Culver, Indiana Short-Term Rental Market
Culver, IN STRs averaged $157/night at 54.5% occupancy in April 2026, driven by Lake Maxinkuckee demand.
Quick Answer: Culver, Indiana is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Indiana Area market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Indiana Area market area is $3,808. average daily rate in the Indiana Area market area is $233. the top operator in the Indiana Area market area is Evolve with 171 listings. market score is 78/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Indiana Area regional market, which includes Culver. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Culver.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Culver is a small lakeside resort town on Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana’s second-largest natural lake at 1,864 acres, with a year-round population of approximately 1,183 that swells significantly during the summer season. The short-term rental market is driven almost entirely by lake recreation (boating, sailing, fishing, kayaking) and the Culver Academies boarding school, which draws visiting residents to family events and summer programs. Midwest leisure visitors from Indianapolis, Chicago, and South Bend form the core demand base.
In April 2026, the average daily rate was $156.82 and occupancy reached 54.5%, producing a RevPAR of $85.49. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 4.95 percentage points and revenue grew 3.83%, with ADR up 3.16%. The listing inventory is dominated by entire-place rentals at 7,129 units, with 692 private-room listings and 2 shared-room units. Channel distribution skews toward Airbnb, with 4,182 Airbnb-only listings, 497 VRBO-only, and 3,144 on both platforms.
The bedroom mix favors smaller to mid-size properties: 1-bedroom units lead at 2,454 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (2,186) and 3-bedroom (1,828). Larger configurations include 787 four-bedroom and 554 five-bedroom-or-larger units, reflecting the lake cottage and vacation-home character of the inventory.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 51% |
| Apr | 51% |
| May | 53% |
| Jun | 62% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 59% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 47% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Culver are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Indiana Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Indiana Area market as a whole, which includes Culver, so these counts are not Culver-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 171 | 6,322 | ★ 4.70 |
| 2 | Beachwalk Vacation Rentals | 139 | 4,331 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | General Manager of Hills O' Brown Vacation Rentals | 71 | 2,216 | ★ 4.70 |
| 4 | Imperial Access Rental | 48 | 138 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | MTM Premier Property Management | 40 | 1,054 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Culver?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Culver 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 | 53.5% |
| vrbo | 6.4% |
| both | 40.2% |
Home Value Trends (Culver)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Culver 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 Culver — 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 legal in Culver. Indiana state law (HB 1035, codified at IC 36-1-24) prohibits municipalities from outright banning STRs and caps any local STR permit fee at $150. No Culver-specific STR ordinance (permit, registration, owner-occupancy, or annual night cap) was confirmed as of June 2026. The town’s visitor center actively promotes over 90 Airbnb and VRBO listings in the area, indicating STRs are tolerated throughout residential and lakefront neighborhoods. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.
On taxes, stays under 30 days are subject to Indiana’s 7% state sales tax plus Marshall County’s 5% County Innkeeper’s Tax, effective May 1, 2021, for a combined lodging tax of approximately 12% on the total rental amount including cleaning and guest fees. Airbnb and VRBO may collect some of these taxes automatically, but hosts are responsible for registration and remittance with the Indiana Department of Revenue. Investors should verify current requirements directly with Town Hall at (574) 842-3140 before operating.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks (U.S. median occupancy approximately 55%, median ADR approximately $220), Culver’s April 2026 occupancy of 54.5% is close to the national median while the $156.82 ADR trails the national average, reflecting the Indiana Midwest regional price point rather than a coastal or mountain premium market. The market’s 2025 annual average occupancy of 52.49% is slightly below the national median.
Evolve leads the Culver operator landscape with 171 listings and 6,322 reviews at a 4.70 average rating. Beachwalk Vacation Rentals holds 139 listings at a 4.72 rating, and General Manager of Hills O’ Brown Vacation Rentals manages 71 listings at 4.70. Imperial Access Rental (48 listings, 4.68) and MTM Premier Property Management (40 listings, 4.78) round out the top five. The presence of strong local operators (Beachwalk, Hills O’ Brown) alongside Evolve indicates a competitive professional management market where local operators hold meaningful market share and local knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Culver, Indiana
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