Gilbertsville, Kentucky Short-Term Rental Market
Gilbertsville STRs averaged $183/night at 50.4% occupancy in April 2026 across approximately 8,451 active listings.
Quick Answer: Gilbertsville, Kentucky is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Kentucky Area market area is 57%. average monthly revenue in the Kentucky Area market area is $3,402. average daily rate in the Kentucky Area market area is $219. the top operator in the Kentucky Area market area is Evolve with 344 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Kentucky Area regional market, which includes Gilbertsville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gilbertsville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gilbertsville is a small unincorporated lake community in Marshall County, far western Kentucky, anchored by Kentucky Lake (the state’s largest body of water), the Kentucky Dam, and adjacent Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The short-term rental market numbers approximately 8,451 active listings, almost entirely entire-place rentals: 7,999 (94.7%), private rooms at 449, and shared rooms at 3. Channel distribution shows 3,945 Airbnb-only listings, 3,693 on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 813 VRBO-only, reflecting VRBO’s meaningful presence in this lake-vacation market.
As of April 2026, the market averaged $182.86 per night with a 50.4% occupancy rate, producing average monthly revenue of $2,475. RevPAR was $92.13. Year-over-year changes are modest: occupancy was flat (+0.17%), ADR improved 2.73%, and revenue grew 3.40%.
Bedroom distribution skews toward mid-size lake cabins: 2-bedroom (2,493 listings) and 1-bedroom (2,293) are most common, followed by 3-bedroom (2,234), 4-bedroom (859), and 5-bedroom-plus (566). Market scores are notably high: the total score of 88.9 and investability score of 97.8 out of 100 rank this market among the top investment scores in the dataset, driven by low regulatory friction and strong demand relative to supply.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $123 | $1,328 |
| Feb | 44% | $124 | $1,370 |
| Mar | 53% | $144 | $1,926 |
| Apr | 51% | $154 | $2,093 |
| May | 51% | $167 | $2,231 |
| Jun | 60% | $191 | $3,023 |
| Jul | 63% | $190 | $3,314 |
| Aug | 52% | $179 | $2,618 |
| Sep | 47% | $166 | $2,150 |
| Oct | 51% | $161 | $2,335 |
| Nov | 45% | $150 | $1,903 |
| Dec | 41% | $143 | $1,732 |
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 Gilbertsville, so these counts are not Gilbertsville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 344 | 14,456 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Green Turtle Bay Resort | 85 | 274 | ★ 4.73 |
| 3 | Neat Suites | 41 | 1,165 | ★ 4.81 |
| 4 | Lyric | 39 | 3,002 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Lake Cumberland Resort III | 30 | 902 | ★ 4.66 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gilbertsville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,293 |
| 2 bed | 2,493 |
| 3 bed | 2,234 |
| 4 bed | 859 |
| 5 bed | 566 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $223 |
| Luxury | $371 |
| Professionally Managed | $274 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,372 |
| Entire Place | $3,493 |
| House | $3,797 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46.7% |
| vrbo | 9.6% |
| both | 43.7% |
Investment Analysis
Gilbertsville stands out for its investability score of 97.8 out of 100, reflecting the combination of minimal regulatory barriers, strong lake-recreation demand, and entry costs that are low relative to revenue compared to coastal markets. No housing value data is available in the current dataset for Gilbertsville, so a specific gross yield calculation cannot be stated.
At the April 2026 average revenue of $2,475/month, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $29,700. The professionally managed tier commands $205.08/night vs. the all-listings average of $182.86, a 12% premium. Luxury listings reach $315.09/night.
Revenue has grown consistently from $1,573/month (2017 annual average) to $2,488 (2025 annual average), a 58% increase over eight years. The post-pandemic peak was 2021 at $2,456/month, and performance has remained stable since, with 2024 ($2,449) and 2025 ($2,488) essentially matching that peak.
Marshall County tourism reportedly generated $85 million or more in economic impact in 2022, and Land Between the Lakes draws approximately 1.6 million visitors annually. The combination of outdoor recreation, fishing tournaments, and lake-vacation demand provides a year-round demand baseline, though winter is clearly slower. The absence of STR-specific permitting requirements (as of the latest profile data) eliminates a common barrier to entry.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Gilbertsville)
Booking Insights
Gilbertsville guests book an average of 47.4 days in advance as of April 2026, roughly six weeks out. This booking window reflects planned lake-vacation travel, fishing tournaments, and holiday weekends where guests secure properties in advance. Summer peak weekends (Fourth of July, Memorial Day) likely see even earlier booking than the average suggests.
Average length of stay is 3.68 nights, consistent with a weekend-to-long-weekend pattern typical of lake-recreation markets. The near-four-night average is slightly above the national STR norm and reduces cleaning and turnover frequency compared to markets with 1-2 night stays. The 47-day booking window combined with the 3.7-night average means operators can typically see most summer weekends filling up 4-6 weeks ahead.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Gilbertsville is an unincorporated community in Marshall County, Kentucky. No STR-specific permit, registration, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement has been identified for Gilbertsville or Marshall County as of the latest profile update (June 2026). STRs appear to operate under minimal local regulatory constraints, which is consistent with the market’s high investability score.
Kentucky delegates STR regulation to local governments and has no statewide STR law. Restrictive ordinances in Kentucky are concentrated in larger cities. Marshall County’s unincorporated areas have not enacted specific STR rules as of the data available here.
On taxes, operators owe a combined transient room tax of approximately 4%: 1% Kentucky state transient room tax plus a 3% Marshall County local transient room tax. Standard Kentucky state sales tax (6%) also applies to lodging. Since January 1, 2023, under Kentucky HB 8, platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO are required to collect and remit the local transient room tax in addition to the 1% state rate.
Investors are advised to confirm directly with the Marshall County Fiscal Court and Planning and Zoning office regarding any current or pending local requirements, as rural unincorporated areas can adopt regulations with limited public notice.
Market Comparison
Gilbertsville’s ADR of $182.86 is below the national STR median of approximately $220/night, consistent with its position as an inland lake-recreation market rather than a premium coastal or mountain destination. Occupancy at 50.4% is modestly below the U.S. median of approximately 55%, with more pronounced seasonality than the national average.
RevPAR of $92.13 is below national norms, but the market’s appeal to investors lies in low entry costs and minimal regulatory friction rather than per-night yield.
The management landscape is led by Evolve with 344 listings and 14,456 reviews (average rating 4.76). Green Turtle Bay Resort operates 85 listings (rating 4.73, 274 reviews). Neat Suites manages 41 listings (rating 4.81, 1,165 reviews). Lyric holds 39 listings (rating 4.81, 3,002 reviews). Lake Cumberland Resort III manages 30 listings (rating 4.66, 902 reviews). The top 5 operators account for 539 listings, approximately 6.4% of the approximately 8,451 total market listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gilbertsville, Kentucky
What is the average nightly rate for Gilbertsville vacation rentals?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Gilbertsville, KY?
What taxes apply to vacation rentals in Gilbertsville?
What is the occupancy rate for Gilbertsville short-term rentals?
When is peak season for Gilbertsville lake rentals?
Why does Gilbertsville have such a high investability score?
Who are the top property managers in Gilbertsville, KY?
Analyze Gilbertsville Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Gilbertsville.
Free Gilbertsville STR Calculator →
