Cambridge, Maryland Short-Term Rental Market
Cambridge, MD STRs averaged $249/night at 42.3% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by Chesapeake Bay heritage and wildlife refuge tourism.
Quick Answer: Cambridge, Maryland is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 42%. average monthly revenue is $2,563. average daily rate is $249. the top operator is Seaside vacation rentals with 210 listings. market score is 65/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cambridge occupies a distinct niche on Maryland’s Eastern Shore as a heritage and nature-based STR market. Sitting on the Choptank River in Dorchester County, the city draws birders, anglers, paddlers, history travelers, and visitors to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad sites and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $249 and occupancy of 42.3%, generating a RevPAR of $105 and average monthly revenue of $2,563 per listing.
The market supports approximately 2,254 active listings across all configurations, sized for a smaller, specialized tourism destination. Three-bedroom properties are the largest segment at about 810 listings, followed by two-bedroom units at 495 and four-bedroom properties at 352. One-bedroom listings account for around 399 units, with five-plus-bedroom properties at 198.
Whole-place rentals dominate the listing mix at approximately 2,130 units (94% of supply). Private rooms account for 127 listings. On the platform side, the market shows strong dual-channel distribution: about 1,250 properties list on both Airbnb and VRBO, with an additional 748 Airbnb-only and 260 VRBO-only listings.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy dropped 6.2 percentage points while ADR rose 5.0%, resulting in a modest revenue decline of 1.7%. The investability score of 93.4 and revenue-growth score of 81.9 indicate solid structural fundamentals for a market that runs at lower occupancy due to its nature-tourism demand profile.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30% | $192 | $1,709 |
| Feb | 38% | $186 | $1,618 |
| Mar | 44% | $198 | $1,964 |
| Apr | 47% | $214 | $2,364 |
| May | 52% | $246 | $2,876 |
| Jun | 65% | $283 | $4,484 |
| Jul | 73% | $271 | $5,169 |
| Aug | 69% | $271 | $5,013 |
| Sep | 48% | $248 | $3,150 |
| Oct | 37% | $229 | $2,447 |
| Nov | 33% | $213 | $1,949 |
| Dec | 33% | $207 | $1,954 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cambridge
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seaside vacation rentals | 210 | 6,224 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Coastal Shore Vacations | 201 | 2,204 | ★ 4.60 |
| 3 | Island Getaways | 123 | 3,129 | ★ 4.80 |
| 4 | Harbour Rentals | 84 | 1,764 | ★ 4.52 |
| 5 | Evolve | 72 | 2,082 | ★ 4.76 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cambridge?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 399 |
| 2 bed | 495 |
| 3 bed | 810 |
| 4 bed | 352 |
| 5 bed | 198 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $257 |
| Luxury | $418 |
| Professionally Managed | $281 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,069 |
| Entire Place | $2,618 |
| House | $2,716 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 33.1% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 55.4% |
Investment Analysis
Cambridge’s investability score of 93.4 out of 100 reflects strong underlying market attributes despite the April occupancy reading of 42.3% sitting below national averages. The revenue-growth score of 81.9 supports a positive trajectory: the 2025 annual average monthly revenue was $3,459, up from $3,060 in 2023 and $3,272 in 2024, a consistent two-year improvement.
By listing type in April 2026, houses earned the highest monthly revenue at $2,716, followed closely by entire-place listings at $2,618. Apartment-style units trailed at $2,069. On the rate side, professionally managed listings commanded an ADR of $281 compared to the all-listings average of $249, and luxury-tier properties averaged $418 per night, a premium of 68% over the market baseline.
Annualized at the April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,563, a Cambridge STR would generate approximately $30,800 per year. Peak months materially improve this: July average monthly revenue is $5,169. No home value data is available in the current dataset, so gross yield estimates are not possible without independent comparable sale data for Dorchester County.
The permit framework is investor-accessible: non-owner-occupied whole-unit rentals are explicitly allowed under the Type 2 permit category, and there is no annual night cap. The 3-year permit term reduces administrative burden compared to markets with annual renewals.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Cambridge guests book an average of 46 days in advance and stay approximately 3.9 nights per booking. The 46-day lead time is moderately long and reflects a deliberate planning process consistent with nature and heritage tourism: birding trips, kayaking excursions, and Harriet Tubman site visits tend to be planned itinerary trips rather than spontaneous weekend getaways.
The 3.9-night average length of stay suggests most guests are coming for a long weekend extended by one or two nights rather than a full week. This is consistent with Eastern Shore tourism patterns where the drive market from Baltimore, Washington DC, and Philadelphia accounts for the majority of visits.
For operators, the 46-day lead time argues for publishing rates and availability well in advance. Setting non-refundable rates 60-plus days out captures committed travelers at full pricing. Last-minute discounting in the 0 to 14-day window can fill gaps without undermining the base rate structure. The near-4-night average stay means cleaning rotations are manageable, running approximately 6 to 7 turnovers per month at peak occupancy levels.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cambridge permits STRs under Ordinance 1204 (City Code Chapter 4, Article VII, effective September 12, 2022, as amended). No STR may operate without a current valid permit. Two permit types exist: Type 1 covers owner- or operator-occupied properties where the host is generally present, with a $100 application fee and a 3-year permit term. Type 2 covers non-owner-occupied whole-unit rentals, with a $200 application fee and the same 3-year term. Type 2 units must also be registered as non-owner-occupied rental dwellings under City Code Section 4-42. Neither owner-occupancy nor primary-residence requirements apply citywide.
A rental qualifies as an STR if it is for fewer than 30 consecutive days and more than 3 nights per calendar year; stays of 3 or fewer nights annually and month-plus leases are exempt. There is no annual night cap. Permits are non-transferable to a new owner, unit, or location. Parking rules limit on-street use based on whether private parking exists.
The applicable lodging tax is Dorchester County’s hotel rental tax of 5%. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO may auto-collect this tax. Federal and state tax obligations apply in addition.
Enforcement is complaint-based. Violations are municipal infractions: $200 for the initial violation, $500 for repeat violations, with each day treated as a separate offense. A permit is revoked after 3 confirmed citations within any 6-month period, and a revoked permit holder may not apply for a new permit for 3 years. The Commissioners retain authority to cap total permit counts by resolution, a provision not currently exercised.
Market Comparison
At 42.3% occupancy and $249 ADR in April 2026, Cambridge sits below the U.S. national STR median occupancy of approximately 55% but above the national median ADR of approximately $220. The occupancy gap is expected: Cambridge is a specialized heritage and nature destination with a tight winter season, not a year-round beach or urban market.
Seaside Vacation Rentals leads the Cambridge STR management market with 210 listings and 6,224 reviews at a 4.73 average rating. Coastal Shore Vacations operates 201 listings at a 4.60 rating, and Island Getaways manages 123 listings with a 4.80 rating. Harbour Rentals holds 84 listings at 4.52 rating, and Evolve rounds out the top five with 72 listings and a 4.76 rating.
The top 5 operators collectively manage approximately 690 listings out of roughly 2,254 total, representing about 31% of supply. This is a notably high professional management concentration compared to many markets, suggesting that the Chesapeake regional nature-tourism guest expects a well-managed, reliable product. The market’s total score of 64.7 reflects the seasonal limitations, while the investability score of 93.4 reflects the accessible permit structure and consistent demand base.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cambridge, Maryland
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