Show Low, Arizona Short-Term Rental Market
Show Low area STRs averaged $185/night at 32.2% occupancy in April 2026, with a summer peak above 70% as Phoenix-area visitors seek White Mountain elevation.
Quick Answer: Show Low, Arizona is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is 59%. average monthly revenue in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is $3,799. average daily rate in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is $239. the top operator in the Pinetop-Lakeside market area is Evolve with 234 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Pinetop-Lakeside regional market, which includes Show Low. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Show Low.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Show Low, Arizona serves as the primary gateway to the White Mountains recreational region at 6,400 feet elevation, approximately 175 miles northeast of Phoenix. The market draws Phoenix and Tucson residents escaping summer heat (temperatures run 20-30 degrees cooler), as well as winter sports visitors accessing Sunrise Park Resort, Arizona’s largest ski area. The broader region includes Pinetop-Lakeside, Greer, and access to Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
The market has approximately 2,034 tracked listings. In April 2026, the market recorded a 32.2% occupancy rate and a $185.28 average daily rate, producing a RevPAR of $59.63. April is a shoulder month between the winter ski season and the summer heat-escape peak; the 2025 annual average occupancy of 45.5% and ADR of $220 provide a more representative baseline. Year-over-year, April 2026 saw occupancy fall 7.5 percentage points and monthly revenue drop 2.6%, while ADR improved 2.2%.
By listing type, the market is almost entirely entire-place rentals (2,022 units) with just 12 private rooms. By bedroom count, three-bedroom properties lead at 739 units, followed by two-bedroom (572), four-bedroom (254), one-bedroom (320), and five-bedroom-plus (147). Channel distribution shows heavy dual-platform presence: 1,296 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 505 are Airbnb-only, and 233 are VRBO-only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 34% |
| Feb | 37% |
| Mar | 39% |
| Apr | 33% |
| May | 47% |
| Jun | 63% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 44% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 48% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Show Low are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Pinetop-Lakeside market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Pinetop-Lakeside market as a whole, which includes Show Low, so these counts are not Show Low-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 234 | 11,536 | ★ 4.81 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 80 | 927 | ★ 4.78 |
| 3 | CoolVacay | 47 | 48 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Greer Cabin Keepers | 44 | 327 | ★ 4.59 |
| 5 | Rim Lakes Vacation Rentals | 31 | 1,343 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Show Low?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Show Low are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 24.8% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 63.7% |
Home Value Trends (Show Low)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Show Low are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Show Low — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Show Low operates under Arizona’s statewide STR preemption framework (SB 1350 in 2016, SB 1168 in 2022), which prohibits cities from banning short-term rentals in areas where long-term rentals are allowed. STRs are permitted anywhere in Show Low that long-term rentals are permitted.
Operators need three things to operate legally: (1) an Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue; (2) a City of Show Low short-term rental permit under Chapter 16.55, costing $150 per year with annual renewal; and (3) an emergency point of contact available 24 hours with name and phone number on file with the city and posted at the property. The current ordinance framework was adopted via Ordinance 2024-02 in March 2024, with further amendments considered under Ordinance 2025-04.
On taxes: the city collects a 3% hotel/motel transient lodging tax (effective July 1, 2023) on top of the state TPT lodging rate of 5.5% and any county portion, bringing the all-in tax on each booking into the high single digits. There is no cap on rental nights per year, no owner-occupancy requirement, and no primary-residence requirement. Enforcement is complaint-driven with fines up to $3,500 for serious or repeat nuisance violations and possible permit revocation. Operators should verify HOA and CC&R restrictions on a per-property basis, particularly around Show Low Lake and lakeside subdivisions where private covenants may restrict rentals beyond city requirements.
Market Comparison
Show Low’s April 2026 occupancy of 32.2% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, though April is a soft shoulder month. The 2025 annual average of 45.5% is also below the national median, consistent with a regional drive-market mountain destination rather than a nationally recognized resort. The $185.28 ADR is below the national median of approximately $220, reflecting the market’s positioning as an affordable mountain escape for the Southwest drive market rather than a premium destination.
The professional management layer is led by Evolve with 234 listings and 11,536 reviews at a 4.813 rating, a notably high review count that signals strong booking volume through the platform. Vacasa (80 listings, 4.778 rating) provides a second national operator presence. CoolVacay (47 listings, 4.646 rating), Greer Cabin Keepers (44 listings, 4.589 rating), and Rim Lakes Vacation Rentals (31 listings, 4.794 rating) are regional specialists serving specific sub-areas of the White Mountains. The top five operators together manage roughly 436 of approximately 2,034 total market listings, or about 21% of supply, a higher managed penetration than most comparable small-market mountain destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Show Low, Arizona
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