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 in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is 57%. average monthly revenue in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is $3,584. average daily rate in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area is $310. the top operator in the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 52% |
| Feb | 59% |
| Mar | 59% |
| Apr | 27% |
| May | 37% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 45% |
| Sep | 40% |
| Oct | 34% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 56% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Central City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Winter Park/Idaho Springs market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Winter Park/Idaho Springs market as a whole, which includes Central City, so these counts are not Central City-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Central City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 22.5% |
| vrbo | 7% |
| both | 70.5% |
Home Value Trends (Central City)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Central City are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Central City — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
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?
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