Bradenton draws 2.5 million visitors annually, supporting 1,764 active STR listings with a median monthly revenue of $4,345.
Market Overview
The Bradenton short-term rental market has scaled significantly over the past five years. Active listings grew from 841 in 2021 to 1,764 as of February 2026, a 110% increase that reflects sustained investor interest in this Gulf Coast corridor. The market now generates an average monthly revenue of $5,744 per listing, with a median of $4,345, indicating a wide spread between typical performers and top-tier properties.
Average daily rates have nearly doubled since 2021, rising from $200 to $407 in the most recent month. That ADR growth has partially offset occupancy compression: market-wide average occupancy declined from 66.8% in 2021 to 45.5% in early 2026 as supply expanded faster than demand. The RevPAR for February 2026 was $205 average and $155 at the median.
With a city population of 58,184 and 2.5 million annual visitors passing through the greater area, Bradenton benefits from both leisure tourism tied to Gulf beaches and cultural draws including the South Florida Museum and the Riverwalk. The market sits within Manatee County and draws visitors year-round, though with a clear winter and spring peak. Investors entering today face a more competitive supply environment than existed in 2021, making property selection and positioning more consequential than in earlier years.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55% | $284 | $4,946 | 1,347 |
| Feb | 62% | $308 | $6,081 | 1,353 |
| Mar | 72% | $276 | $7,216 | 1,149 |
| Apr | 62% | $252 | $5,249 | 1,144 |
| May | 55% | $240 | $4,492 | 1,093 |
| Jun | 63% | $259 | $5,523 | 1,214 |
| Jul | 61% | $258 | $5,735 | 1,327 |
| Aug | 53% | $237 | $4,454 | 1,322 |
| Sep | 44% | $227 | $3,450 | 1,320 |
| Oct | 51% | $227 | $3,920 | 1,273 |
| Nov | 52% | $246 | $3,971 | 1,293 |
| Dec | 51% | $283 | $4,635 | 1,329 |
Bradenton follows a classic Florida Gulf Coast seasonal curve with a pronounced winter and spring peak, a moderate summer, and a soft fall trough.
March is the single strongest month: average occupancy reaches 71.8% and average revenue climbs to $7,216. February is the second strongest at 62.0% occupancy and $6,081 average revenue. January also performs well at 55.4% occupancy and $4,946 average revenue. This January through March window is the most reliable revenue period in the calendar year.
Summer is softer but not weak. June and July both hold occupancy above 60% (62.6% and 60.8%), with average revenues of $5,523 and $5,735 respectively, driven partly by school-break travel. ADR in summer months ($258 to $259) runs well below the winter peak but volume keeps revenues respectable.
September is the clear trough: 44.4% average occupancy, a $227 ADR, and an average monthly revenue of $3,450. This is 52% below the March peak. October and November are also soft at around 51% occupancy. August occupancy drops to 53.0%.
December shows a modest recovery to 51.2% occupancy and $283 ADR as holiday travel picks up. Operators should price aggressively during January through March, use dynamic pricing to maximize summer occupancy, and set realistic expectations for September through November, which will typically deliver the weakest cash flow months of the year.
Revenue Breakdown
| Metric | 25th Pctile | Median | 75th Pctile | 90th Pctile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue/mo | $1,827 | $4,345 | $7,879 | $12,512 |
| ADR | $214 | $334 | $522 | $717 |
| Occupancy | 23% | 49% | 72% | 89% |
February 2026 data shows a wide distribution of outcomes across the 1,764 active Bradenton listings. The bottom 25% of properties (p25) earned $1,827 or less per month. The median property (p50) earned $4,345. The top 25% (p75) earned $7,879 or more, and the top 10% (p90) earned $12,512 or more.
The gap between p25 and p90 is $10,685 per month, which at a $349,000 purchase price represents the difference between a 6.3% gross annual yield and a 43% gross annual yield. That spread illustrates how much property quality, location, and management execution matter in this market.
The average revenue of $5,744 sits notably above the median of $4,345, indicating the upper tail of earners pulls the average up. Investors should model toward the median as a base case rather than the average, and treat p75 as an achievable target for well-located, professionally managed properties. The average ADR of $407 versus median ADR of $334 shows the same skew: a minority of premium listings command significantly higher nightly rates.
Investment Analysis
Revenue Trend
RevPAR & ADR Trend
| Date | Revenue | RevPAR | ADR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | $5,803 | $187 | $197 |
| Apr 2021 | $5,392 | $180 | $198 |
| May 2021 | $5,385 | $174 | $194 |
| Jun 2021 | $5,780 | $193 | $206 |
| Jul 2021 | $5,972 | $193 | $208 |
| Aug 2021 | $5,144 | $166 | $199 |
| Sep 2021 | $4,327 | $144 | $193 |
| Oct 2021 | $4,178 | $135 | $194 |
| Nov 2021 | $4,252 | $142 | $196 |
| Dec 2021 | $4,708 | $152 | $210 |
| Jan 2022 | $5,190 | $167 | $207 |
| Feb 2022 | $5,429 | $194 | $226 |
| Mar 2022 | $6,759 | $218 | $239 |
| Apr 2022 | $5,510 | $184 | $223 |
| May 2022 | $4,679 | $151 | $215 |
| Jun 2022 | $6,099 | $203 | $232 |
| Jul 2022 | $6,417 | $207 | $241 |
| Aug 2022 | $5,223 | $169 | $224 |
| Sep 2022 | $4,672 | $156 | $221 |
| Oct 2022 | $5,473 | $177 | $220 |
| Nov 2022 | $5,063 | $169 | $229 |
| Dec 2022 | $5,427 | $175 | $239 |
| Jan 2023 | $5,732 | $185 | $253 |
| Feb 2023 | $6,494 | $232 | $271 |
| Mar 2023 | $7,965 | $257 | $287 |
| Apr 2023 | $5,539 | $185 | $254 |
| May 2023 | $4,557 | $147 | $230 |
| Jun 2023 | $5,516 | $184 | $241 |
| Jul 2023 | $5,934 | $191 | $246 |
| Aug 2023 | $4,216 | $136 | $216 |
| Sep 2023 | $3,136 | $105 | $208 |
| Oct 2023 | $2,701 | $87 | $195 |
| Nov 2023 | $2,871 | $96 | $233 |
| Dec 2023 | $3,642 | $118 | $293 |
| Jan 2024 | $4,669 | $151 | $298 |
| Feb 2024 | $5,964 | $206 | $291 |
| Mar 2024 | $7,055 | $228 | $304 |
| Apr 2024 | $4,095 | $137 | $273 |
| May 2024 | $3,917 | $126 | $268 |
| Jun 2024 | $4,892 | $163 | $298 |
| Jul 2024 | $4,838 | $156 | $281 |
| Aug 2024 | $3,670 | $118 | $260 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,483 | $83 | $240 |
| Oct 2024 | $3,812 | $123 | $236 |
| Nov 2024 | $3,786 | $126 | $266 |
| Dec 2024 | $4,639 | $150 | $311 |
| Jan 2025 | $4,617 | $149 | $309 |
| Feb 2025 | $6,776 | $242 | $343 |
| Mar 2025 | $8,500 | $274 | $355 |
| Apr 2025 | $5,710 | $190 | $315 |
| May 2025 | $3,924 | $127 | $291 |
| Jun 2025 | $5,328 | $178 | $317 |
| Jul 2025 | $5,514 | $178 | $314 |
| Aug 2025 | $4,016 | $130 | $284 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,633 | $88 | $271 |
| Oct 2025 | $3,434 | $111 | $287 |
| Nov 2025 | $3,881 | $129 | $305 |
| Dec 2025 | $4,761 | $154 | $362 |
| Jan 2026 | $4,521 | $146 | $352 |
| Feb 2026 | $5,744 | $205 | $407 |
Occupancy vs Supply
| Date | Occupancy | Active Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | 73% | 775 |
| Jun 2021 | 76% | 839 |
| Sep 2021 | 60% | 858 |
| Dec 2021 | 64% | 873 |
| Mar 2022 | 67% | 879 |
| Jun 2022 | 67% | 1,304 |
| Sep 2022 | 52% | 1,298 |
| Dec 2022 | 60% | 1,293 |
| Mar 2023 | 75% | 1,287 |
| Jun 2023 | 66% | 1,280 |
| Sep 2023 | 42% | 1,257 |
| Dec 2023 | 42% | 1,138 |
| Mar 2024 | 69% | 1,097 |
| Jun 2024 | 51% | 824 |
| Sep 2024 | 35% | 1,405 |
| Dec 2024 | 48% | 1,584 |
| Mar 2025 | 75% | 1,707 |
| Jun 2025 | 53% | 1,822 |
| Sep 2025 | 33% | 1,781 |
| Dec 2025 | 42% | 1,757 |
Entry costs in Bradenton are moderate by Florida Gulf Coast standards. Typical home values sit at $349,029, with a median sale price of $348,333. The current sale-to-list ratio of 0.962 indicates buyers are routinely negotiating below asking price, and properties average 55 days to pending, giving investors reasonable time to conduct diligence.
At the median, a Bradenton STR generates $4,345 per month in gross revenue, or roughly $52,140 annually before expenses. Top-quartile properties (p75) produce $7,879 per month ($94,548 annualized), and the top 10% (p90) reach $12,512 per month ($150,144 annualized). Bottom-quartile properties (p25) generate $1,827 per month, which at a $349,000 purchase price implies a gross yield below 6% before any costs, flagging meaningful downside risk for poorly positioned assets.
The primary risk factor is ongoing supply growth. The active listing count increased by 30 properties in a single month from January to February 2026, and market-wide occupancy has trended down five consecutive years. Investors should underwrite at 48 to 52% occupancy rather than using 2021 or 2022 historical highs. ADR has risen consistently and now averages $407, which partially mitigates occupancy softness, but that trend may slow as the market matures. Properties within walking distance of beaches or the Riverwalk have demonstrated the strongest separation from the median.
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| Date | Typical Home Value |
|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | $302,523 |
| Dec 2021 | $364,341 |
| Sep 2022 | $448,479 |
| Jun 2023 | $445,869 |
| Mar 2024 | $450,947 |
| Dec 2024 | $435,555 |
| Sep 2025 | $408,921 |
Booking Insights
Bradenton guests book an average of 97 days in advance, with a median lead time of 71 days. This is a relatively long planning horizon compared to many domestic leisure markets, suggesting guests treat Bradenton as a deliberate trip rather than a spontaneous booking. For operators, this means setting pricing at least 90 to 120 days out rather than waiting to fill the calendar last-minute.
Average length of stay is 9.1 nights, with a median of 5 nights. The gap between average and median indicates a subset of long-stay bookings (snowbirds, extended vacationers) pulling the average up significantly. A 5-night minimum may be viable outside of peak season without materially reducing booking volume. During March peak, shorter minimum stays often increase revenue per available night by capturing weekend travelers.
The combination of long lead times and longer stays points to a market where revenue management through early pricing rather than last-minute discounting is the more effective strategy. Operators who open their calendars 120 or more days out and price the peak season (January through March) at full rates are better positioned than those who hold inventory hoping for higher last-minute rates.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bradenton requires a business tax receipt to legally operate a short-term rental. Operators must submit an application and pay applicable fees through the City of Bradenton before accepting guests. The city also enforces zoning compliance, meaning not all residential zones permit short-term rentals. Operators must confirm their specific property falls within an eligible zone before purchasing.
Safety requirements include functioning smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in all units. These are not optional: inspections can occur and non-compliance can result in permit revocation.
On the tax side, Bradenton STR operators must collect and remit two separate levies. The first is a 5% Manatee County tourist development tax. The second is Florida’s 6% state sales tax on rental income. Combined, that is 11% in taxes on top of rental income that must be passed through to the state and county. Failure to remit these taxes is a compliance violation with penalties.
Bradenton’s regulations are available in full through the Municode Library at the city’s online municipal code. The Florida Department of Revenue handles state sales tax registration. Operators should also check whether their property falls under any homeowners association rules that layer additional restrictions on top of city requirements. The regulatory environment here is moderate relative to many Florida markets, but it is not permissive, and the tax obligations are meaningful.
Market Comparison
Bradenton’s February 2026 average ADR of $407 is substantially above Florida’s statewide short-term rental average of approximately $220 to $250, reflecting its Gulf Coast beach premium. However, its 48% average occupancy sits below the national STR average of roughly 55 to 58%, a consequence of the significant supply growth the market has absorbed since 2021.
Compared to nearby Sarasota, which commands higher ADRs and has a more developed luxury segment, Bradenton positions as a more accessible entry point at a lower purchase price while still benefiting from shared Gulf Coast demand. Compared to high-occupancy inland markets like Austin or Nashville, Bradenton earns more per occupied night but fills fewer nights per month.
The market’s average monthly revenue of $5,744 and median of $4,345 are competitive with mid-tier Florida beach markets. Investors considering Bradenton against alternatives should weigh: lower entry cost relative to most Gulf Coast markets, moderate but declining occupancy, strong ADR growth trend, and an 11% combined tax burden that does not apply in all competing markets.
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