Alma, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Alma, CO STRs posted a $179 average daily rate at 40.9% occupancy in April 2026, with typical properties generating $2,184 per month.
Quick Answer: Alma, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 41%. average monthly revenue is $2,184. average daily rate is $179. the top operator is Evolve with 552 listings. market score is 66/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Alma, Colorado operates as the highest-incorporated town in the United States at 10,578 feet, and its short-term rental market reflects that altitude-driven specialization. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $179 and 40.9% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $2,184 per active listing. RevPAR (revenue per available room) stood at $73 for that month.
Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy grew 2.5 percentage points, ADR rose 2.9%, and average monthly revenue increased 2.3% compared to the same period in the prior year. That incremental improvement continues a longer trajectory: from 2017 through 2025, average annual revenue per listing rose from $1,937 to $3,240, and ADR climbed from $162 to $217.
The listing base is dominated by entire-home properties, which account for the large majority of inventory. Private room listings represent a small fraction, and shared room listings are essentially absent from the market. By channel, Airbnb has the broadest presence, with a meaningful overlap of operators who list on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously.
Bedroom distribution spans primarily one- through three-bedroom units, with one-bedroom (32%), two-bedroom (26%), and three-bedroom (27%) making up the bulk of the market. Larger four- and five-bedroom properties represent roughly 15% combined, typically capturing the highest revenue per stay given Alma’s draw as a base camp for groups tackling the Decalibron 14er loop.
Alma’s market scores (on a 0-100 scale) indicate moderate overall investability at 70.65, solid rental demand at 73.19, but softer revenue growth momentum at 64.19 and a seasonality score of 69.73 reflecting meaningful month-to-month swings between summer peak and shoulder season.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $188 | $2,294 |
| Feb | 50% | $191 | $2,371 |
| Mar | 54% | $193 | $2,841 |
| Apr | 41% | $155 | $1,934 |
| May | 57% | $171 | $2,268 |
| Jun | 67% | $208 | $3,431 |
| Jul | 72% | $216 | $4,203 |
| Aug | 63% | $203 | $3,572 |
| Sep | 59% | $191 | $3,034 |
| Oct | 51% | $175 | $2,542 |
| Nov | 45% | $167 | $1,987 |
| Dec | 51% | $200 | $2,555 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Alma
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 552 | 34,985 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 205 | 11,102 | ★ 4.60 |
| 3 | Vacation Rental Collective | 163 | 8,326 | ★ 4.83 |
| 4 | Pinon Vacation | 111 | 8,000 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | VIP Vacation Services | 94 | 3,082 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Alma?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,546 |
| 2 bed | 2,834 |
| 3 bed | 3,016 |
| 4 bed | 1,120 |
| 5 bed | 549 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $185 |
| Luxury | $327 |
| Professionally Managed | $210 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,715 |
| Entire Place | $2,260 |
| House | $2,354 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 41.6% |
| vrbo | 8.3% |
| both | 50.2% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $599,390 and average monthly STR revenue of $2,184, the gross STR yield on a market-rate purchase runs approximately 4.4% annually before expenses (computed as $26,202 annualized revenue divided by $599,390 typical value). That is a modest yield, and investors should plan for operating costs, management fees, and Alma’s 7.9% combined sales/lodging tax rate before arriving at net return.
ADR context by tier: the base all-listing average of $179 compares to $185 for entire-home properties, $210 for professionally managed listings, and $327 for luxury-tier properties. That spread suggests professionally managed or higher-end properties outperform the market average by 17% to 83% on rate alone.
On the revenue side, house properties averaged $2,354/month in April 2026, entire-place listings averaged $2,260, and apartments tracked lower at $1,715. The house premium over apartments is approximately $639/month or 37%.
The housing market shows 21 active listings for sale as of April 2026 with a median list price of $687,167. Sale price data was not available in the snapshot. The combination of a soft for-sale inventory (21 listings in the entire market area), high list prices, and a hard STR permit cap of 17 licenses within Town of Alma limits creates a structurally constrained supply dynamic.
Annual revenue for a top-quartile operator in this market (based on the July peak of $4,203/month) extrapolated year-round would imply peak-season concentration; operators should not annualize the summer peak as a steady-state figure.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, Alma STR guests booked an average of 40 days in advance, with an average length of stay of 3.76 nights.
A 40-day booking lead time places Alma on the shorter end of the mountain-market spectrum but is consistent with markets that attract weekend and short-break travelers rather than long-planned resort stays. Practically, this means operators should not expect to fill inventory months in advance through early bookings; instead, the 30-60 day window before arrival is the primary booking window. Setting competitive rates in the 30-45 day window is more important than locking in rates at 90+ days.
The 3.76-night average stay is close to a four-night typical visit, suggesting most guests book Thursday-Sunday or Friday-Monday patterns. This creates higher turnover relative to a 7-night minimum market, which increases cleaning and restocking costs. Properties that can accommodate mid-week stays efficiently will benefit from filling otherwise empty shoulder nights without a proportional increase in per-booking costs.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted within the Town of Alma under a Special Use Permit (SUP) framework defined in Section 16-17-30 of the Alma Municipal Code, with operating standards in Chapter 16 Zoning Article 20 (Short Term Rental Units).
Alma enforces a hard cap on total STR licenses. That cap was increased from 10 to 17 on June 19, 2025. As of mid-2025, 10 licenses were active, 4 applications were in process, and 3 slots remained available with no waitlist. This cap represents approximately 8% of Alma’s approximately 211 residential housing units.
The combined sales and use tax rate applicable to STR lodging is 7.9%, composed of 2.9% Colorado state, 1.0% Park County, 3.0% Town of Alma, and 1.0% Park County South Park Health Service District. A separate dedicated lodging tax has not been confirmed in available public sources.
Rentals of fewer than 14 days per year are exempt from the SUP requirement. Specific permit fees, renewal cadence, owner-occupancy requirements, and per-year night caps are not published in publicly available summaries; operators should confirm directly with town staff at (719) 836-2712.
A critical jurisdictional note: many properties with Alma mailing addresses are physically located in unincorporated Park County rather than the incorporated Town of Alma. Those properties fall under Park County’s separate STR ordinance, not the town’s. Park County conducted its own STR ordinance review in 2024-2025; separately, HB25-1247 allows Colorado counties to raise lodging tax caps from 2% to 6% starting 2026 subject to voter approval.
Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The US short-term rental market median occupancy runs approximately 55% and median ADR approximately $220. Alma’s April 2026 occupancy of 40.9% falls below that national median, though April is a documented trough month for this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 53.9% is much closer to the national midpoint.
Alma’s $179 April ADR is below the national median, but the market’s annual 2025 ADR of $217 essentially matches it. The luxury-tier ADR of $327 in April suggests pricing power at the top of the market well above national averages.
In terms of operator concentration, Evolve leads this market with 552 listings and 34,985 reviews at a 4.77 average rating. Vacasa holds 205 listings at a 4.60 rating. Vacation Rental Collective operates 163 listings at a 4.83 rating. The top three operators together represent substantial professional management capacity in a market that spans a relatively small geographic area.
Alma’s investability score of 70.65 and rental demand score of 73.19 compare favorably to moderate-quality US STR markets but the revenue growth score of 64.19 and total score of 66.36 indicate this is a solid but not exceptional market by the composite metric. The 17-unit permit cap within town limits is a material constraint not present in most unincorporated or larger municipal markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alma, Colorado
What is the average daily rate for Airbnb rentals in Alma, CO?
What is the average occupancy rate for STRs in Alma, CO?
How much revenue can an Airbnb in Alma, CO earn per month?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Alma, CO?
What is the short-term rental tax rate in Alma, CO?
What is the best month to rent out an Airbnb in Alma, CO?
How far in advance do guests book STRs in Alma, CO?
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