Columbia, Kentucky Short-Term Rental Market
Columbia, KY STRs averaged $183/night at 50.4% occupancy in April 2026 with year-over-year revenue growth of 3.5%.
Quick Answer: Columbia, Kentucky is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Kentucky Area market area is 48%. average monthly revenue in the Kentucky Area market area is $2,886. average daily rate in the Kentucky Area market area is $203. the top operator in the Kentucky Area market area is Evolve with 342 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Kentucky Area regional market, which includes Columbia. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Columbia.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Columbia, Kentucky is the seat of Adair County in south-central Kentucky, serving as a gateway to regional lake recreation on Green River Lake, Lake Cumberland, and Dale Hollow Lake. The STR market is substantially larger than the town’s 4,685 residents would suggest, with approximately 8,442 active listings by the latest dimension count, reflecting the area’s draw as a drive-market lake destination. In April 2026, the market averaged $183/night in ADR and 50.4% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $92.15.
Year-over-year metrics are positive across the board: occupancy gained 0.2 percentage points, ADR rose 2.8%, and average revenue grew 3.5% versus April 2025. Longer-term, annual average ADR climbed from $151 in 2017 to $179 in 2025, while average annual revenue per listing grew from $1,573 to $2,483 over the same period.
Entire-place listings dominate at 7,991 of 8,442 listings (94.7%), with 448 private rooms and just 3 shared rooms. The bedroom distribution is relatively even across smaller units: 2-bedroom listings are the most common (2,489), followed by 1-bedroom (2,292) and 3-bedroom (2,233), with 4-bedroom (859) and 5-bedroom (563) properties rounding out the mix. Airbnb leads on channel distribution with 3,945 listings, 3,685 cross-listed on both platforms, and 812 on VRBO only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 34% |
| Feb | 44% |
| Mar | 53% |
| Apr | 51% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 62% |
| Aug | 51% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 41% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Columbia are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kentucky Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Kentucky Area market as a whole, which includes Columbia, so these counts are not Columbia-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 342 | 14,368 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Green Turtle Bay Resort | 85 | 273 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | Lake Cumberland Resort III | 51 | 2,060 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Neat Suites | 40 | 1,156 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Lyric | 39 | 2,991 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Columbia?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Columbia 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 | 46.7% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 43.7% |
Home Value Trends (Columbia)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Columbia 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 Columbia — 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
Columbia and Adair County do not appear to have a short-term rental-specific ordinance as of mid-2026. No local STR permit program, owner-occupancy rule, or night cap was found in government sources. The area tourism board lists Airbnb and VRBO units openly among area lodging, consistent with an unregulated local environment. The str_permitted field is true in the area profile.
At the state level, Kentucky requires operators to collect a 6% state sales tax on stays of 29 nights or fewer, plus a 1% statewide transient room tax. Both are typically collected and remitted by Airbnb and VRBO on behalf of hosts operating on those platforms. The area_profile data shows an occupancy tax rate of 1.00%, consistent with the statewide transient room tax. A local transient room tax from the Adair County tourism commission may also apply but the specific local rate was not confirmed in available sources.
Operators may also need a general county or city occupational license, which is standard in Kentucky. Enforcement is rated minimal. Investors should confirm current tax rates and any business license requirements with Columbia City Hall and the Adair County Fiscal Court before operating. Note that Kentucky HB 8 (effective January 1, 2023) requires platforms to collect and remit applicable transient room taxes statewide.
Market Comparison
Columbia’s 50.4% occupancy in April 2026 is slightly below the US STR median of approximately 55%, which is typical for a spring month in a market with a strong summer peak. The $183/night ADR is modestly below the national STR median of approximately $220 but appropriate for a rural Kentucky lake market.
The market’s total score of 88.9 reflects strong fundamentals, particularly investability (97.7), with seasonality (66.8) dragging the composite score due to the wide peak-trough gap. Revenue growth (76.0) signals continued positive momentum.
Evolve dominates the professional management segment with 342 listings and a 4.76 average rating across 14,368 reviews, by far the largest operator. Green Turtle Bay Resort operates 85 listings with a 4.72 rating, while Lake Cumberland Resort III manages 51 listings at a 4.71 average. Neat Suites (40 listings, 4.80 rating) and Lyric (39 listings, 4.81 rating) round out the top five. The combined top-3 operators control 478 listings in a market of approximately 8,442 total, representing about 5.7% of active inventory under professional management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia, Kentucky
What is the average nightly rate for Airbnb rentals in Columbia, KY?
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When is the best time to rent a property in Columbia, KY?
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Columbia, KY?
Is Columbia, KY a good market for STR investment?
How far in advance do guests typically book in Columbia, KY?
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