Elkton, Maryland Short-Term Rental Market
Elkton, MD STRs averaged $150/night at 60.9% occupancy in April 2026, generating $2,489 in average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Elkton, Maryland is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 61%. average monthly revenue is $2,489. average daily rate is $150. the top operator is Luxora with 233 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Elkton, Maryland sits at the head of the Chesapeake Bay in Cecil County, positioned along the I-95 corridor roughly 45 minutes from both Baltimore and Philadelphia. That regional drive-market position shapes a short-term rental market that runs on steady, year-round demand rather than sharp seasonal spikes.
In April 2026 (the latest data month), active listings across the market posted a 60.9% average occupancy rate and a $150 average daily rate, yielding $91.38 in revenue per available rental day. Average monthly revenue per listing came in at $2,489.
Year over year, occupancy slipped modestly by 2.6 percentage points while ADR edged up 1.9% and revenue per listing grew 2.7%, suggesting that rate increases are partially offsetting a softening in occupancy.
The listing mix skews strongly toward entire-place rentals, which account for 8,868 of the market’s counted units versus 3,489 private rooms and 25 shared rooms. On the bedroom side, 1-bedroom listings are the largest segment at 7,047, followed by 2-bedroom (2,697), 3-bedroom (1,546), 4-bedroom (713), and 5-bedroom (360). Airbnb is the dominant distribution channel, with 8,118 Airbnb-only listings, 543 VRBO-only, and 3,721 appearing on both platforms. The market’s composite score is 92.1 out of 100, with particularly strong marks for revenue growth (95.7) and seasonality stability (94.9).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $104 | $1,523 |
| Feb | 56% | $106 | $1,522 |
| Mar | 59% | $112 | $1,811 |
| Apr | 61% | $121 | $1,967 |
| May | 62% | $130 | $2,157 |
| Jun | 65% | $131 | $2,311 |
| Jul | 65% | $123 | $2,238 |
| Aug | 64% | $124 | $2,210 |
| Sep | 62% | $122 | $2,040 |
| Oct | 62% | $124 | $2,169 |
| Nov | 58% | $125 | $2,004 |
| Dec | 53% | $124 | $1,884 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Elkton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luxora | 233 | 9,906 | ★ 4.51 |
| 2 | PowerHouse | 191 | 634 | ★ 2.70 |
| 3 | Sosuite | 153 | 10,525 | ★ 4.28 |
| 4 | Dillman LLC | 148 | 960 | ★ 4.15 |
| 5 | Properties By Preston | 120 | 401 | ★ 4.09 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Elkton?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 7,047 |
| 2 bed | 2,697 |
| 3 bed | 1,546 |
| 4 bed | 713 |
| 5 bed | 360 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $181 |
| Luxury | $274 |
| Professionally Managed | $169 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,424 |
| Entire Place | $2,988 |
| House | $2,573 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 65.6% |
| vrbo | 4.4% |
| both | 30.1% |
Investment Analysis
At a typical home value of $369,751 (Zillow, April 2026) and average monthly revenue of $2,489, the implied gross annualized yield is approximately 8.1% before expenses ($2,489 x 12 = $29,868 / $369,751). That is a rough ceiling figure — management fees, maintenance, and vacancy losses reduce net returns, but the entry price point is notably lower than comparable coastal Maryland markets.
Property type shapes performance meaningfully. Entire-place listings average $2,988 per month versus $2,424 for apartments, a 23% gap. House rentals average $2,573. At the tier level, luxury listings command a $274.46 ADR versus the market-wide $150, and professionally managed listings average $169.18 per night, an 13% premium over the overall average.
The YoY revenue trend is positive: 2025 full-year average revenue of $2,455 per month represents a gain from $2,393 in 2024 and $2,163 in 2023. The multi-year trajectory from 2017 ($1,475) through 2025 ($2,455) shows sustained growth of 66% over eight years.
Housing market context: the median list price ($380,500) sits above the typical home value ($369,751) and the median sale price ($316,333), with a sale-to-list ratio of 0.831. Median days to pending stands at just 9 days, indicating that well-priced properties move quickly. The investability score of 61.2 and regulation score of 66.6 both suggest moderate complexity; prospective buyers should verify STR permit requirements directly with Cecil County and the Town of Elkton before closing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Guests booking Elkton STRs plan ahead with an average lead time of 32.8 days. That window gives operators meaningful pricing leverage: rates set 4 to 5 weeks out will capture the bulk of reservations, and last-minute discounting is less necessary than in markets with shorter booking horizons.
Average length of stay is 4.35 nights — slightly longer than a standard weekend trip but shorter than a full week. This LOS pattern suggests a mix of extended-weekend travelers from the Baltimore/Philadelphia drive market and travelers using Elkton as a base for multi-day outdoor activities at Fair Hill or events like the Maryland 5 Star equestrian competition.
For operators, a 4.35-night average means roughly 6 to 7 turnovers per month at current occupancy levels. Cleaning and turnover logistics should be priced accordingly. The ~33-day lead time also supports a tiered pricing approach: set a higher baseline rate at 30+ days out and allow it to adjust downward only if occupancy gaps appear inside two weeks.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County seat) does not have a dedicated, publicly documented short-term-rental ordinance as of mid-2026. STR activity is governed by the Town of Elkton Zoning Ordinance and general rental-housing rules, along with Cecil County land-use regulations for unincorporated areas. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.
The market profile records str_permitted as true, indicating STRs are allowed in the area.
On taxes, operators face two levies: Maryland’s 6% state sales tax on short-term rental charges (generally collected and remitted by platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO), and Cecil County’s hotel/transient lodging rental tax of 6% under county code Chapter 337, Article VIII, effective July 1, 2017. Combined, operators should anticipate a tax burden of approximately 12% on gross rental receipts, though platform collection practices vary.
No permit application fee, permit type, or maximum-nights-per-year cap is documented for Elkton. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements are also not documented in the current profile. Investors should confirm allowed use directly with the Elkton Building and Zoning Department or Cecil County Land Use and Development Services before operating.
Note: widely circulated articles describing an Elkton STR ordinance with guest caps and annual-night limits refer to Elkton, Virginia (Rockingham County) — not Elkton, Maryland. Do not apply Virginia rules here.
Market Comparison
The US short-term rental market broadly averages approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR. Elkton’s April 2026 metrics of 60.9% occupancy and $150 ADR show a market that outperforms national occupancy norms while running below the national ADR average — a reflection of its position as a drive-market destination rather than a premium leisure or urban destination.
Revenue growth of 2.7% year over year is modest but positive, and the multi-year compound trajectory (2017-2025) shows the market has more than doubled average per-listing revenue over eight years.
Professional management is a meaningful force in Elkton. Luxora leads with 233 listings and 9,906 reviews at a 4.51 average rating. Sosuite holds 153 listings with 10,525 reviews and a 4.28 rating. PowerHouse operates 191 listings with a 2.70 average rating. Dillman LLC runs 148 listings (4.15 rating) and Properties By Preston rounds out the top 5 with 120 listings (4.09 rating). The professionally managed ADR premium of $169.18 versus the market-wide $150 suggests that professional management delivers measurable pricing power in this market.
The market’s total score of 92.1 places it in a high-confidence tier, with revenue growth (95.7) and seasonality stability (94.9) as standout sub-scores. The investability score of 61.2 is the only category below 65, signaling moderate entry risk relative to the market’s operational strength.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elkton, Maryland
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