Bowling Green, Kentucky Short-Term Rental Market
Bowling Green, KY short-term rentals averaged $183/night at 50.4% occupancy in April 2026, with a market score of 88.9.
Quick Answer: Bowling Green, Kentucky is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 50%. average monthly revenue is $2,475. average daily rate is $183. the top operator is Evolve with 344 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Bowling Green, KY short-term rental market posted an average daily rate of $183 and occupancy of 50.4% in April 2026, generating average monthly revenue of $2,475 per listing. RevPAR was $92.13. Year-over-year changes were moderate: occupancy gained 0.17%, ADR rose 2.73%, and revenue grew 3.40%, reflecting steady rate-led growth rather than demand expansion.
The listing pool is substantial, with approximately 8,451 active listings across bedroom tiers. The 2-bedroom segment leads at 2,493 listings, followed closely by 1-bedroom (2,293), 3-bedroom (2,234), 4-bedroom (859), and 5-bedroom (566). Entire-place listings account for 7,999 units, or roughly 95% of inventory, with 449 private-room listings and just 3 shared-room listings. Channel distribution shows 3,945 Airbnb-only listings, 813 VRBO-only, and 3,693 appearing on both platforms.
The composite market score is 88.9 out of 100, led by a standout investability score of 97.8, which reflects low home prices relative to rental revenue potential. Rental demand scores 73.0 and revenue growth 76.0, while seasonality (66.8) signals meaningful swing between strong and weak months. The regulation score of 69.4 reflects a largely permissive local environment with no statewide permit mandate.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $123 | $1,328 |
| Feb | 44% | $124 | $1,370 |
| Mar | 53% | $144 | $1,926 |
| Apr | 51% | $154 | $2,092 |
| May | 51% | $163 | $2,173 |
| Jun | 60% | $188 | $2,976 |
| Jul | 63% | $190 | $3,315 |
| Aug | 52% | $179 | $2,618 |
| Sep | 47% | $166 | $2,151 |
| Oct | 51% | $161 | $2,334 |
| Nov | 45% | $150 | $1,902 |
| Dec | 41% | $143 | $1,732 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bowling Green
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 344 | 14,456 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Green Turtle Bay Resort | 85 | 274 | ★ 4.73 |
| 3 | Neat Suites | 41 | 1,165 | ★ 4.81 |
| 4 | Lyric | 39 | 3,002 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Lake Cumberland Resort III | 30 | 902 | ★ 4.66 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bowling Green?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,293 |
| 2 bed | 2,493 |
| 3 bed | 2,234 |
| 4 bed | 859 |
| 5 bed | 566 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $186 |
| Luxury | $315 |
| Professionally Managed | $205 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,826 |
| 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
Bowling Green presents one of the more compelling yield profiles among mid-size Southeastern STR markets. With a typical home value of $287,000 and average monthly STR revenue of $2,475, the implied gross yield before expenses is approximately 10.3% annualized ($29,694 / $287,401). This is the core reason the investability score registers at 97.8 out of 100.
Property-type tiers confirm the revenue potential across configurations. House listings average $2,729/month, entire-place listings average $2,534, and apartments average $1,826. The spread between apartments and houses is $903/month, or about 33%, illustrating how property type materially affects returns at this price point.
Luxury-tier listings averaged $315/night versus $183 for all listings, a 72% ADR premium. Professionally managed listings averaged $205/night, roughly 12% above the all-listings average. At $205 ADR and 50.4% occupancy over 30 nights, a professionally managed listing would yield approximately $3,100/month gross.
The housing market shows a 41-day median days-to-pending and a 0.960 sale-to-list ratio, indicating a balanced-to-buyer’s market with less competitive purchase pressure than coastal markets. Inventory stands at 603 homes. For STR investors, this means more acquisition opportunities and less overbidding risk than in supply-constrained metros.
Revenue has trended upward annually since 2023: $2,374 average in 2023, $2,449 in 2024, and $2,488 in 2025, with the April 2026 pace roughly in line with the prior year.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bowling Green guests book an average of 47.4 days in advance, well above most urban STR norms. The average length of stay is 3.7 nights. The longer advance booking window is consistent with destination travel patterns around Lake Cumberland and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, where itineraries are planned further out.
A 47-day lead time means that operators should have pricing fully dialed in approximately six to seven weeks before the arrival date to capture the highest-intent early bookers. Rate changes made inside the 30-day window will miss the bulk of bookings for any given date.
At 3.7 nights average stay, Bowling Green falls between weekend-trip markets (2-night average) and extended-vacation destinations (7+ nights). This length is consistent with regional lake and recreation travelers spending extended long weekends or short vacation weeks. Turnover runs roughly every 4 nights, which affects cleaning scheduling and cost-per-booking calculations. Operators should account for approximately 1 cleaning per 3.7 occupied nights when projecting net margins.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Kentucky has no statewide short-term rental permit or license requirement. Regulation is entirely local, meaning requirements vary across jurisdictions. In most rural and small-metro Kentucky counties, there are no county-level STR permit mandates, no owner-occupancy requirements, and no caps on annual rental nights.
State tax obligations apply uniformly statewide. Operators must collect and remit a 6% Kentucky sales tax plus a 1% Kentucky transient room tax on reservations of 29 nights or fewer, for a combined state rate of 7%. Additional local transient room taxes may apply depending on the specific county or municipality; rates vary and operators should verify with their county’s fiscal court or revenue office. Platforms including Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit the 1% state transient room tax on behalf of hosts.
Kentucky SB 110 (2025 session), which would have preempted local density restrictions and conditional use permit requirements for STRs statewide, died in committee without passing. Local governments retain full authority to regulate STRs, license operators, impose fees, and restrict density. A business license or conditional use permit may be required depending on the county or municipality.
Enforcement severity is rated minimal in most rural Kentucky markets covered by this listing area. Operators should confirm current requirements directly with their specific county or city government before beginning STR operations.
Market Comparison
Bowling Green’s 50.4% occupancy is close to the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, positioning it as a typical-demand market rather than an outlier on either end. Its $183 ADR is below the U.S. median of roughly $220, but the combination of low home prices ($287,000 typical value) and moderate revenue ($2,475/month) produces a gross yield of approximately 10.3% that substantially outperforms higher-ADR markets with elevated entry costs.
The market’s investability score of 97.8 out of 100 is exceptional. Markets like Boise scored 61.8 on investability, illustrating the trade-off: higher absolute ADR but lower yield due to home prices above $500,000. Bowling Green’s profile suits yield-focused investors more than appreciation-seeking buyers.
The top five property managers by listing count are: Evolve (344 listings, 14,456 reviews, 4.76 average rating), Green Turtle Bay Resort (85 listings, 274 reviews, 4.73 rating), Neat Suites (41 listings, 1,165 reviews, 4.81 rating), Lyric (39 listings, 3,002 reviews, 4.81 rating), and Lake Cumberland Resort III (30 listings, 902 reviews, 4.66 rating). These five operators collectively manage approximately 539 listings, about 6% of the total market. Evolve’s 344 listings represent the largest single-operator presence in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bowling Green, Kentucky
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