Central City, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Central City/Winter Park area STRs averaged $280/night at 21.1% occupancy in April 2026, with peak ski months reaching 59-61% occupancy at $340-$356/night.
Quick Answer: Central City, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 57%. average monthly revenue is $3,584. average daily rate is $310. the top operator is Evolve with 240 listings. market score is 42/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Winter Park/Idaho Springs regional market, which includes Central City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Central City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This market area encompasses the Central City and Winter Park corridor in Gilpin and Grand Counties, approximately 37-70 miles west of Denver. Central City (population 779) is a historic casino and opera town; the Winter Park area is a four-season ski and mountain recreation destination. The combined STR market counts 3,254 active listings. Entire-place rentals make up 3,212 (98.7%), with just 42 private rooms. Two-bedroom units lead at 1,104 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (925), 1-bedroom (649), and larger properties: 401 four-bedroom and 173 five-bedroom units. Channel distribution shows strong dual-listing: 2,293 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO, versus 733 Airbnb-only and 228 VRBO-only.
April 2026 is a shoulder-season month for this ski market: occupancy was 21.1%, ADR was $280, and RevPAR was $59. These figures are not representative of full-year performance. The 2025 annual average tells a more complete story: 48.6% occupancy and $328 ADR, with average monthly revenue of $4,421. The total market score is 41.7 out of 100, weighted down by high seasonality (55.9) and modest revenue growth (41.5), but with the strongest investability score (65.2) and regulatory clarity score (71.6) in this Colorado batch.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52% | $331 | $4,765 |
| Feb | 59% | $340 | $5,154 |
| Mar | 59% | $344 | $5,752 |
| Apr | 27% | $252 | $2,328 |
| May | 37% | $246 | $2,515 |
| Jun | 58% | $270 | $3,173 |
| Jul | 61% | $273 | $4,183 |
| Aug | 45% | $255 | $3,315 |
| Sep | 40% | $246 | $2,683 |
| Oct | 34% | $245 | $2,494 |
| Nov | 39% | $264 | $2,307 |
| Dec | 56% | $356 | $4,493 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Central City
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 240 | 12,993 | ★ 4.80 |
| 2 | Winter Park Escapes | 239 | 8,687 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | StayWinterPark | 217 | 3,890 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 136 | 4,989 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | RedAwning | 119 | 250 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Central City?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 649 |
| 2 bed | 1,104 |
| 3 bed | 925 |
| 4 bed | 401 |
| 5 bed | 173 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $313 |
| Luxury | $597 |
| Professionally Managed | $340 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,933 |
| Entire Place | $3,590 |
| House | $5,319 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 22.5% |
| vrbo | 7% |
| both | 70.5% |
Investment Analysis
This market’s investment case requires careful seasonal accounting. The typical home value is $408,077 (April 2026 Zillow estimate, based on limited inventory of 10 for-sale listings). At the 2025 annual average revenue of $4,421/month, annualized gross revenue comes to approximately $53,052, implying a gross yield of roughly 13.0% on the typical home value before expenses and management fees. Using only the April 2026 snapshot month revenue of $2,209, the annualized yield would be approximately 6.5% — April is among the weakest months in this ski market, making that figure an understatement of full-year potential.
Property type revenue varies significantly. Houses averaged $2,867/month in April 2026, entire-place units $2,218/month, and apartments $1,628/month. Professionally managed properties averaged $329/night versus the all-listings $280, a 17.6% ADR premium. Luxury-tier properties reached $494/night.
The investability score of 65.2 out of 100 is the highest among these five Colorado markets, driven by the market’s mix of ski-season premium pricing and a relatively low entry cost compared to Avon. The high dual-channel listing rate (70.5%) suggests operators are already maximizing cross-platform visibility.
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 (Central City)
Booking Insights
Guests book Central City/Winter Park area rentals an average of 49.4 days in advance and stay 3.50 nights on average. The nearly 50-day lead time reflects the destination travel behavior of ski-trip planners securing peak-season dates. Operators who lock in rates for December through March well in advance of the 49-day window will capture demand before the market fills.
At 3.50 nights average length of stay, this is the shortest stay profile among these five Colorado markets. That means higher turnover per month compared to Denver metro markets (where stays average 5.4 nights). Each booking cycle adds cleaning and coordination overhead. For a market with a compressed high season, high-turnover management systems and professional cleaning staff are particularly important to capture the full December-March revenue window without costly gaps.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Central City permits short-term rentals and requires operators to obtain a city-issued permit. The city administers STR permitting through its Planning and Community Services and Finance departments. A Short-Term Rental Checklist is published at centralcity.colorado.gov/business/short-term-rentals.
Specific permit fees are not published in accessible city documents as of the most recent data update (May 2026). Operators should confirm current fees directly with City Hall at 141 Nevada St, Central City, CO 80427 or via the Planning department before listing.
The combined sales tax rate is 8.9%: 2.9% Colorado state sales tax plus 6.0% city sales tax, applicable to stays of 29 nights or fewer. Whether Central City imposes an additional city lodging tax above the 8.9% combined rate is not confirmed in publicly accessible documents. Gilpin County’s 2022 lodging tax increase explicitly excluded Central City from the county rate change.
Owner-occupancy and primary residence requirements are not confirmed in city documents. No maximum annual nights cap has been documented. The city lies within a National Historic Landmark district; exterior modifications require historic preservation review. HOAs may impose independent restrictions. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The 2025 annual average ADR of $328 is above the U.S. STR median of roughly $220, reflecting the mountain resort premium. Annual occupancy of 48.6% runs below the national median of approximately 55%, typical for extreme-seasonal mountain markets. The RevPAR of $59 in April 2026 reflects the depth of the spring shoulder, not annual performance.
With 3,254 total listings, this is the smallest market by inventory in this Colorado batch. That limited supply concentration, combined with Winter Park Resort demand, supports the stronger investability score (65.2) relative to the larger urban Denver metro markets.
The professional management market is the most concentrated of these five areas. Evolve leads with 240 listings (4.80 rating, 12,993 reviews), followed closely by Winter Park Escapes with 239 listings (4.83 rating, 8,687 reviews) and StayWinterPark with 217 listings (4.68 rating, 3,890 reviews). Together, the top three manage 696 listings, or 21.4% of the 3,254-listing market, nearly 5 times the concentration rate of the Aurora/Castle Rock markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Central City, Colorado
What is the average ADR for Central City and Winter Park short-term rentals?
When is peak season for Winter Park and Central City short-term rentals?
What permits are required for a short-term rental in Central City, Colorado?
What taxes apply to Central City short-term rentals?
How does this market compare to investing in Avon or Aurora?
What is the average booking lead time and length of stay?
Who are the top property managers in the Winter Park and Central City STR market?
Analyze Central City Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Central City.
Free Central City STR Calculator →
