Littleton, Colorado Short-Term Rental Market
Littleton, CO STRs averaged $156/night at 66.7% occupancy in April 2026, with June the peak occupancy month at 81.0%.
Quick Answer: Littleton, Colorado is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 78%. average monthly revenue is $4,298. average daily rate is $202. the top operator is Evolve with 276 listings. market score is 55/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Denver regional market, which includes Littleton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Littleton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Littleton, Colorado, a historic suburb of Denver in Arapahoe County with a nationally recognized Historic Downtown district, anchors a short-term rental market driven primarily by Denver-area leisure visitors and event travelers. Data through April 2026 shows the market at 66.7% average occupancy and a $156 average daily rate, producing approximately $2,815 in average monthly revenue per listing. RevPAR stands at $104.20. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy fell 1.0 percentage point, ADR fell 2.2%, and revenue was essentially flat at -0.1%.
The listing base totals approximately 13,183 active units in the Littleton area. Entire-place rentals account for 10,946 listings (83.0% of the market), with private rooms adding 2,151 listings and shared rooms 86. The bedroom mix skews toward smaller units: 1-bedroom listings lead at 5,675, followed by 2-bedroom (3,278), 3-bedroom (2,034), 4-bedroom (1,294), and 5-bedroom or larger (877). Airbnb-exclusive listings number 7,757, dual-channel listings on both Airbnb and VRBO number 4,865, and VRBO-exclusive listings add 561.
The market’s composite score is 55.3 out of 100. Rental demand scores at the strong end, 86.0, reflecting Denver metro proximity. Investability scores 53.8, significantly constrained by strict local licensing rules that have closed new investment STR licenses. Seasonality scores 78.3. Revenue growth trails at 50.0, and regulation scores 63.0.
Key demand drivers include Historic Downtown Littleton (Main Street), Hudson Gardens (30+ acres, free admission, summer concerts), the Littleton Museum (a Smithsonian Affiliate with working living-history farms), South Platte Park and river recreation, and light rail access to Denver.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58% | $126 | $2,086 |
| Feb | 65% | $128 | $2,135 |
| Mar | 68% | $133 | $2,481 |
| Apr | 67% | $137 | $2,460 |
| May | 71% | $149 | $2,844 |
| Jun | 81% | $171 | $3,608 |
| 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 Littleton
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 Littleton?
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 | $224 |
| Luxury | $375 |
| Professionally Managed | $249 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,365 |
| Entire Place | $4,810 |
| House | $4,738 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 58.8% |
| vrbo | 4.3% |
| both | 36.9% |
Investment Analysis
The April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,815 annualizes to approximately $33,800, reflecting a shoulder month. The 2025 full-year average of $3,203 per month annualizes to approximately $38,436. With the Zillow typical home value for this area at $635,270, the implied gross yield using the 2025 annual revenue average is approximately 6.1% ($38,436 divided by $635,270). This is a pre-expense figure; net cash flow after operating costs will be lower.
Median sale price was $614,667 and median list price $623,783 as of April 2026. The sale-to-list ratio of 98.5% indicates that buyers are typically paying 1.5% below asking, and the median of 13 days to pending reflects a competitive housing market where well-priced properties move quickly.
Pricing tier data shows entire-home listings averaging $172.45 per night, a 10% premium over the $156 market-wide ADR. Professionally managed listings average $186.23 per night, a 19% premium. Luxury-tier listings command $293.48 per night, an 88% premium. At 66.7% April occupancy, a professionally managed property would generate an estimated approximately $3,727 per month gross, and a luxury-tier property approximately $5,874 per month gross.
Critically, new investment STR licenses are no longer issued in Littleton; this regulatory reality substantially limits acquisition strategies. The market’s investability score of 53.8 directly reflects this constraint. Investors considering Littleton properties should verify the licensing status of any acquisition target carefully, as transferability and renewability of existing non-owner-occupied licenses are not guaranteed.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time for Littleton-area STRs is approximately 40 days, about five and a half weeks ahead of arrival. This is shorter than many comparable markets, reflecting a demand base of Denver-metro leisure travelers and visitors who plan short getaways with modest advance notice.
Average length of stay is 5.4 nights per booking, one of the longer average stays in this batch of markets. At 66.7% occupancy over a 30-day month, a listing accumulates approximately 20.0 booked nights. Divided by 5.4 nights per stay, this implies roughly 4 guest turnovers per month on average. The longer average stay reduces cleaning frequency relative to markets with 2-3 night averages, which has favorable implications for operating margins.
The 40-day lead window and 5.4-night average stay suggest an extended leisure traveler base, potentially including relocated workers, visiting relatives of Denver-area residents, or leisure travelers combining urban Denver visits with suburban stays. Marketing around Denver events, outdoor recreation on the South Platte, and historic downtown dining in the 4-6 week booking window aligns with this demand profile.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in Littleton but operate under a strict licensing framework that effectively bars new investment (non-owner-occupied) STR activity.
All STRs require a City STR License under Chapter 23 of the City Code, with an annual fee of approximately $200. Stays are capped at 1-28 days; stays of 29 days or longer are not subject to STR licensing. The city divides licenses into two types: owner-occupied (the STR must be the host’s primary residence) and non-owner-occupied (investment). As of the most recent information available, the city no longer issues new non-owner-occupied licenses. Only existing holders of non-owner-occupied licenses may renew. If an existing investment license lapses, is revoked, or expires, it cannot be replaced. This policy effectively freezes and shrinks the pool of investment STRs over time.
Operational requirements include proof of ownership, fire and liability insurance, and zoning compliance. Occupancy is limited (approximately two guests per bedroom, with a maximum of roughly eight), and parking of approximately one space per bedroom is required.
Tax obligations include a 5% lodgers’ tax on stays under 30 nights and a 3% city sales tax; major platforms remit these on behalf of hosts. The enforcement severity is rated strict, and civil penalties apply for operating without a license.
For residents who can demonstrate primary-residence status, the owner-occupied STR license remains available. For out-of-area investors, the Littleton market’s licensing framework presents significant obstacles that are not present in neighboring jurisdictions. Confirm current license availability and any recent council actions with the City of Littleton Community Development Department before purchasing.
Market Comparison
Littleton’s April 2026 occupancy of 66.7% is well above the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, consistent with strong Denver metro demand. The ADR of $156 is below the national STR median of roughly $220, reflecting a suburban residential market with lower nightly rates than mountain resort or urban core competitors. RevPAR of $104.20 captures the combined dynamics of above-median occupancy and below-median rate.
Housing market context: the Zillow typical home value of $635,270, median sale price of $614,667, and median days to pending of 13 reflect a competitive Denver-suburb housing market. At 98.5% sale-to-list ratio, most properties sell marginally below asking.
Among professional operators, Evolve leads with 276 listings and a 4.649 average rating across 10,485 reviews. Atomic Vacation Rentals follows with 142 listings and a 4.836 rating across 9,929 reviews. Effortless Rental Group (137 listings, 4.765 rating across 10,713 reviews), VacayPlay (83 listings, 4.388 rating), and Homes with Hospitality LLC (81 listings, 4.935 rating) round out the top five. These five firms collectively manage 719 listings, approximately 5.5% of the total 13,183-listing market.
The composite score of 55.3 and investability score of 53.8 are materially influenced by the city’s policy of no longer issuing new non-owner-occupied STR licenses. The strong rental demand score of 86.0 confirms genuine market demand, but regulatory constraints override demand fundamentals for most investor use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions About Littleton, Colorado
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