Auburn, New York Short-Term Rental Market
Auburn, NY STRs averaged $242/night at 42.7% occupancy in April 2026, with peak summer months reaching 70%+.
Quick Answer: Auburn, New York is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 43%. average monthly revenue is $2,500. average daily rate is $242. the top operator is Finger Lakes Premier Properties with 212 listings. market score is 66/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Auburn, New York is the county seat of Cayuga County in the Finger Lakes region, with a population of approximately 25,791. The STR market spans approximately 6,083 active listings, dominated by entire-place properties at 5,564 (91.5%), with 518 private-room and 1 shared-room listing. The bedroom mix is relatively distributed: 1-bedroom units lead at 1,825 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (1,509), 2-bedroom (1,340), 4-bedroom (846), and 5-bedroom (556) properties.
In April 2026, the all-listings average daily rate was $241.51 and average occupancy was 42.7%, producing a RevPAR of $103.21. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 6.95 percentage points and revenue fell 1.95%, though ADR rose 5.63%. The 2025 full-year average ADR was $269 at 47.7% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $3,540. Distribution is Airbnb-dominant with 2,976 Airbnb-exclusive listings, 581 VRBO-exclusive, and 2,526 on both platforms. The market’s total score is 66.0, with investability the standout sub-score at 95.5 out of 100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $188 | $1,859 |
| Feb | 44% | $192 | $1,962 |
| Mar | 42% | $187 | $2,027 |
| Apr | 48% | $211 | $2,399 |
| May | 51% | $261 | $2,858 |
| Jun | 57% | $291 | $4,127 |
| Jul | 69% | $292 | $5,229 |
| Aug | 71% | $294 | $5,382 |
| Sep | 52% | $261 | $3,633 |
| Oct | 51% | $249 | $3,511 |
| Nov | 39% | $210 | $2,358 |
| Dec | 37% | $199 | $2,091 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Auburn
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finger Lakes Premier Properties | 212 | 3,615 | ★ 4.64 |
| 2 | Evolve | 144 | 6,770 | ★ 4.68 |
| 3 | Vibe Short Term Rental Management | 77 | 2,373 | ★ 4.83 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 61 | 2,311 | ★ 4.49 |
| 5 | Between the Lakes Vacation Rentals | 56 | 664 | ★ 4.62 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Auburn?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,825 |
| 2 bed | 1,340 |
| 3 bed | 1,509 |
| 4 bed | 846 |
| 5 bed | 556 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $258 |
| Luxury | $436 |
| Professionally Managed | $359 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,758 |
| Entire Place | $2,626 |
| House | $2,781 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 48.9% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 41.5% |
Investment Analysis
Auburn’s STR investment story is shaped by its position as a Finger Lakes heritage and outdoor tourism destination, driven substantially by cultural tourism tied to Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Cayuga County’s broader wine and outdoor recreation draws. Cayuga County visitor spending reached approximately $157 million in 2024, up roughly 8% from $144 million in 2022.
Average monthly revenue of $2,500 in April 2026 annualizes to approximately $30,000 per property. The 2025 annual average of $3,540/month annualizes to approximately $42,480. No housing price data was available in our current snapshot, so purchase-price yield calculations cannot be provided. The tier analysis shows meaningful differentiation: entire-home listings average $257.90/night versus $241.51 across all listings. Luxury properties average $435.96/night, a premium of roughly 80% over the all-listings rate. Professionally managed listings average $358.67/night, approximately 49% above the market average. The exceptionally high investability sub-score (95.5) suggests the data model rates this market as having low entry barriers or strong relative return potential. The revenue_growth sub-score of 66.7 and the YoY revenue decline of 1.95% suggest near-term softness that has not yet eroded long-term trend scores.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Auburn’s average booking lead time in April 2026 was 47.3 days, meaning guests typically plan their trips about six to seven weeks in advance. This is a moderate lead window that supports a two-phase pricing strategy: hold or raise rates in the 30-60 day window when demand intent is clear, then apply selective discounting inside two weeks for remaining inventory. Average length of stay is 3.35 nights, slightly below the 3.55-night California market comparison, suggesting guests are predominantly booking for the extended weekend rather than a full week. This LOS profile suits a minimum-stay policy of 2-3 nights and points to a high turnover rhythm during peak summer. Shoulder-season stays may skew shorter as day-trippers supplement overnight visitors. Revenue-per-booking calculations should factor cleaning fees into this 3-4 night average to maintain per-stay profitability.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Auburn, NY. No dedicated city-level STR licensing ordinance was confirmed in available primary sources; STRs operate under Auburn’s general Chapter 305 zoning code. Investors should note that search results frequently conflate Auburn, NY regulations with those of Auburn, Alabama, which has its own distinct homestay and zoning-certificate rules.
New York State enacted a new STR framework (S.885C/A.4130C), signed in December 2024 and effective around April 2025. The state law does not impose a single statewide registry; it enables counties to create their own STR registries and requires booking platforms to collect and remit applicable taxes. On occupancy taxes, operators in Auburn should expect to remit two levies: the longstanding Cayuga County hotel and room occupancy tax (5%, in effect since 1994) and the City of Auburn’s own STR occupancy tax of up to 5%, enacted via Local Law No. 2 of 2025, which was scheduled for a City Council vote on June 26, 2025 with a July 1, 2025 effective date. The combined effective occupancy tax rate is approximately 10%. No confirmed permit cost, nightly cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement was found in available City sources. Enforcement severity is rated minimal. Investors should verify current registration requirements with the City and Cayuga County before operating.
Market Comparison
Against U.S. STR benchmarks (median occupancy approximately 55%, median ADR approximately $220), Auburn, NY runs well below median occupancy (42.7% in April 2026) but above median ADR ($241.51). The below-median occupancy reflects both the strong seasonality and the April measurement month, which is a shoulder period. Peak summer occupancy (70%+) places the market above national norms during its high season. The 2025 full-year average occupancy of 47.7% remains below national median, consistent with a regional leisure destination with 4-5 months of soft demand.
Among professional operators, Finger Lakes Premier Properties leads with 212 listings and 3,615 reviews (4.64 rating), representing approximately 3.5% of total supply. Evolve manages 144 listings (4.68 rating, 6,770 reviews) and Vibe Short Term Rental Management operates 77 listings at a 4.83 rating. Vacasa holds 61 listings (4.49 rating) and Between the Lakes Vacation Rentals rounds out the top five with 56 listings. The dominant operator presence of region-focused managers like Finger Lakes Premier Properties and Vibe reflects the area’s character as a specialized leisure destination rather than a generic national market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auburn, New York
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