Milton, Florida Short-Term Rental Market
Milton short-term rentals earned $198 ADR at 55% occupancy in June 2026.
Quick Answer: Milton, Florida is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Florida North Area market area is 55%. average monthly revenue in the Florida North Area market area is $2,944. average daily rate in the Florida North Area market area is $198. the top operator in the Florida North Area market area is Evolve with 119 listings. market score is 62/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Florida North Area regional market, which includes Milton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Milton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Milton, Florida is the seat of Santa Rosa County in the Florida Panhandle, about 30 minutes from Pensacola and its Gulf beaches, and brands itself the Canoe Capital of Florida around the spring-fed Blackwater River. In June 2026, the most recent month with complete data, the average daily rate across all listings was $198.46 at 54.90% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $2,943.82 per listing. Occupancy is up a modest 0.65% year over year, ADR is down 1.89%, and monthly revenue is up 3.74% year over year.
Milton’s booking data shows an average booking lead time of 46.68 days and an average length of stay of 3.96 nights, consistent with regional drive-market trips to the Blackwater River and Gulf Coast day trips rather than long-haul vacations. Bedroom mix, listing-type mix, channel mix, and market-score data in this data set are currently tracked at a shared regional level rather than measured uniquely for Milton, so this profile omits those figures rather than present regional numbers as if they were Milton-specific. The rate, occupancy, revenue, and booking figures above come from Milton’s own monthly data.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 43% |
| Feb | 54% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 49% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 62% |
| Aug | 46% |
| Sep | 42% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 47% |
| Dec | 44% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Milton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Florida North Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Florida North Area market as a whole, which includes Milton, so these counts are not Milton-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 119 | 4,656 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Steinhatchee River Rentals | 32 | 844 | ★ 4.86 |
| 3 | The American Dream Vacation Rentals | 22 | 217 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 22 | 570 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | Bird Rack Realty | 19 | 339 | ★ 4.73 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Milton?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Milton 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 | 48.1% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 40.3% |
Home Value Trends (Milton)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Milton 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 Milton — 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
Short-term rentals are clearly permitted in Milton, and there is no city-specific STR ordinance. Operators are governed by Florida state law plus Santa Rosa County requirements. Any whole-home rental offered for stays under 30 days more than three times a year must hold a Florida DBPR Vacation Rental license, which costs roughly $155.00 for the initial application and each annual renewal, plus collect Florida sales tax.
Locally, owners must register the property with the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Courts and collect and remit the county’s 5.00% Tourist Development Tax monthly. Combined with Florida’s 6% state sales tax and a 1% local sales tax, guests pay roughly 12% in total transient taxes.
Florida Statute 509.032(7) preempts cities and counties from banning vacation rentals or capping how long or how often a property can be rented, unless a local ordinance predates June 1, 2011. As a result, there is no maximum nights-per-year cap and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement in Milton. Standard residential rules on parking, trash, and noise still apply, and no Milton-specific ordinance has been adopted as of mid-2026, with a 2024 statewide override bill (SB 280) also failing to take effect.
Enforcement is rated minimal and is primarily tax-compliance focused rather than a restrictive permitting regime, making Milton one of the more investor-friendly regulatory environments in this batch.
Market Comparison
Milton’s 54.90% occupancy in June 2026 is close to the roughly 55% median occupancy typically seen across the broader U.S. short-term rental market, while its $198.46 average daily rate runs slightly below the roughly $220 national median ADR. This near-average profile reflects Milton’s position as an inland, drive-market destination anchored by river recreation rather than direct Gulf-front beach access.
Top property manager data in this data set is currently tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Milton, so this profile does not present specific operator names, listing counts, or ratings as Milton-specific.
Frequently Asked Questions About Milton, Florida
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