Norfork, Arkansas Short-Term Rental Market
Norfork, AR STRs averaged $159/night at 44.0% occupancy in April 2026 across 6,800+ active listings.
Quick Answer: Norfork, Arkansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 44%. average monthly revenue is $1,962. 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
Norfork, Arkansas sits at the confluence of the North Fork and White rivers in Baxter County, anchoring one of the Ozarks’ most active outdoor-recreation STR markets. The area draws trout anglers, boaters, divers, and water-sports enthusiasts to Norfork Lake (22,000 acres, 550-plus miles of shoreline) and the world-famous Norfork tailwater fishery below Norfork Dam. Baxter County recorded nearly 450,000 overnight trips and $218 million in visitor spending in 2024.
As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $159 and occupancy of 44.0%, producing average monthly revenue of $1,962 per listing. RevPAR stood at $69.72. Year-over-year: occupancy rose 5.1%, ADR dipped 1.8%, and revenue grew 4.6%.
Active inventory spans approximately 6,875 listings. Entire-place properties account for 6,656, or 96.8% of the market. Private-room listings add 218. On platform distribution, 3,055 listings appear on Airbnb only, 600 on VRBO only, and 3,220 on both platforms simultaneously.
The bedroom mix is remarkably balanced: 2-bedroom listings lead slightly at 2,011, followed by 1-bedroom (1,992), 3-bedroom (1,922), 4-bedroom (648), and 5-bedroom-plus (297). The overall market score of 85.10 is driven by a standout investability score of 96.45 and a strong seasonality score of 83.05, offset by moderate rental demand (60.02) and regulation scores (68.40) that reflect the smaller market size and current regulatory environment.
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 | $2,880 |
| Aug | 44% | $163 | $2,086 |
| Sep | 42% | $155 | $1,800 |
| Oct | 50% | $156 | $2,184 |
| Nov | 45% | $152 | $1,891 |
| Dec | 38% | $146 | $1,698 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Norfork
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 434 | 17,314 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Arkansas Vacation | 38 | 748 | ★ 4.75 |
| 3 | King Rhodes | 32 | 408 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Buffalo Outdoor Center | 27 | 308 | ★ 4.91 |
| 5 | Ivy Vacations | 25 | 3,140 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Norfork?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,992 |
| 2 bed | 2,011 |
| 3 bed | 1,922 |
| 4 bed | 648 |
| 5 bed | 297 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $161 |
| Luxury | $295 |
| Professionally Managed | $198 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,365 |
| Entire Place | $1,988 |
| House | $2,091 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 44.4% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 46.8% |
Investment Analysis
Norfork presents a compelling low-entry-cost STR investment case. The typical home value is $264,992, with a median list price of $354,783 and only 23 active for-sale listings as of April 2026, indicating a tight supply environment.
At April 2026 average monthly revenue of $1,962, an investor at the typical home value would see annualized gross revenue of approximately $23,538, representing a gross yield of roughly 8.9% before operating expenses. This is a competitive yield for a market with acquisition costs well below $300,000.
Professionally managed listings command an ADR of $198 versus the all-listings average of $159, a 25% premium that reflects the operational lift of professional management in an active outdoor-recreation market. Luxury-tier listings averaged $295 per night, 86% above the market average.
House listings outperform apartments and entire-place averages: $2,091 per month for houses versus $1,365 for apartments, with entire-place listings at $1,988. The 2025 annual average was $2,119 per month, up from $2,101 in 2024. The investability score of 96.45 out of 100 is among the highest in this dataset, reflecting the combination of low acquisition cost, high yield, and an increasingly permissive regulatory environment following the failed November 2024 ballot measure to ban STRs.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Norfork guests book an average of 39.0 days in advance, a planning window of approximately five to six weeks. This moderate lead time reflects the fishing and outdoor recreation visitor base: anglers often plan trips around seasonal hatches, water releases, and group schedules weeks in advance, rather than making spontaneous bookings. Operators benefit from holding rates firm for bookings made 40 or more days out and applying selective discounting for last-minute gaps in shoulder months.
Average length of stay is 3.7 nights, consistent with the weekend-plus pattern typical of drive-market outdoor-recreation destinations. Feeder markets include Northwest Arkansas, Little Rock, Memphis, Springfield, and St. Louis, all within a 2- to 4-hour drive. At this LOS, operators see approximately eight turnovers per month at full occupancy. Enforcing 2- or 3-night minimums during peak summer and fall fishing seasons reduces single-night bookings that undercut weekly yield without meaningfully improving occupancy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Norfork is among the most STR-permissive jurisdictions in Arkansas. Short-term rentals are allowed in all zoned districts city-wide under Ordinance 2023-03. No city-level STR-specific permit, fee, occupancy cap, or owner-occupancy requirement has been documented in the published Norfork Municipal Code. A November 2024 ballot measure that would have repealed Ordinance 2023-03 and banned STRs failed by a vote of 137 to 89, reaffirming the city’s permissive stance.
Operators are subject to Arkansas state-level requirements. Arkansas sales tax applies to transient rentals of under 30 days. A 2% Arkansas Tourism Tax also applies. Lodging businesses operating in cities with an Advertising and Promotion commission must obtain a free Arkansas A&P Commission tax permit. No city-level lodging tax or A&P tax has been publicly documented for Norfork specifically.
Baxter County does not impose a county-wide STR ordinance. Enforcement risk in Norfork is rated low, consistent with a city of 465 residents that recently reaffirmed its pro-rental policy at the ballot box.
Hosts should confirm current municipal requirements directly with Norfork City Hall before launching operations, as small municipalities may implement changes without broad public notice.
Market Comparison
Norfork’s April 2026 occupancy of 44.0% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s rural, seasonal, and recreation-driven character. The 2025 annual average of 45.5% is also below the national benchmark, though the gap narrows during peak summer months. ADR of $159 is well below the national STR median of approximately $220, consistent with the Ozarks drive-market and below-average acquisition costs.
The 8.9% gross yield competes strongly with many coastal markets where higher acquisition prices compress returns. The investability score of 96.45 out of 100 is among the highest in this batch of markets and indicates that the ratio of revenue potential to entry cost is favorable.
The operator landscape is led by Evolve, which holds a dominant position with 434 listings and 17,314 reviews at a 4.78 average rating, representing approximately 6.3% of total active inventory. Arkansas Vacation is second with 38 listings and 748 reviews at a 4.75 rating. King Rhodes operates 32 listings with 408 reviews at a 4.74 rating. Beyond Evolve, the market is highly fragmented with independent hosts making up the vast majority of inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Norfork, Arkansas
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