Boston, Massachusetts Short-Term Rental Market
Owner-occupancy only rules Greater Boston STRs, with $264 ADR, 70.6% occupancy and $4,977 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Boston, Massachusetts is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Boston market area is 71%. average monthly revenue in the Boston market area is $4,977. average daily rate in the Boston market area is $264. the top operator in the Boston market area is Blueground with 642 listings. market score is 53/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the wider Boston market, which covers 11 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Boston.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Performance figures in this profile describe the Greater Boston STR market, a shared regional series, so the numbers reflect the wider region rather than Boston alone. For September 2026, the average daily rate across all listings was $264 and occupancy was 70.6%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $4,977. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 2.5%, ADR rose 7.9%, and revenue rose 13.1%, so rate growth drove most of the gain. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Boston, so this profile omits them. The entire-home ADR was $329 against $264 for all listings, and entire-place revenue averaged $6,005 per month. The city of Boston has 673,822 residents and draws about 17 million visitors a year. Visitors come for history, universities, sports, and conventions. Logan International Airport handled 43.5 million passengers in 2024, and international visitors totaled 2.46 million, up 9 percent from 2023. Demand mixes leisure travel in summer and fall with corporate and academic travel spread across the year, which helps explain why occupancy stays above 50% in every month of the seasonal data. Over the longer record, annual occupancy was 58.5% in 2020, climbed to 71.8% in 2022, and was 65.3% in 2025. The 2026 year to date figures through September are 65.2% occupancy, a $231 ADR, and $4,091 in average monthly revenue. The key constraint for investors is regulatory. Boston limits short-term rentals to owner-occupied primary residences, so the market is open to resident hosts rather than to investor-owned units. The regulatory section below explains the registration categories and costs.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 52% |
| Feb | 60% |
| Mar | 65% |
| Apr | 65% |
| May | 68% |
| Jun | 72% |
| Jul | 75% |
| Aug | 75% |
| Sep | 72% |
| Oct | 74% |
| Nov | 58% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Boston are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Boston market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Boston market as a whole, which includes Boston, so these counts are not Boston-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 642 | 322 | ★ 4.16 |
| 2 | Evonify | 249 | 6,266 | ★ 4.59 |
| 3 | Club Quarters Hotels | 125 | 1,844 | ★ 4.70 |
| 4 | Compass Furnished Apartments | 121 | 155 | ★ 4.90 |
| 5 | Maverick Suites | 121 | 24,799 | ★ 4.60 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Boston?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Boston 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 | 64.7% |
| vrbo | 5% |
| both | 30.4% |
Home Value Trends (Boston)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Boston 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 Boston — 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
Boston is one of the most restrictive STR markets in the country, and short-term rentals are permitted only for owner-occupied primary residences. Under City Ordinance Chapter 9-14, effective January 1, 2019, renters cannot host, and investor-owned units are prohibited. Operators must live in the property at least nine months per year. Permitted buildings are owner-occupied condominiums and one-, two-, and three-unit buildings, and in two- and three-unit buildings the owner must own all units. A local contact available 24/7 within two hours is required. The Inspectional Services Department issues three registrations. Limited Share costs $25 per year with the owner present. Home Share costs $200 per year with the owner absent. Owner-Adjacent costs $200 per year for a secondary unit in an owner-occupied two- or three-unit building. A Business Certificate from the City Clerk costs $65 and lasts four years. Registration renews annually. Occupancy tax is 14.95% combined, made up of 5.7% state excise, 6.5% Boston local excise, and a 2.75% convention center financing fee. Professionally managed units can owe an extra community impact fee of up to 3%, for a potential total near 17.95%. Operating without registration can bring penalties of $300 per day. Enforcement is rated strict. As of May 2026, Airbnb had lobbied for a temporary owner-occupancy exemption during the FIFA World Cup, but the mayor had not agreed and the 2019 structure remains intact.
Market Comparison
The Greater Boston STR market ran at 70.6% occupancy and a $264 ADR in September 2026, with average monthly revenue of $4,977. The market shows strong demand, with a rental demand score of 87 out of 100 in the regional scoring, though the same scoring gives regulation a 67 and investability a 52, and these scores come from a shared regional rollup that this profile otherwise omits. The reason the numbers look strong while investability scores lower is access. Supply is limited by the owner-occupancy rule, which keeps investor-owned units out and can support rates for those who qualify. The regional series is shared across several areas, so it is a regional benchmark and should not be read as unique to one street or neighborhood. Operator-level data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Boston, so this profile omits it. Buyers comparing Boston with other metros should weigh the strong operating numbers against a typical home value of $788,881 and the primary residence requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston, Massachusetts
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What is the average daily rate in the Greater Boston STR market?
What is the occupancy rate for Boston short-term rentals?
How much does it cost to register a short-term rental in Boston?
What taxes apply to Boston short-term rentals?
What is the best time of year for Boston STR revenue?
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