Paducah, Kentucky Short-Term Rental Market
Paducah, KY short-term rentals averaged $219/night at 56.9% occupancy in June 2026, with zoning-based access to whole-house rentals.
Quick Answer: Paducah, 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 344 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Kentucky Area regional market, which includes Paducah. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Paducah.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Paducah is a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers in western Kentucky, with a population of 26,845. Tourism is a significant local economic driver: the Paducah CVB reported a record $326.7 million in visitor-related economic impact in 2025, up from $321.6 million in 2024. In June 2026, the latest month of available data, short-term rentals in the market averaged $219.40 per night at 56.9% occupancy, generating $3,402 in average monthly revenue per listing. Revenue rose 3.2% year over year while ADR eased 0.5% and occupancy held roughly flat. By property type, apartments averaged $2,372/month, entire homes $3,493/month, and houses $3,797/month. In the wider western Kentucky lakes submarket that this data draws from, entire-place listings make up roughly 95% of inventory, private rooms most of the remainder. Unlike neighboring Murray, Paducah allows ongoing whole-house short-term rentals by right in higher-density residential zones, subject to zoning and licensing rules described below.
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 Paducah 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 Paducah, so these counts are not Paducah-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 Paducah?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Paducah 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 (Paducah)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Paducah 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 Paducah — 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 Paducah and regulated through zoning, business licensing, and tax rules administered by the city’s Planning and Finance departments. Operators need a business license and, in most residential zones, a Conditional Use Permit from the Board of Adjustment (or the Historic & Architectural Review Commission in historic districts); STRs are allowed by right only in R-4 and higher-density zones, while R-2, R-3, Planned Office Park, and Neighborhood Services zones require a CUP, and R-1 low-density zones permit only limited ‘Special Event’ rentals of about 7 days per two-week window annually. There is no stated owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Operators must collect and remit a combined roughly 10% local lodging tax (4% city transient room tax plus 6% McCracken County tax) on top of Kentucky’s statewide 1% transient room tax and state sales tax; rentals of 30+ days are exempt. Enforcement is rated moderate, with tax violations classified as misdemeanors carrying fines up to $500 and up to 30 days imprisonment. Investors should confirm the specific zoning of a target property and current CUP or business-license fees directly with the city.
Market Comparison
Paducah’s 56.9% occupancy in June 2026 runs above the roughly 55% figure often cited as the U.S. median for short-term rentals, while its $219.40 ADR sits below the roughly $220 national median, positioning Paducah as a moderately priced, above-average-occupancy market. Evolve leads regional professional management with 344 listings, 14,456 reviews, and a 4.76 average rating, more than four times the listing count of the second-ranked operator, Green Turtle Bay Resort (85 listings, 4.73 rating). Neat Suites, Lyric, and Lake Cumberland Resort III round out the top five with 30 to 41 listings each. That concentration suggests an investor entering the Paducah market will be competing primarily against a small number of established professional operators rather than a fragmented field of individual hosts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paducah, Kentucky
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What is the average daily rate for a Paducah Airbnb?
Do you need a permit to run a short-term rental in Paducah?
Is owner-occupancy required for a Paducah short-term rental?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Paducah?
What is the busiest month for Paducah short-term rentals?
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