Milford, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Milford, MI STRs averaged $139/night at 58.3% occupancy in April 2026, driven by year-round recreation demand from Kensington Metropark.
Quick Answer: Milford, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $2,928. average daily rate is $164. the top operator is Evolve with 111 listings. market score is 96/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Detroit regional market, which includes Milford. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Milford.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Milford is a Village of 6,628 residents in northwestern Oakland County, Michigan, approximately 45 minutes from Detroit and Ann Arbor. The area draws approximately 2.5 million visitors annually, largely attributable to adjacent Kensington Metropark, a 4,481-acre Huron-Clinton Metropark on 1,200-acre Kent Lake, and nearby Proud Lake Recreation Area (~3,000 acres along the Huron River). Year-round outdoor recreation (hiking, kayaking, fishing, golf, and cross-country skiing) sustains more consistent STR demand than typical Michigan seasonal markets. Historic Downtown Milford adds boutique shopping, breweries, restaurants, and seasonal events that complement park visitation.
The STR market covers approximately 6,642 listings in the latest snapshot. Entire-place units account for 5,339 of 6,642 listings (80.4%), private rooms for 1,289 (19.4%), and 14 shared rooms (0.2%). Bedroom distribution: one-bedroom units lead at 2,646 (40.0% of 6,609 bedroom-segmented), followed by two-bedroom (1,593, 24.1%), three-bedroom (1,538, 23.3%), four-bedroom (556, 8.4%), and five-or-more-bedroom (276, 4.2%). The channel mix is Airbnb-dominant: 4,158 listings on Airbnb only, 241 on VRBO only, and 2,243 cross-listed on both.
In April 2026, the market posted an ADR of $139, occupancy of 58.3%, and RevPAR of $81.23, generating average monthly revenue of $2,209 per listing. Year-over-year, ADR rose 2.4% while occupancy slipped 0.8 percentage points, for a net revenue change of essentially flat versus April 2025. The 2025 full-year average was 58.4% occupancy and $143 ADR, generating $2,377/month.
The seasonality score of 87.2 out of 100 reflects low seasonal variation: the July peak at 66.5% and January trough at 48.5% represent an 18-percentage-point swing, substantially smaller than coastal or mountain resort markets. Market scores: total 95.8, investability 95.7, rental demand 61.3, regulation 67.4, seasonality 87.2, revenue growth 90.5.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $102 | $1,468 |
| Feb | 55% | $103 | $1,444 |
| Mar | 57% | $109 | $1,709 |
| Apr | 58% | $115 | $1,807 |
| May | 62% | $128 | $2,042 |
| Jun | 64% | $135 | $2,329 |
| Jul | 66% | $131 | $2,369 |
| Aug | 63% | $131 | $2,330 |
| Sep | 60% | $122 | $2,013 |
| Oct | 59% | $118 | $1,965 |
| Nov | 55% | $117 | $1,750 |
| Dec | 54% | $117 | $1,775 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Milford
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 111 | 1,878 | ★ 4.31 |
| 2 | Easy Stay | 66 | 2,461 | ★ 4.94 |
| 3 | Monty | 48 | 1,038 | ★ 4.14 |
| 4 | StayArbor | 46 | 1,269 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Easy Stay Homes | 44 | 477 | ★ 4.90 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Milford?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,646 |
| 2 bed | 1,593 |
| 3 bed | 1,538 |
| 4 bed | 556 |
| 5 bed | 276 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $190 |
| Luxury | $308 |
| Professionally Managed | $200 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,533 |
| Entire Place | $3,360 |
| House | $3,151 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 62.6% |
| vrbo | 3.6% |
| both | 33.8% |
Investment Analysis
The April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,209 implies an annualized run rate of approximately $26,508. At a typical home value of $486,459, the gross yield calculates to approximately 5.4% ($26,508 divided by $486,459). For the 2025 full-year perspective, $2,377/month implies $28,524 annualized, or approximately 5.9% gross yield. Both figures are before operating expenses, management fees, taxes, and vacancy.
The investability score of 95.7 out of 100 reflects strong demand consistency rather than a high gross yield: occupancy has held between 55% and 64% annually since 2017, and revenue has grown from $1,424/month in 2017 to $2,377 in 2025, a 66.9% cumulative increase. The revenue growth score of 90.5 reflects this sustained trajectory.
By revenue sub-type, entire-place listings generated $2,505/month in April 2026, the highest sub-category. House-type listings averaged $2,335/month. Apartment-type listings averaged $2,005/month.
By ADR tier: the market-wide average is $139/night. Entire-home listings averaged $162/night, a $23 or 16.5% premium. Professionally managed listings averaged $166/night, a $27 or 19.4% premium. The luxury tier averaged $254/night, a $115 or 82.7% premium, indicating meaningful upside for well-positioned listings in a low-base-rate market.
The median list price for Milford area homes was $538,300 in April 2026, with 52 homes for sale and a median days-to-pending of 12 days, indicating a fast-moving market with limited inventory. Typical home value is $486,459.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Milford STRs was 31.3 days, meaning guests typically reserve about four to five weeks ahead of arrival. Average length of stay was 4.7 nights.
A 31.3-day lead time is substantially shorter than Gulf Coast or New England beach markets (60-day-plus lead times are common in those markets). This shorter window reflects the weekend-getaway and metro-Detroit-day-trip nature of Milford demand: visitors make near-term plans for Kensington Metropark recreation without the long advance planning of a beach vacation. Operators can employ active dynamic pricing in the 14-to-35-day pre-arrival window, when the majority of bookings are made.
A 4.7-night average stay is moderate, suggesting a mix of week-long park visits and shorter 3-to-4-night extended weekends. Minimum-night policies of 2 to 3 nights align with observed demand patterns and avoid the operational burden of frequent single-night turnovers.
Combined, the 31.3-day lead time and 4.7-night average stay favor a pricing strategy that holds listed rates steady or slightly elevated through the final 30 days before arrival, rather than discounting early to fill units.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Milford does not have a dedicated short-term-rental ordinance. The Village of Milford regulates all residential rentals under its Residential Rental Ordinance, adopted August 18, 2014. Under that ordinance, every residential rental property must register with the Village annually and renew by March 31 each year. Properties must pass a Certificate of Compliance inspection on a biennial schedule: rentals north of Commerce Road are inspected in odd years, south in even years. A temporary Certificate of Compliance is assumed until an initial inspection occurs; certificates can be revoked for unaddressed violations, with appeals heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. No cap on nights per year was found. No special-use permit is required for short-term rentals specifically. The registration fee is not published; investors should contact the Village Building Official at (248) 684-1515 to confirm current fees and whether a transient-stay triggering any additional zoning review applies.
Michigan imposes a 6% state use (lodging) tax on stays under one month. Major platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) typically collect and remit this tax automatically. No additional Oakland County or Village accommodations tax was identified.
Forward-looking: the Village is developing an updated Master Plan (2024-2025 cycle) via its Planning Commission, which could affect future rental or zoning policy. At the state level, proposed legislation (HB 4722) would classify STRs as residential use and limit local bans, but it had not been enacted as of mid-2026. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Milford’s April 2026 occupancy of 58.3% is above the U.S. STR median of 55%, reflecting the year-round recreation demand driven by Kensington Metropark. The 2025 full-year occupancy of 58.4% also exceeds the national median. The seasonality score of 87.2 confirms this consistent demand pattern.
ADR at $139 is substantially below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the regional short-getaway character of Milford’s market rather than a long-haul destination with premium pricing power. RevPAR at $81.23 is above the $76.45 that U.S. median occupancy of 55% at this ADR would imply ($139 x 0.55), because April’s 58.3% occupancy exceeds the national median.
Among active property managers, Evolve leads with 111 listings and 1,878 reviews (rating 4.31). Easy Stay holds 66 listings with 2,461 reviews (rating 4.94). Monty manages 48 listings (1,038 reviews, 4.14 rating). StayArbor operates 46 listings (1,269 reviews, 4.81 rating). Easy Stay Homes holds 44 listings (477 reviews, 4.90 rating). The top five together account for 315 of approximately 6,642 tracked listings (4.7%), indicating the market is overwhelmingly independently operated.
The total score of 95.8 and investability of 95.7 reflect the combination of above-median occupancy, stable year-round demand, moderate entry prices relative to metropolitan Detroit, and a permissive regulatory environment with no owner-occupancy requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About Milford, Michigan
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