Frederick, Maryland Short-Term Rental Market
Frederick, MD STRs averaged $211/night at 48.6% occupancy in April 2026, drawing from 2.1 million annual visitors to the region.
Quick Answer: Frederick, Maryland is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $2,619. average daily rate is $211. the top operator is Evolve with 95 listings. market score is 59/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Frederick is the county seat of Frederick County, Maryland, with a population of approximately 89,500, positioned between Washington D.C. and Baltimore. The county drew a record 2.1 million visitors in 2024 who generated $564 million in spending, surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The market draws heritage and history travelers to its 50-block downtown historic district, craft beverage tourists to what the city markets as the Maryland Craft Beer Capital, and weekend leisure travelers from the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.
In April 2026, the all-listings ADR was $211 and occupancy was 48.6%, producing RevPAR of $102. Year-over-year, occupancy declined slightly by 1.2%, ADR grew 1.3%, and revenue was essentially flat (-0.5%). The listing inventory spans 2,769 entire-place units, 643 private rooms, and 10 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units dominate at 1,274, followed by 3-bedroom (752), 2-bedroom (685), 4-bedroom (400), and 5-bedroom-plus (307). Channel distribution shows 1,958 Airbnb-only, 224 VRBO-only, and 1,240 on both platforms. The market’s total score of 58.6/100 reflects a solid rental demand score (69.5/100) offset by moderate growth and seasonal variation.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $148 | $1,751 |
| Feb | 49% | $141 | $1,715 |
| Mar | 51% | $150 | $1,984 |
| Apr | 53% | $177 | $2,384 |
| May | 56% | $209 | $2,922 |
| Jun | 61% | $244 | $3,909 |
| Jul | 63% | $244 | $4,140 |
| Aug | 61% | $249 | $4,131 |
| Sep | 53% | $218 | $3,100 |
| Oct | 51% | $198 | $2,838 |
| Nov | 46% | $181 | $2,311 |
| Dec | 45% | $167 | $2,174 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Frederick
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 95 | 2,982 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Eastern Shore Vacations | 62 | 810 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | Flaneur | 34 | 992 | ★ 4.90 |
| 4 | Equitable | 28 | 287 | ★ 4.39 |
| 5 | Bartlett Real Estate Solutions | 16 | 1,111 | ★ 4.74 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Frederick?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,274 |
| 2 bed | 685 |
| 3 bed | 752 |
| 4 bed | 400 |
| 5 bed | 307 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $236 |
| Luxury | $439 |
| Professionally Managed | $327 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,013 |
| Entire Place | $2,910 |
| House | $2,851 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 57.2% |
| vrbo | 6.5% |
| both | 36.2% |
Investment Analysis
Frederick’s investment profile is shaped by moderate acquisition costs relative to the D.C. metro region and consistent demand tied to heritage tourism and regional proximity. The typical home value is $468,000, with a median sale price of $442,000 and median list price of $450,000. The housing market is competitive: the sale-to-list ratio is 0.98 and median days to pending is just 10. At April 2026 revenue of $2,619/month, a listing yields annualized gross revenue of approximately $31,432, representing a gross yield of roughly 6.7% on a typical-priced acquisition.
ADR tiering shows the widest spread in this batch of markets between the all-listings average and specialty tiers. The professionally managed tier averages $327/night versus $211 for all listings, a 55% premium. The luxury tier reaches $439/night. This large gap reflects the private-room segment (643 listings, roughly 19% of supply) pulling the all-listings ADR down significantly, while entire-place listings at $236/night more accurately represent the standalone rental market. Houses average $2,851/month versus $2,910 for entire-place listings and $2,013 for apartments. Annual revenue has ranged from $2,878 to $3,196/month in 2023 through 2025, showing stability after the 2021 peak of $3,443/month.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Frederick guests book approximately 45 days in advance, and the average length of stay is 4.0 nights. The 45-day lead time is shorter than many comparable markets, reflecting the market’s role as a D.C./Baltimore drive-market destination where weekend getaway decisions are made with less advance notice. The 4.0-night average stay is one of the longer averages in this batch of markets, suggesting that some guests use Frederick as an extended base for touring the Antietam National Battlefield, Harpers Ferry, the Appalachian Trail, and other regional sites rather than a single-destination stay. For operators, the 4-night average reduces per-booking turnover costs while the 45-day lead time means dynamic pricing adjustments should focus on the 30-day window rather than far-out discounting.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Frederick regulates short-term rentals under the Residential Rental Licensing Ordinance (G-23-09), effective January 1, 2024. All rental units including STRs must obtain a Residential Rental License costing $240 per unit, valid for two years (biennial renewal). The city conducts random code-enforcement inspections beginning January 1, 2024.
Zoning adds additional requirements. In residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3), STRs require a special use permit, neighbor notification, and an onsite resident (owner or renter) for transient-stay facilities. Reported occupancy limits are 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional, with a required 24/7 local contact reachable within 30 minutes, and an approximately 400-foot buffer between STRs to limit neighborhood concentration. In commercial zones, STRs are generally permitted by right with standard licensing. Frederick County (outside city limits) prohibits STR use of accessory dwelling units. On taxes, Frederick County levies a 5% hotel and room rental tax on stays of 90 days or fewer, and Maryland adds a 6% state sales and use tax on accommodations, for a combined approximately 11% lodging tax. Enforcement is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
At $211 ADR and 48.6% occupancy, Frederick sits near the low end of the US STR median ADR range of approximately $220 but within the typical occupancy band for non-resort East Coast markets. RevPAR of $102 is consistent with a secondary heritage market. The essentially flat year-over-year revenue (-0.5%) contrasts with stronger growth in comparable markets and reflects a stabilizing post-pandemic demand normalization.
The professional management presence is lighter than many comparably-sized markets. Evolve leads with 95 listings and 2,982 reviews at a 4.75 rating. Eastern Shore Vacations holds 62 listings at a 4.75 rating. Flaneur operates 34 listings at a 4.90 rating, the highest in the market, suggesting a quality-focused boutique operator. The relatively modest PM footprint indicates that the Frederick STR market is primarily self-managed, creating an opportunity for operators who invest in professional management and quality to capture the premium reflected in the $327/night PM-tier ADR. The total market score of 58.6/100 is among the lower in this batch, primarily reflecting modest revenue growth and seasonal concentration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frederick, Maryland
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