Columbia, Kentucky Short-Term Rental Market
Columbia, KY STRs averaged $183/night at 50.4% occupancy in April 2026 with year-over-year revenue growth of 3.5%.
Quick Answer: Columbia, Kentucky is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 50%. average monthly revenue is $2,474. average daily rate is $183. the top operator is Evolve with 342 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Columbia, Kentucky is the seat of Adair County in south-central Kentucky, serving as a gateway to regional lake recreation on Green River Lake, Lake Cumberland, and Dale Hollow Lake. The STR market is substantially larger than the town’s 4,685 residents would suggest, with approximately 8,442 active listings by the latest dimension count, reflecting the area’s draw as a drive-market lake destination. In April 2026, the market averaged $183/night in ADR and 50.4% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $92.15.
Year-over-year metrics are positive across the board: occupancy gained 0.2 percentage points, ADR rose 2.8%, and average revenue grew 3.5% versus April 2025. Longer-term, annual average ADR climbed from $151 in 2017 to $179 in 2025, while average annual revenue per listing grew from $1,573 to $2,483 over the same period.
Entire-place listings dominate at 7,991 of 8,442 listings (94.7%), with 448 private rooms and just 3 shared rooms. The bedroom distribution is relatively even across smaller units: 2-bedroom listings are the most common (2,489), followed by 1-bedroom (2,292) and 3-bedroom (2,233), with 4-bedroom (859) and 5-bedroom (563) properties rounding out the mix. Airbnb leads on channel distribution with 3,945 listings, 3,685 cross-listed on both platforms, and 812 on VRBO only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $123 | $1,326 |
| Feb | 44% | $124 | $1,369 |
| Mar | 53% | $144 | $1,925 |
| Apr | 51% | $154 | $2,091 |
| May | 51% | $163 | $2,172 |
| Jun | 60% | $188 | $2,975 |
| Jul | 63% | $190 | $3,314 |
| Aug | 52% | $179 | $2,617 |
| Sep | 47% | $166 | $2,149 |
| Oct | 51% | $161 | $2,332 |
| Nov | 45% | $150 | $1,901 |
| Dec | 41% | $142 | $1,730 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Columbia
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 342 | 14,368 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Green Turtle Bay Resort | 85 | 273 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | Lake Cumberland Resort III | 51 | 2,060 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Neat Suites | 40 | 1,156 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Lyric | 39 | 2,991 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Columbia?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,292 |
| 2 bed | 2,489 |
| 3 bed | 2,233 |
| 4 bed | 859 |
| 5 bed | 563 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $186 |
| Luxury | $315 |
| Professionally Managed | $205 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,823 |
| Entire Place | $2,534 |
| House | $2,729 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46.7% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 43.7% |
Investment Analysis
Columbia offers a lake-country investment profile with moderate entry costs and growing revenue trends. The typical home value is $164,771 (Zillow, April 2026 snapshot) and median list prices are running around $224,967. At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,474/month, an investor projecting annualized revenue of approximately $29,689 against a $164,771 acquisition would see an implied gross revenue yield of roughly 18% before expenses, which is favorable relative to most US STR markets.
Tier differentiation in this market is modest. All-listings ADR is $183/night and entire-home listings average $186/night, a narrow gap. Professionally managed properties average $205/night, a 12% premium over the market average. Luxury-tier listings reach $315/night, representing a 72% premium and the strongest return-per-booking potential in the market.
The market score is 88.9 out of 100, with investability as the standout dimension at 97.7. Rental demand scores 72.9 and revenue growth 76.0, both solid. Seasonality scores 66.8, reflecting the meaningful peak-trough gap characteristic of lake markets (covered in seasonal patterns). The regulation score of 69.5 reflects an apparently permissive regulatory environment.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 47.4 days, just over six weeks in advance. This is a longer planning window than many rural markets, suggesting that guests are booking Columbia-area lake trips with moderate advance planning. The summer peak (June-July) likely drives the longest lead times as popular lake weekends fill early.
Average length of stay is 3.68 nights, shorter than typical rural vacation markets and suggesting a mix of long-weekend trips (3 nights) and mid-week stays rather than full-week bookings. This LOS means moderate turnover costs; operators managing multiple properties should account for cleaning scheduling around 3-4 night stays.
For pricing strategy, the 47-day lead time means revenue management should be active 6-8 weeks out, with dynamic pricing adjustments as bookings fill. Last-minute availability in winter months (January-February) will require significant discounting given the weak demand environment during those months.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Columbia and Adair County do not appear to have a short-term rental-specific ordinance as of mid-2026. No local STR permit program, owner-occupancy rule, or night cap was found in government sources. The area tourism board lists Airbnb and VRBO units openly among area lodging, consistent with an unregulated local environment. The str_permitted field is true in the area profile.
At the state level, Kentucky requires operators to collect a 6% state sales tax on stays of 29 nights or fewer, plus a 1% statewide transient room tax. Both are typically collected and remitted by Airbnb and VRBO on behalf of hosts operating on those platforms. The area_profile data shows an occupancy tax rate of 1.00%, consistent with the statewide transient room tax. A local transient room tax from the Adair County tourism commission may also apply but the specific local rate was not confirmed in available sources.
Operators may also need a general county or city occupational license, which is standard in Kentucky. Enforcement is rated minimal. Investors should confirm current tax rates and any business license requirements with Columbia City Hall and the Adair County Fiscal Court before operating. Note that Kentucky HB 8 (effective January 1, 2023) requires platforms to collect and remit applicable transient room taxes statewide.
Market Comparison
Columbia’s 50.4% occupancy in April 2026 is slightly below the US STR median of approximately 55%, which is typical for a spring month in a market with a strong summer peak. The $183/night ADR is modestly below the national STR median of approximately $220 but appropriate for a rural Kentucky lake market.
The market’s total score of 88.9 reflects strong fundamentals, particularly investability (97.7), with seasonality (66.8) dragging the composite score due to the wide peak-trough gap. Revenue growth (76.0) signals continued positive momentum.
Evolve dominates the professional management segment with 342 listings and a 4.76 average rating across 14,368 reviews, by far the largest operator. Green Turtle Bay Resort operates 85 listings with a 4.72 rating, while Lake Cumberland Resort III manages 51 listings at a 4.71 average. Neat Suites (40 listings, 4.80 rating) and Lyric (39 listings, 4.81 rating) round out the top five. The combined top-3 operators control 478 listings in a market of approximately 8,442 total, representing about 5.7% of active inventory under professional management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia, Kentucky
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