Bailey, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Bailey, CO STRs averaged $179/night at 40.9% occupancy in April 2026 with peak summer rates reaching $216/night.
Quick Answer: Bailey, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $4,125. average daily rate is $244. the top operator is Evolve with 552 listings. market score is 66/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Colorado Area regional market, which includes Bailey. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bailey.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bailey is an unincorporated community in Park County, Colorado, situated roughly 45 minutes southwest of Denver in the Pike National Forest corridor. The short-term rental market here draws heavily on Front Range proximity and year-round outdoor recreation access.
In April 2026, active listings across the market averaged $179 per night in daily rate with 40.9% occupancy, producing average monthly revenue of $2,184 per listing. RevPAR stood at $73. Year-over-year, all three core metrics improved modestly: occupancy up 2.5%, ADR up 2.9%, and average monthly revenue up 2.3%.
The market is dominated by entire-place rentals. Of the 11,065 active listings across bedroom tiers, 10,363 (93.5%) are entire-place units, 718 (6.5%) are private rooms, and only 5 are shared rooms. This reflects the nature of the market: guests booking mountain cabins and vacation homes expect sole use of the property.
Bedroom distribution skews toward smaller units. One-bedroom listings lead at 3,546, followed closely by three-bedroom (3,016) and two-bedroom (2,834). Four-bedroom units account for 1,120 listings and five-bedroom-plus for 549, giving larger-format properties roughly 15% market share.
Channel distribution shows Airbnb dominance. Of the 11,086 channel-tracked listings, 5,562 appear on both platforms (50.2%), 4,608 are Airbnb-only (41.6%), and 916 are VRBO-only (8.3%). Cross-platform presence is a differentiator for operators willing to manage dual calendars.
The market’s composite score of 66.4 (out of 100) reflects solid rental demand (73.2) and investability (70.7), offset by moderate revenue growth momentum (64.2) and expected seasonality variation (69.7). Regulatory score sits at 70.4, reflecting a functioning county permit system with some pending changes.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | $189 | $2,293 |
| Feb | 50% | $191 | $2,370 |
| Mar | 54% | $193 | $2,839 |
| Apr | 41% | $155 | $1,933 |
| May | 57% | $175 | $2,319 |
| Jun | 67% | $212 | $3,508 |
| Jul | 72% | $216 | $4,201 |
| Aug | 63% | $203 | $3,570 |
| Sep | 59% | $191 | $3,034 |
| Oct | 51% | $175 | $2,541 |
| Nov | 45% | $167 | $1,987 |
| Dec | 51% | $200 | $2,559 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bailey
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 552 | 34,985 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 205 | 11,102 | ★ 4.60 |
| 3 | Vacation Rental Collective | 163 | 8,326 | ★ 4.83 |
| 4 | Pinon Vacation | 111 | 8,000 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | VIP Vacation Services | 94 | 3,082 | ★ 4.83 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bailey?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 3,546 |
| 2 bed | 2,834 |
| 3 bed | 3,016 |
| 4 bed | 1,120 |
| 5 bed | 549 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $252 |
| Luxury | $406 |
| Professionally Managed | $302 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,363 |
| Entire Place | $4,276 |
| House | $4,513 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 41.6% |
| vrbo | 8.3% |
| both | 50.2% |
Investment Analysis
Bailey presents a mid-tier investment profile with predictable demand but meaningful entry costs. The typical home value was $557,956 as of April 2026, with active listings carrying a median list price near $573,333. At average monthly revenue of $2,184 (April 2026), annualized gross revenue runs approximately $26,202, implying a gross yield near 4.7% on typical home value before expenses, financing, and permit costs.
Rate tier comparisons reveal meaningful upside for operators who invest in quality. The all-listings average ADR of $179 contrasts with $185 for entire-home tier properties and $210 for professionally managed listings. The luxury tier shows the widest separation at $327 per night, though that tier represents a smaller subset of the market.
Revenue by property type shows houses outperform. In April 2026, houses averaged $2,354 per month versus $2,260 for entire-place units and $1,715 for apartments. Summer peak months (June through August) average occupancy above 63% with ADR above $200, producing monthly revenues well above the annual average. Investors targeting the peak season window can expect significantly higher returns than the April data point suggests.
YoY trend across the full data history shows a market that grew sharply through 2020 to 2021 (revenue jumped from $2,737 to $3,215 on an annual average basis) and has since stabilized in the $3,000 to $3,240 range through 2025. The 2025 annual average was $3,240 per month across all listings. April 2026 data reflects seasonal low; the trailing-year picture is more representative of investment-level returns.
Investors should account for the $605 annual county permit fee, the 9.9% combined occupancy tax effective January 1, 2026 (up from the prior 5.9% combined rate following a voter-approved lodging tax increase), and the carrying costs on a $558K-range asset.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Bailey)
Booking Insights
Guests booking Bailey area STRs plan ahead. The average booking lead time is 40 days, meaning most reservations are placed about five to six weeks before arrival. For operators, this lead time supports dynamic pricing strategies: rates set 6 to 8 weeks out can be tested and adjusted before the booking window closes.
Average length of stay is 3.8 nights, which positions Bailey solidly in the weekend-and-extended-weekend category. This is consistent with Front Range escape patterns where guests from Denver or Colorado Springs combine a Friday-to-Monday or Thursday-to-Monday stay. At 40.9% occupancy over a 30-day month, a listing occupies roughly 12 nights, translating to approximately 3 guest stays per month during April. Peak summer months with 65 to 72% occupancy increase that to approximately 5 to 6 stays per month, with corresponding cleaning and maintenance volume.
The combination of 40-day lead time and 3.8-night stays creates a relatively predictable booking calendar. Operators who price aggressively at 45 to 60 days out and hold rates firm closer to arrival will see better conversion during slow months, while summer months (June through August) with 63 to 72% occupancy may allow for last-minute rate holds given demand strength.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Bailey is in unincorporated Park County; there is no separate city-level STR regulation. All operators must follow Park County rules.
A county STR license is required before listing any property. The application fee is $605 (non-refundable), filed online through the CloudPermit portal and renewed annually. Required documentation includes a recorded deed, property tax receipt, Colorado state sales tax license showing the rental address, septic or Certificate of Occupancy records, floor plans with smoke and CO detector locations, a signed affidavit, and a responsible-agent form.
Operational rules include: parking must be on-site with no county road parking, trash must be removed by a trash service (guests carrying garbage out does not satisfy the requirement), and a snow removal plan is required. Safety inspections are triggered when the certificate of occupancy is more than five years old, or if a renewal has three or more complaints or emergency calls.
There is currently no cap on the number of STR licenses issued and no limit on rental nights per year. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies under current rules.
Tax obligations (effective January 1, 2026): Colorado state sales tax 2.9%, Park County sales tax 1.0%, and Park County lodging tax 6.0%, for a combined minimum rate of 9.9%. Additional special district taxes may apply depending on address. The lodging tax tripled from 2.0% to 6.0% after voters approved Issue 1A on November 4, 2025. Operators who budgeted under the prior combined rate of 5.9% must update their projections.
A draft revised county ordinance circulated March 24, 2026 proposes acreage-based occupancy limits and a potential cap on total licenses near the current licensed count of approximately 1,100. A public hearing was held February 11, 2026. As of May 2026, final adoption status is unconfirmed. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Bailey’s April 2026 metrics place it below national STR medians on occupancy but above median on ADR for a non-coastal mountain market. The US STR median occupancy is approximately 55%; Bailey’s April figure of 40.9% reflects the seasonal low, and its summer peak of 72.4% exceeds the national median by a wide margin. The market’s 2025 annual average occupancy of 53.9% is roughly in line with the national norm. ADR of $179 in April compares to the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting Bailey’s drive-to mountain positioning versus higher-priced destination markets.
The market is organized around several professional operators. Evolve leads with 552 listings, 34,985 reviews, and an average rating of 4.77. Vacasa holds second position with 205 listings, 11,102 reviews, and a 4.60 average rating. Vacation Rental Collective ranks third with 163 listings, 8,326 reviews, and a 4.83 average rating. Together, the top three operators account for 920 listings. Given the market’s total active listing count in the 11,000-plus range, professional managers represent a specialized segment rather than a dominant share.
The market’s composite score of 66.4 places it in the mid-tier nationally, with rental demand (73.2) and investability (70.7) as relative strengths and revenue growth momentum (64.2) as the softer component.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bailey, Colorado
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Bailey, CO?
What occupancy rates can I expect for a Bailey STR?
How much revenue does a typical STR in Bailey generate?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Bailey?
What taxes apply to STR stays in Bailey?
Which months are the best and worst for STR bookings in Bailey?
What property management companies operate in the Bailey STR market?
Analyze Bailey Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Bailey.
Free Bailey STR Calculator →
