Jonesboro, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Jonesboro STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026 across 6,880 active listings.
Quick Answer: Jonesboro, Arkansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $1,961. average daily rate is $159. the top operator is Evolve with 434 listings. market score is 85/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Jonesboro is the largest city in Northeast Arkansas and the regional hub of the Arkansas Delta and Crowley’s Ridge area. As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $158.61 and occupancy of 44.0%, producing a RevPAR of $69.72. The market carries 6,880 active listings: 6,660 entire-place rentals (96.8% of total), 219 private rooms (3.2%), and 1 shared room. The bedroom mix is broadly even across small units: 2-bedroom listings lead at 2,014 (29.3%), followed by 1-bedroom at 1,997 (29.0%), 3-bedroom at 1,921 (27.9%), 4-bedroom at 647 (9.4%), and 5-bedroom at 296 (4.3%). Channel distribution shows 3,041 Airbnb-only listings, 601 VRBO-only, and 3,238 appearing on both platforms. Demand is primarily event and university driven, anchored by Arkansas State University with its Red Wolves athletics, Fowler Center performances, and Bradbury Art Museum, plus regional business and healthcare travel. Outdoor recreation at Craighead Forest Park and downtown festivals add incremental demand. Year-over-year, occupancy increased 5.05 percentage points in April 2026, though ADR declined 1.78%, resulting in net revenue growth of 4.58%. The occupancy gain at lower rates may reflect a broadening of listing inventory capturing price-sensitive travelers.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32% | $132 | $1,364 |
| Feb | 40% | $132 | $1,298 |
| Mar | 51% | $153 | $2,029 |
| Apr | 43% | $151 | $1,813 |
| May | 49% | $161 | $2,038 |
| Jun | 57% | $176 | $2,694 |
| Jul | 57% | $178 | $2,879 |
| Aug | 44% | $163 | $2,085 |
| Sep | 42% | $155 | $1,800 |
| Oct | 50% | $156 | $2,184 |
| Nov | 45% | $152 | $1,890 |
| Dec | 38% | $146 | $1,697 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Jonesboro
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 434 | 17,398 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Arkansas Vacation | 38 | 768 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | King Rhodes | 32 | 413 | ★ 4.75 |
| 4 | Buffalo Outdoor Center | 27 | 308 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Ivy Vacations | 25 | 3,144 | ★ 4.90 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Jonesboro?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,997 |
| 2 bed | 2,014 |
| 3 bed | 1,921 |
| 4 bed | 647 |
| 5 bed | 296 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $161 |
| Luxury | $295 |
| Professionally Managed | $197 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,373 |
| Entire Place | $1,988 |
| House | $2,090 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 44.2% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 47.1% |
Investment Analysis
Jonesboro offers a lower-cost entry point into the STR market. Housing snapshot data is not currently available for this market, so entry cost and gross yield calculations cannot be completed from available data. At the all-listings average revenue of $1,961 per month, an investor projecting $23,535 in annualized gross revenue should weigh that against acquisition price and operating costs independently. ADR varies meaningfully by tier: all-listings average is $158.61, entire-home listings average $160.64, professionally managed properties average $197.47, and luxury-tier listings average $295.37. The professionally managed premium of $38.86/night above the market average (24.5% lift) indicates that management quality and listing presentation have a material impact on achievable rates. Revenue by property type shows houses averaging $2,090/month, entire-place listings averaging $1,988/month, and apartments averaging $1,373/month. Houses outperform apartments by $717/month on average. Year-over-year occupancy growth of 5.05 percentage points is the strongest directional signal in the dataset, and the market-score investability rating of 96.5 out of 100 ranks this market very highly for investor suitability despite the softer absolute numbers. The revenue growth score of 67.7 also indicates above-average momentum.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Jonesboro guests book an average of 39.0 days in advance and stay an average of 3.68 nights per visit. A 39-day lead time gives operators roughly a 5-week window to adjust pricing before arrival. This lead window is moderate, suggesting that last-minute discounting is occasionally necessary to fill gaps around shoulder weeks. For event-driven demand tied to ASU athletic weekends and downtown festivals, lead times likely compress significantly, so operators should set event-period pricing well in advance. The 3.68-night average length of stay is above a standard 2-night weekend, indicating a meaningful share of extended leisure stays or blended work-and-travel bookings tied to business and medical travel in the region. Longer stays reduce cleaning frequency and turnover costs, improving net margins per stay. Operators who set 3-night minimum stays over peak weekends can improve nightly revenue capture.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Jonesboro permits short-term rentals (stays of 29 days or fewer) under a regulated licensing framework. Operators must obtain a city privilege (business) license and complete a Short-Term Rental application through the city’s Planning and Zoning department, demonstrating compliance with zoning, safety, and code standards. A 2019 ordinance (O-EN-025-2019) significantly liberalized the rules by removing a previous owner-occupancy requirement and expanding the zoning districts where STRs may operate. STRs are now allowed in residential zoning districts, though operators must confirm their specific property zone permits the use, and a conditional-use or home-occupation permit may apply in certain situations. There is no published cap on annual rental nights; the 29-day threshold defines what qualifies as short-term. The primary tax obligation is a 3% Advertising and Promotion (A&P) lodging tax on stays of 29 nights or fewer, which Airbnb collects and remits on the host’s behalf. Arkansas state and local sales and use taxes also apply. Neither an owner-occupancy nor primary-residence requirement is in effect. Specific permit fees and renewal cadence were not published and should be confirmed with Planning and Zoning at 870-932-0406. Enforcement is rated moderate, meaning licensing and zoning compliance are mandatory but the city’s posture is generally accommodating.
Market Comparison
At 44.0% occupancy and $158.61 ADR, Jonesboro sits below the approximate U.S. STR median occupancy of 55% and below the national median ADR of roughly $220. These gaps are consistent with Jonesboro’s profile as an inland regional city rather than a leisure resort destination. However, the market’s total score of 85.1 out of 100 and investability score of 96.5 are among the strongest in the dataset, suggesting favorable risk-adjusted opportunity relative to more competitive coastal markets. The occupancy year-over-year gain of 5.05 percentage points in April 2026 also outpaces the national STR average, signaling expanding local demand. Among top operators, Evolve leads with 434 listings and 17,398 reviews at a 4.78 rating, representing roughly 6.3% of total listings. Arkansas Vacation manages 38 listings (4.74 rating). King Rhodes holds 32 listings with 413 reviews at 4.75. Buffalo Outdoor Center manages 27 listings with a 4.91 rating, highest precision but smaller scale. Ivy Vacations operates 25 listings with an outsized 3,144 reviews at 4.90. Professional management penetration is moderate, leaving room for independent operators in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jonesboro, Arkansas
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