Crane Hill, Alabama Short-Term Rental Market
Crane Hill STRs averaged $198/night at 47.7% occupancy in April 2026 with an investability score of 95.
Quick Answer: Crane Hill, Alabama is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 48%. average monthly revenue is $2,531. average daily rate is $198. the top operator is Evolve with 254 listings. market score is 77/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Crane Hill, Alabama sits on the Cullman County shore of Lewis Smith Lake, Alabama’s deepest lake at more than 21,000 acres. The short-term rental market here is dominated almost entirely by entire-place listings: 7,252 of approximately 7,599 active listings are whole-property rentals, with just 346 private rooms and one shared room. The average daily rate in April 2026 was $197.89, and occupancy ran at 47.7%. RevPAR came in at $94.44 per available night.
Bedroom distribution skews toward mid-size properties: 1-bedroom units account for 1,883 listings, 2-bedrooms 2,004, 3-bedrooms 2,198, 4-bedrooms 959, and 5-bedroom-plus units 540. Three-bedroom cabins and lake houses are the plurality. Airbnb is the dominant channel (3,323 listings) versus VRBO (783), with 3,493 listings appearing on both platforms simultaneously.
Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 0.95 percentage points, while ADR gained 0.88% and average monthly revenue rose 2.0% compared to the same month a year earlier. The market’s composite score of 76.6 out of 100 reflects strong investability (95.1) but moderate revenue growth momentum (59.6), signaling a mature lake market rather than a rapidly expanding one.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $146 | $1,611 |
| Feb | 46% | $147 | $1,646 |
| Mar | 53% | $167 | $2,310 |
| Apr | 49% | $172 | $2,260 |
| May | 50% | $198 | $2,600 |
| Jun | 59% | $222 | $3,442 |
| Jul | 59% | $227 | $3,703 |
| Aug | 46% | $200 | $2,582 |
| Sep | 45% | $211 | $2,504 |
| Oct | 46% | $193 | $2,529 |
| Nov | 45% | $201 | $2,417 |
| Dec | 39% | $170 | $2,055 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Crane Hill
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 254 | 8,558 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Smith Lake | 65 | 556 | ★ 4.73 |
| 3 | Magnolia Linen Company | 53 | 4,687 | ★ 4.90 |
| 4 | Mentone Mountain Getaways | 45 | 3,537 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | 360 Destinations | 44 | 717 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Crane Hill?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,883 |
| 2 bed | 2,004 |
| 3 bed | 2,198 |
| 4 bed | 959 |
| 5 bed | 540 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $201 |
| Luxury | $391 |
| Professionally Managed | $228 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,891 |
| Entire Place | $2,589 |
| House | $2,796 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 43.7% |
| vrbo | 10.3% |
| both | 46% |
Investment Analysis
At an average monthly revenue of $2,531 in April 2026, a Crane Hill STR property generates roughly $30,400 annualized. Against a typical home value of $518,319, that implies a gross yield of approximately 5.9% before expenses, management fees, and financing costs. The median list price for active listings sits considerably higher at $845,167, which reflects the premium lakefront and lake-access inventory currently for sale and compresses that gross yield further for buyers at the top of the market.
Property type matters for revenue: houses average $2,796 per month, entire-place listings broadly average $2,589, and apartments trail at $1,891. Professionally managed properties command an ADR of $228.37, a 15.4% premium over the all-listings average of $197.89. Luxury-tier listings reach $390.62 per night, serving a niche but meaningful segment.
The investability score of 95.1 is among the highest possible, driven by the lake market’s reliable demand base and minimal regulatory friction. Revenue growth scoring (59.6) signals that this market has matured past its peak growth phase, with the annual revenue trajectory showing a plateau around $2,600-$2,800 per month on average since 2021. Buyers entering now should underwrite to current revenues rather than expecting continued expansion.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Crane Hill)
Booking Insights
Guests booking Crane Hill STRs plan ahead: the average booking lead time is 48.3 days, meaning nearly seven weeks between reservation and arrival. This is consistent with a seasonal lake market where desirable summer weekends fill early. Operators benefit from opening their calendars at least three to four months in advance and applying peak-period minimum-stay policies before inventory is claimed at suboptimal rates.
Average length of stay is 3.67 nights, slightly below the national STR average and consistent with weekend-plus getaway patterns typical of drive-market lake destinations. Shorter stays mean higher turnover costs but also more pricing flexibility across peak weekends. Operators who can efficiently handle Friday-to-Monday or Thursday-to-Sunday blocks will maximize revenue density during the June-July peak. Midweek availability during summer can be marketed to anglers and remote workers as a distinct segment from the weekend leisure crowd.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Crane Hill is an unincorporated community within Cullman County and has no city government. Alabama’s local-control framework means STR rules are set municipality by municipality; Cullman County does not impose countywide STR-specific registration or permitting on unincorporated parcels such as those in Crane Hill. The City of Cullman’s business-license requirement applies only within city limits, not to the lake area.
The primary legal obligation for operators is lodging tax. The state lodgings tax rate applicable to this area is 5% of accommodation charges. Cullman County also levies its own self-administered county lodgings tax on top of that; operators should confirm the combined rate with the Cullman County Revenue Commissioner and the Alabama Department of Revenue. Airbnb collects and remits the state-administered portion automatically, but operators may have independent obligations for the county portion.
Note that Lewis Smith Lake spans Cullman, Walker, and Winston counties. The applicable tax rate depends on the county in which a specific parcel sits; buyers should verify county boundaries for any specific property. There are no documented owner-occupancy requirements, primary-residence restrictions, or annual night caps for this area. Enforcement is classified as minimal. Operators should also review any applicable HOA or marina covenants, which can impose restrictions independent of county or state rules. No new STR ordinance changes were identified in the past 24 months.
Market Comparison
Nationally, the median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR roughly $220. Crane Hill’s April 2026 occupancy of 47.7% sits below the national median, which is expected for an off-peak month in a seasonal lake market. The $197.89 ADR is similarly below the national median, reflecting the rural Alabama price point versus higher-cost coastal and mountain markets.
Within the Smith Lake area, Evolve is the dominant professional operator with 254 listings and 8,558 reviews at a 4.73 rating, representing roughly 3.3% of total area inventory. Smith Lake (the local brand) manages 65 listings with 556 reviews at a 4.73 rating. Magnolia Linen Company operates 53 listings with 4,687 reviews and the highest rating among the top five at 4.90, suggesting a strong reputation for quality. Mentone Mountain Getaways (45 listings, 3,537 reviews, 4.81) and 360 Destinations (44 listings, 717 reviews, 4.73) round out the top five. Combined, the top five operators manage 461 listings, representing roughly 6.1% of total inventory, meaning the market is predominantly owner-operated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crane Hill, Alabama
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Crane Hill, AL?
What occupancy rates do Crane Hill STRs achieve?
How much revenue can a Crane Hill STR generate per month?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Crane Hill?
What is the typical home value for STR investment in Crane Hill?
How far in advance do guests book Crane Hill rentals?
Who are the top property managers operating in Crane Hill?
Analyze Crane Hill Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Crane Hill.
Free Crane Hill STR Calculator →
