodations tax independently (Airbnb and VRBO do NOT remit this tax for hosts in Leadville).
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Leadville)
Booking Insights
Leadville-area guests book approximately 40 days in advance, a lead time that reflects mountain vacation planning cycles, visitors to high-altitude outdoor destinations typically confirm lodging 5-6 weeks out. The average length of stay is 3.75 nights, consistent with multi-day adventure travel patterns: summit attempts on Mount Elbert and Mount Massive typically involve 1-2 days of acclimatization and 1-2 days of hiking. At April’s 40.9% occupancy (approximately 12.3 occupied nights per 30-day month), a typical listing sees about 3 guest stays monthly during shoulder season. At peak summer levels (July, 72.4% occupancy, approximately 21.7 nights), the same math yields about 6 stays per month. Operators targeting Leadville Trail 100 race weekends in August should consider 3-5 night minimum stays to capture participant and crew booking patterns.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Leadville requires an annual City STR License, with a fee of $325, for any rental under 30 consecutive days. Licenses must be renewed each year by April 30. Two license classes exist: Class 1 (resident-occupied, where the owner lives in the property year-round and rents a portion) is uncapped, and Class 2 (non-resident-occupied, for investment or second-home owners) is capped at 165 licenses, 12% of the city’s residential parcels. As of 2024-2025, the Class 2 cap is full with an active waitlist; prospective non-resident investors must register on the waitlist through the Deputy City Clerk and cannot operate until a license opens. Properties with two or more units on a parcel require a conditional use permit. Applicants must hold a Colorado Sales Tax license, submit site and floor plans, designate a local agent for emergency response, and pass a fire-safety inspection. On taxes, operators must collect and remit the city’s 4.92% accommodations tax quarterly via the MUNIRevs online platform, Airbnb and VRBO do NOT automatically remit this tax in Leadville, unlike standard platform markets. State and Lake County sales taxes also apply. No owner-occupancy requirement applies to Class 2 licenses (other than the cap), and no annual night cap was found. Enforcement is rated moderate. The accommodations tax rate was raised to 4.92% from 1.92% effective January 1, 2022, by voter approval.
Market Comparison
Against US STR market medians of approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR, Leadville’s 2025 annual averages (53.9% occupancy, $217 ADR) closely track national medians. The 8.2% lodging tax growth in Lake County through Q3 2025 suggests local demand outperformed the state average despite market-wide softening elsewhere in Colorado. The market’s overall score of 66.7 reflects the constraints of the Class 2 license cap. Professional management mirrors the southern Colorado mountain landscape: Evolve leads with 552 listings and 35,001 reviews at a 4.77 average rating. Vacasa holds second with 218 listings, 11,513 reviews, and a 4.60 rating. Vacation Rental Collective ranks third with 164 listings, 8,344 reviews, and a 4.82 rating. These three operators collectively manage approximately 934 of 11,109 active listings, or about 8.4% of the regional market. The meaningful difference from other Colorado mountain STR markets is the hard cap on non-resident licenses: the 165-license ceiling restricts supply growth and could protect existing license-holders’ revenue base over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leadville, Colorado
What is the average nightly rate for short-term rentals in Leadville, CO?
Can non-resident investors obtain a new Leadville STR license?
What is the annual fee for a Leadville STR license?
Does Airbnb collect the Leadville accommodations tax from guests?
What is the estimated gross yield for Leadville STR investments?
When is peak season for Leadville, CO vacation rentals?
What are the major visitor attractions in Leadville, CO?
Analyze Leadville Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Leadville.
Free Leadville STR Calculator →
