Clear Lake, Iowa Short-Term Rental Market
Clear Lake, IA STRs averaged $137/night at 51.4% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue growth of 8.5% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Clear Lake, Iowa is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Iowa Area market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Iowa Area market area is $3,283. average daily rate in the Iowa Area market area is $200. the top operator in the Iowa Area market area is Evolve with 93 listings. market score is 76/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Iowa Area regional market, which includes Clear Lake. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Clear Lake.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Clear Lake, IA is a long-established lake resort town in north-central Iowa built around its 3,600-acre namesake lake and the Surf Ballroom, the National Historic Landmark and site of Buddy Holly’s final concert. The STR market spans approximately 6,196 active listings and posted 51.37% occupancy, a $137.01 average daily rate, and RevPAR of $70.38 in April 2026. Year-over-year performance through April 2026 showed accelerating recovery: occupancy grew 7.13%, ADR rose 2.82%, and revenue increased 8.48%.
Entire-place listings account for 5,621 of 6,196 total (90.7%). Private rooms number 579 and shared rooms just 2. By bedroom count: 1-bedrooms lead at 1,959, followed by 2-bedrooms (1,706), 3-bedrooms (1,427), 4-bedrooms (705), and 5-bedrooms (399). Airbnb-exclusive listings number 3,641; VRBO-exclusive 475; and 2,086 appear on both platforms.
The market scores 76.23 overall, with rental demand at 78.53 and investability at 84.39. The regulation score of 62.29 reflects Iowa’s unique preemption law, which eliminates local STR permitting requirements. Revenue growth scores 70.72, consistent with the recent upward trend in the data.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 41% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 54% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 57% |
| Sep | 50% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 48% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Clear Lake are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Iowa Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Iowa Area market as a whole, which includes Clear Lake, so these counts are not Clear Lake-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 93 | 2,760 | ★ 4.64 |
| 2 | Okoboji Vacation Co. | 59 | 975 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | 228 Spaces | 36 | 1,026 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | CR Short Stays | 30 | 2,429 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Iowa Cabin Rentals | 23 | 378 | ★ 4.20 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Clear Lake?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Clear Lake 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 | 58.7% |
| vrbo | 7.7% |
| both | 33.6% |
Home Value Trends (Clear Lake)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake — 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
Clear Lake operates under Iowa’s statewide STR preemption framework, making it one of the least regulated STR markets by law in the Midwest. Iowa House File 2641, passed in 2020, prohibits cities and counties from banning STRs, requiring STR-specific permits or licenses, or charging STR-specific fees. STRs must be treated as residential land use. As a result, Clear Lake’s earlier 2017 vacation-rental permitting ordinance (Chapter 153), which had required a permit for stays under one month, is void and no longer enforceable.
Operators in Clear Lake do NOT need a city STR permit. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. No annual night cap has been documented.
Tax obligations remain: operators must register with the Iowa Department of Revenue and collect and remit the 5% Iowa state hotel and motel (lodging) tax plus the City of Clear Lake’s 7% local hotel and motel tax, for approximately 12% total lodging tax on stays under 31 days. Airbnb collects some Iowa lodging taxes on hosts’ behalf, but operators remain responsible for verifying full compliance. General building, safety, nuisance, and zoning rules still apply and must be enforced equally to all comparable residential properties. Enforcement specific to STRs is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Clear Lake’s April 2026 occupancy of 51.37% is near the US STR median of approximately 55%. Its ADR of $137.01 is below the national median of roughly $220, positioning this as an accessible-price lake destination rather than a premium market. The 8.48% year-over-year revenue growth through April 2026 is strong relative to national trends.
The regulation score of 62.29 is the lowest of the five markets in this batch, reflecting Iowa’s state preemption that eliminates local registration requirements — paradoxically, the lowest regulation score corresponds to the most operator-friendly regulatory environment. The investability score of 84.39 supports this interpretation.
On the operator side, Evolve leads with 93 listings and 2,760 reviews (4.64 rating). Okoboji Vacation Co. ranks second with 59 listings and 975 reviews (4.69 rating), representing a regional Iowa lake-country specialist. 228 Spaces holds third with 36 listings and 1,026 reviews (4.76 rating). CR Short Stays ranks fourth with only 30 listings but a standout 2,429 reviews and the highest rating in the top five at 4.86. The top-5 operators manage 241 listings combined, approximately 3.9% of the 6,196-listing market — the lowest operator concentration of the five markets in this batch. Independent operators are well-positioned to compete here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clear Lake, Iowa
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