Cleveland, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Cleveland, TN STRs averaged $164 per night at 49.6% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 2.3% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Cleveland, Tennessee is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 50%. average monthly revenue is $2,238. average daily rate is $164. the top operator is Evolve with 409 listings. market score is 73/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cleveland is the seat of Bradley County in southeast Tennessee, roughly 30 minutes northeast of Chattanooga. The market is anchored by Ocoee River whitewater rafting (host of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events), the Cherokee National Forest, and a growing outdoor recreation and regional travel base. Bradley County visitors spent nearly $200 million in 2024, up 6.5% year-over-year, ranking the county 17th among Tennessee’s 95 counties for tourism expenditures.
As of April 2026, the market posted a 49.6% occupancy rate and an average daily rate (ADR) of $164, producing a RevPAR of $82 and average monthly revenue of $2,238 per listing. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy rose 0.9 percentage points, ADR increased 0.6%, and revenue per listing grew 2.3%.
The listing mix is overwhelmingly entire-place accommodations: 11,859 entire-place listings, alongside 612 private rooms and 17 shared rooms. By bedroom count, one-bedroom units are most common (4,059 listings), followed by two-bedroom (3,360), three-bedroom (3,024), four-bedroom (1,215), and five-bedroom (801) units.
On distribution channels, Airbnb accounts for 5,684 listings and VRBO 1,176. An additional 5,628 listings operate on both platforms. The composite Apivex market score is 73.3 out of 100, with strong investability (92.8), moderate seasonality stability (71.2), and a revenue growth score of 58.1.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $132 | $1,477 |
| Feb | 45% | $130 | $1,462 |
| Mar | 53% | $147 | $2,013 |
| Apr | 49% | $152 | $2,015 |
| May | 52% | $167 | $2,207 |
| Jun | 60% | $202 | $3,134 |
| Jul | 61% | $204 | $3,445 |
| Aug | 51% | $189 | $2,654 |
| Sep | 46% | $171 | $2,178 |
| Oct | 53% | $164 | $2,460 |
| Nov | 47% | $159 | $2,040 |
| Dec | 45% | $157 | $2,042 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cleveland
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 409 | 13,977 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 108 | 2,373 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | Byers & Harvey | 74 | 2,324 | ★ 4.86 |
| 4 | RedAwning | 63 | 846 | ★ 4.67 |
| 5 | RETREAT VACATIONS | 62 | 3,036 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cleveland?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,059 |
| 2 bed | 3,360 |
| 3 bed | 3,024 |
| 4 bed | 1,215 |
| 5 bed | 801 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $168 |
| Luxury | $278 |
| Professionally Managed | $202 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,817 |
| Entire Place | $2,289 |
| House | $2,401 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.5% |
| vrbo | 9.4% |
| both | 45.1% |
Investment Analysis
Cleveland offers a relatively low cost-of-entry STR investment profile supported by a clear regulatory framework adopted in October 2023. The typical home value stands at $313,342 (Zillow, April 2026), and the median sale price of $294,000 falls below the typical home value, suggesting transactions are occurring at discounted levels relative to the broader home value estimate. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.798 indicates buyers are paying substantially below asking price on average, which may reflect negotiating room for investors.
Average monthly STR revenue in April 2026 was $2,238. Annualizing that monthly figure produces approximately $26,856 in gross annual revenue, implying a gross yield of roughly 8.6% on the typical home value before expenses, vacancy, and management fees.
Tier comparisons show meaningful spread. The all-listings ADR of $164 rises to $168 for entire-home properties and to $202 for professionally managed listings, a 23% premium over the market average. Luxury-tier properties command $278 per night. The professionally managed premium suggests that quality distribution and pricing management meaningfully differentiates outcomes in this market.
Revenue by property type: houses average $2,401 per month and entire-place listings average $2,289, both above the all-listings average of $2,238. Apartments average $1,817.
Historically, 2025 annual average revenue was $2,463 per listing, modestly above $2,428 in 2024. The market has been largely stable since the post-2021 normalization, with the Apivex revenue growth score at 58.1.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, Cleveland STR guests booked an average of 42.1 days in advance and stayed an average of 4.0 nights per visit.
A 42-day lead time is consistent with outdoor recreation and regional drive-market behavior, where travelers from Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Knoxville plan river and mountain trips several weeks ahead of summer weekends. For operators, this suggests rate discipline can be maintained through about five to six weeks before arrival without sacrificing fill rate.
The 4.0-night average length of stay is longer than the typical two-to-three-night weekend getaway and suggests a meaningful share of guests are staying through Monday or arriving earlier in the week for multi-day adventure travel packages. This is favorable for operators because longer stays reduce turnover frequency and associated cleaning costs per booking.
The large dual-platform inventory (5,628 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO) reflects an operator base that has embraced multi-channel distribution, which is consistent with the outdoor recreation market’s more distributed demand sources across both platforms.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cleveland, TN formally authorized short-term rentals under an ordinance passed by City Council on October 23, 2023. Operating an STR without a city permit is a violation of that ordinance.
Operators must apply for an annual operating permit at a cost of $300, renewable each year. A life-safety inspection is required before a permit is issued. Operators must provide detailed ownership and contact information, carry qualifying insurance, and comply with a nuisance provision protecting neighboring properties.
The ordinance is explicitly location-neutral: the city’s Planning Director described the framework as regulating ‘how they operate, not where they operate.’ STRs are allowed in most residential zones with no broad geographic ban.
Occupancy is capped at approximately two guests per bedroom plus four additional persons, with a maximum of about 12 total occupants. Principal renters must be 21 or older.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on annual rental nights.
On taxes, STR stays are subject to Cleveland’s 4% hotel and motel tax (approved May 2023) plus Bradley County’s 7% lodging tax, for a combined lodging tax of 11%, on top of state and local sales tax of approximately 9.25 to 9.75%. Operators must register and remit the combined 11% lodging tax to the appropriate authorities.
Investors should confirm current permit fee, renewal terms, and tax registration requirements directly with the City of Cleveland Planning Department, as the regulatory framework was adopted relatively recently.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Cleveland’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.6% is modestly below the US median of approximately 55%, while its $164 ADR is well below the national median of roughly $220. The market earns below-average on both metrics compared to national norms, reflecting its position as a regional outdoor recreation destination rather than a primary tourism market.
The overall composite score of 73.3 out of 100 places Cleveland above the national midpoint on aggregate measures, driven primarily by an exceptionally high investability score of 92.8, which reflects the low home values relative to STR income potential and the investor-friendly regulatory environment.
Professional operators are active. Evolve leads by a wide margin with 409 listings and 13,977 reviews (4.73 rating). Vacasa holds 108 listings with 2,373 reviews (4.56 rating). Byers and Harvey operates 74 listings with 2,324 reviews and the highest rating among top five at 4.86. RETREAT VACATIONS manages 62 listings with 3,036 reviews (4.82 rating). Together, the top four professional managers account for approximately 653 listings against an estimated 12,488 total active listings in the market.
Bradley County’s $200 million in annual tourism spending and the Ocoee River’s national-level outdoor recreation profile provide a durable demand base that differentiates Cleveland from smaller or more transient regional markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleveland, Tennessee
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