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 48%. average monthly revenue in the Mississippi Area market area is $2,067. average daily rate in the Mississippi Area market area is $149. 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 46% |
| Mar | 51% |
| Apr | 48% |
| May | 46% |
| Jun | 49% |
| Jul | 49% |
| Aug | 44% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 44% |
| Nov | 43% |
| Dec | 39% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Hattiesburg are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Hattiesburg 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 | 59.5% |
| vrbo | 6.1% |
| both | 34.4% |
Home Value Trends (Hattiesburg)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg — 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
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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