Aurora, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Aurora STRs averaged $156/night at 66.7% occupancy in April 2026 across 13,183 active listings.
Quick Answer: Aurora, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 67%. average monthly revenue is $2,815. average daily rate is $156. the top operator is Evolve with 276 listings. market score is 55/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Aurora, Colorado’s third-largest city with 394,432 residents, operates one of the Denver metro’s largest short-term rental markets with 13,183 active listings as of the latest snapshot. Entire-place rentals dominate at 10,946 units (83% of listings), with private rooms accounting for 2,151 and shared rooms a slim 86. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units are the most common at 5,675 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (3,278) and 3-bedroom (2,034). Airbnb is the dominant channel with 7,757 exclusive listings, while 4,865 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO and 561 appear on VRBO only.
In April 2026, Aurora STRs posted an average daily rate of $156, an occupancy rate of 66.7%, and a RevPAR of $104. Year-over-year comparisons show modest softening: occupancy is down 1.0 percentage points, ADR is down 2.2%, and revenue is essentially flat (-0.06%). The 2025 annual average occupancy of 67.9% and ADR of $167 reflect consistent mid-tier performance across the market. Aurora’s market score of 55.3 out of 100 reflects strong rental demand (86.0) and low seasonality risk (78.3), offset by tighter regulation scores (63.0) and below-average revenue growth (50.0).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58% | $126 | $2,087 |
| Feb | 65% | $128 | $2,135 |
| Mar | 68% | $133 | $2,481 |
| Apr | 67% | $138 | $2,460 |
| May | 71% | $145 | $2,755 |
| Jun | 81% | $167 | $3,521 |
| Jul | 80% | $165 | $3,586 |
| Aug | 76% | $160 | $3,337 |
| Sep | 73% | $155 | $3,010 |
| Oct | 69% | $150 | $2,856 |
| Nov | 61% | $135 | $2,227 |
| Dec | 62% | $137 | $2,253 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Aurora
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 276 | 10,485 | ★ 4.65 |
| 2 | Atomic Vacation Rentals | 142 | 9,929 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | Effortless Rental Group | 137 | 10,713 | ★ 4.77 |
| 4 | VacayPlay | 83 | 5,410 | ★ 4.39 |
| 5 | Homes with Hospitality LLC | 81 | 853 | ★ 4.94 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Aurora?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 5,675 |
| 2 bed | 3,278 |
| 3 bed | 2,034 |
| 4 bed | 1,294 |
| 5 bed | 877 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $172 |
| Luxury | $293 |
| Professionally Managed | $186 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,494 |
| Entire Place | $3,110 |
| House | $2,963 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.8% |
| vrbo | 4.3% |
| both | 36.9% |
Investment Analysis
Aurora’s STR investment case is anchored by a typical home value of $464,882 (April 2026 Zillow estimate), with median sale prices running around $446,417. At an average monthly revenue of $2,815, annualized gross revenue comes to approximately $33,780, implying a gross yield of roughly 7.3% on the typical home value before expenses, vacancy, and management fees.
Property type matters significantly. Entire-place listings average $3,110/month versus $2,494 for apartments and $2,963 for houses. Professional management adds meaningful rate premium: the tier_professionally_managed ADR of $186 compares to the all-listings average of $156, a 19% premium. Luxury-tier properties average $293/night, more than double the market-wide figure.
The local resale market remains competitive: homes are selling at 103% of list price with a median 18 days to pending and 1,749 units for sale. YoY revenue trend is essentially flat, making Aurora a stable rather than high-growth market. The market investability score of 53.8 out of 100 and revenue growth score of 50.0 align with this read. Owner-occupancy requirements (see Regulatory section) constrain investor-only plays.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Aurora STR guests book an average of 39.9 days in advance and stay 5.38 nights on average. The nearly 40-day lead time gives operators a meaningful pricing window: rates set 5-6 weeks out will capture most bookings before they fill. Operators who use dynamic pricing tools and adjust rates in that 40-45 day window ahead of peak weekends and convention dates at the Gaylord Rockies will capture yield others leave on the table.
At 5.38 nights average length of stay, Aurora sits above nightly-only markets, reducing turnover frequency and cleaning overhead. A property averaging 5+ nights per booking requires fewer changeovers per month than markets averaging 2-3 nights, lowering variable costs. For owner-occupied hosts subject to the 180-night annual cap, longer stays also mean the cap is consumed more slowly.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Aurora permits short-term rentals (stays of 30 nights or fewer) but restricts them to an operator’s primary residence. Hosts must reside at the property for at least 185 days per year. Investment properties where the owner does not live are not eligible for STR licensing.
A City Business License (Home Occupation) is required before listing. The initial license costs $43 and renews on a biennial cycle at $26. The license number must appear on all platform listings. Entire-home rentals are capped at 180 nights per calendar year. Only one booking at a time is permitted.
Hosts must collect and remit an 8% city lodger’s tax, payable monthly or quarterly, in addition to Colorado state sales tax. Major platforms typically collect state-level taxes automatically, but the city’s 8% portion is the host’s responsibility to remit. Safety requirements include working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
Enforcement is rated moderate: the city monitors listings and relies on complaints. HOA rules may independently prohibit STRs regardless of city licensing. The regulatory framework has been stable since the 2016 ordinance with only incremental fee adjustments through 2025.
Market Comparison
Aurora’s 66.7% occupancy in April 2026 is above the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, and its $156 ADR runs meaningfully below the national median of roughly $220, reflecting Aurora’s role as an urban suburban market rather than a destination resort. The RevPAR of $104 is competitive for a metro-adjacent market.
On rental demand, Aurora scores 86.0 out of 100, driven by proximity to Denver International Airport, the Gaylord Rockies convention draw, and Cherry Creek State Park. The market hosts 13,183 active listings, one of the larger urban STR inventories in Colorado.
The professional management landscape is competitive. Evolve leads with 276 listings and a 4.65 average rating across 10,485 reviews. Atomic Vacation Rentals (142 listings, 4.84 rating, 9,929 reviews) and Effortless Rental Group (137 listings, 4.77 rating, 10,713 reviews) round out the top tier. Together, the top three operators manage 555 listings, representing about 4.2% of total market inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aurora, Colorado
What is the average occupancy rate for short-term rentals in Aurora, CO?
What permits do I need to operate an Airbnb in Aurora, Colorado?
How much revenue can an Aurora short-term rental generate?
Is there a night cap on Aurora Airbnb rentals?
What taxes apply to Aurora short-term rentals?
What is the average booking lead time and length of stay in Aurora?
Who are the top property managers in the Aurora STR market?
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