Hattiesburg, Mississippi Short-Term Rental Market
Hattiesburg STR operators averaged $164/night at 49.0% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 3,700 active listings.
Quick Answer: Hattiesburg, Mississippi is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Mississippi Area market area is 50%. average monthly revenue in the Mississippi Area market area is $2,206. average daily rate in the Mississippi Area market area is $160. the top operator in the Mississippi Area market area is Evolve with 97 listings. market score is 95/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Mississippi Area regional market, which includes Hattiesburg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Hattiesburg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Hattiesburg, Mississippi (population 48,808) runs a short-term rental market with approximately 3,700 active listings as of April 2026, anchored by the University of Southern Mississippi, Camp Shelby, and a revitalized historic downtown. The market posted an average daily rate of $164.33 and an occupancy rate of 49.0% in April 2026, generating a RevPAR of $80.47.
Listing composition leans heavily toward entire-place rentals, which account for 3,395 of the roughly 3,731 tracked listings (91% of supply). Private rooms add another 335 listings, with a single shared-room unit rounding out supply. By bedroom count, the market is fairly balanced across smaller units: 1-bedroom (1,208), 2-bedroom (1,121), and 3-bedroom (957) listings each represent a substantial share, while 4-bedroom (306) and 5-bedroom-plus (130) properties serve group travel demand.
Channel distribution shows Airbnb as the primary platform with 2,220 listings, 1,282 listed on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 229 VRBO-exclusive. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy is up 5.92% and revenue is up 6.12%, though average daily rate dipped 0.95% year-over-year, suggesting demand growth is outpacing rate increases. The market’s investability score sits at 97.53 out of 100 and its total market score is 94.53, both reflecting strong fundamentals relative to peers.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $122 | $1,359 |
| Feb | 46% | $129 | $1,462 |
| Mar | 51% | $139 | $1,894 |
| Apr | 48% | $144 | $1,836 |
| May | 46% | $150 | $1,885 |
| Jun | 49% | $148 | $1,978 |
| Jul | 49% | $143 | $1,974 |
| Aug | 44% | $139 | $1,718 |
| Sep | 45% | $154 | $1,772 |
| Oct | 44% | $158 | $1,905 |
| Nov | 43% | $159 | $1,883 |
| Dec | 39% | $140 | $1,704 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Mississippi Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Mississippi Area market as a whole, which includes Hattiesburg, so these counts are not Hattiesburg-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 97 | 2,440 | ★ 4.71 |
| 2 | OneHometown Getaways | 86 | 2,503 | ★ 4.81 |
| 3 | Absolute Charm Destinations | 30 | 936 | ★ 4.80 |
| 4 | Stayca | 30 | 3,064 | ★ 4.93 |
| 5 | Hometown Realty | 16 | 294 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Hattiesburg?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,208 |
| 2 bed | 1,121 |
| 3 bed | 957 |
| 4 bed | 306 |
| 5 bed | 130 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $163 |
| Luxury | $263 |
| Professionally Managed | $186 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,854 |
| Entire Place | $2,284 |
| House | $2,405 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 59.5% |
| vrbo | 6.1% |
| both | 34.4% |
Investment Analysis
Hattiesburg’s STR market generated average monthly revenue of $2,161.50 in April 2026, projecting to approximately $25,938 in annualized gross revenue per listing at current rates. No Zillow housing value data is currently available for this market, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided.
Tier differentiation is present but modest. The overall average daily rate of $164.33 compares to $167.47 for entire-home listings, $195.72 for professionally managed properties, and $285.08 for the luxury tier. Operators who invest in professional management or luxury positioning can capture 19% to 73% premium pricing over the market average ADR.
Revenue by property type adds further context: houses average $2,334.41 per month, entire-place listings $2,249.30, and apartments $1,985.52. Year-over-year revenue growth of 6.12% with occupancy up 5.92% indicates genuine demand expansion rather than rate-driven gains. The market’s investability score of 97.53 out of 100 is among the highest in the StaySTRA dataset, while the revenue growth score of 73.49 reflects a market in a recovery and growth phase following a pullback from 2022-2023 peaks. The permit cap of 2.5% of residential structures limits new supply entry, which can provide a competitive moat for currently permitted operators.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Hattiesburg STR guests book an average of 45.43 days in advance in April 2026, with an average length of stay of 3.68 nights. The 45-day lead time is consistent with a leisure-and-university-driven market where travelers plan ahead for sports events, graduation weekends, and outdoor recreation trips rather than booking last-minute.
A 3.68-night average stay sits slightly above the typical short-term rental average, pointing to mid-week extension bookings rather than pure weekend-only demand. This is favorable for operators because longer stays reduce cleaning and turnover costs per revenue dollar. At this average length of stay, a property with 49% occupancy cycles through roughly 4 guest parties per month.
Operators looking to improve occupancy should set pricing 6 to 7 weeks out to capture the peak booking window. Dynamic pricing tools that start adjusting rates at the 45-day mark are well-aligned with this market’s booking behavior. Gaps of 1-2 nights between reservations can be closed by targeting weekend extensions or mid-week corporate-and-university travelers.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Hattiesburg adopted its first short-term rental ordinance (Ordinance No. 3376) in March 2025, effective 60 days after passage. Operating a rental under 30 days now requires a city permit.
First-year costs total approximately $250, covering a $25 application fee, $130 license fee, $50 fire inspection, $25 Certificate of Zoning Compliance, and a $20 privilege tax license. Annual renewal runs approximately $170. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements do not apply; non-owner-occupied investment properties are permitted.
The ordinance caps citywide STR permits at 2.5% of total residential structures, with a waiting list once the cap is reached. Operators must designate a local property manager residing in Forrest or Lamar County who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Occupancy limits apply (approximately 2 persons per sleeping room plus 4 per dwelling, with higher allowances for homes over 3,250 square feet).
On the tax side, Hattiesburg levies local lodging taxes of 3% (2% Tourism Commission plus 1% Parks and Recreation) on top of Mississippi’s 7% state sales tax, for an effective rate of approximately 10% on gross lodging revenue. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Properties must pass fire, health, and code inspections before receiving a permit.
Market Comparison
Nationally, the median STR market occupancy rate is approximately 55% and median ADR is around $220. Hattiesburg’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.0% and ADR of $164.33 both fall below national medians, consistent with a mid-sized Southern university city without a major resort or coastal draw. However, the market’s year-over-year occupancy growth of 5.92% and revenue growth of 6.12% outperform many stable or declining markets.
The top operator in Hattiesburg is Evolve with 97 listings and 2,440 reviews at an average rating of 4.71. OneHometown Getaways holds 86 listings with 2,503 reviews at 4.81. Absolute Charm Destinations and Stayca each manage 30 listings, with Stayca earning a notably high 4.93 average rating from 3,064 reviews. Hometown Realty rounds out the top five with 16 listings at a 4.91 rating. The top five operators collectively manage approximately 259 listings, representing roughly 7% of the market’s estimated 3,700 active listings, indicating a fragmented market without dominant concentration by any single manager.
For investors comparing markets, Hattiesburg’s low permit cap (2.5% of residential structures) and the new 2025 ordinance create a regulated but accessible entry environment for early movers who secure permits before the waiting list fills.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hattiesburg, Mississippi
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