Independence, Missouri Short-Term Rental Market
Independence, MO STRs averaged $212/night at 63.6% occupancy in April 2026 across 4,678 active listings in the Kansas City metro.
Quick Answer: Independence, Missouri is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Kansas City market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Kansas City market area is $4,115. average daily rate in the Kansas City market area is $268. the top operator in the Kansas City market area is Karat Vacation Rental Management with 100 listings. market score is 94/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Kansas City regional market, which includes Independence. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Independence.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Independence sits within the Kansas City metro and supports approximately 4,678 active short-term rental listings as of April 2026. The average daily rate was $212 that month, occupancy reached 63.6%, RevPAR was $135, and average monthly revenue per listing was $3,598.
Entire-place units dominate at 3,998 listings (85.5% of the total). Private rooms account for 675 listings (14.4%), with shared rooms negligible at five units. By bedroom count, one-bedroom properties lead at 1,586 listings, followed by two-bedrooms (1,108), three-bedrooms (1,074), four-bedrooms (561), and five or more bedrooms (345).
Platform distribution: 2,590 listings are Airbnb-exclusive (55.4%), 1,870 are dual-listed on both Airbnb and VRBO (40.0%), and 218 are VRBO-exclusive (4.7%). Airbnb is the dominant channel.
Year over year as of April 2026, occupancy rose 1.4 percentage points, ADR climbed 7.9%, and revenue per listing jumped 38.6%. The outsized revenue gain reflects in part Kansas City’s role as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host region; the city adopted temporary STR rules for June 1 through July 30, 2026 in anticipation of the demand surge.
The market composite score is 94.2 out of 100. Rental demand scores 95.2, seasonality 91.6, investability 86.1, revenue growth 65.7, and regulation 57.8. The 2025 full-year average was 64.2% occupancy, $158 ADR, and $2,885 average monthly revenue.
Independence is known as the hometown of President Harry S. Truman, with the Truman Library and Museum, reopened in 2021 after a $29 million renovation, anchoring heritage tourism year-round.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 50% |
| Feb | 56% |
| Mar | 63% |
| Apr | 60% |
| May | 65% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 61% |
| Sep | 61% |
| Oct | 62% |
| Nov | 57% |
| Dec | 58% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Independence are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kansas City market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Kansas City market as a whole, which includes Independence, so these counts are not Independence-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karat Vacation Rental Management | 100 | 9,523 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Cozy in KC | 93 | 10,800 | ★ 4.84 |
| 3 | OwlStays | 85 | 3,517 | ★ 4.54 |
| 4 | Short Term Rental Manager | 76 | 1,278 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Evolve | 59 | 2,064 | ★ 4.60 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Independence?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Independence 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 | 55.4% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 40% |
Home Value Trends (Independence)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Independence 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 Independence — 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
Independence requires short-term rental operators to obtain a permit reviewed and approved by the city’s Planning Commission. Applications are submitted via an online portal and must include an Evacuation Plan, Floor Plan, and Parking Plan, with fees paid through Stripe. The specific permit fee amount is not published on the city’s main STR page; applicants should contact the Community Development Department directly for current fee information.
A critical barrier to entry in Independence is the 500-foot spacing rule: no short-term rental may be located within 500 feet of an existing STR. Applicants must call the Community Development Department at 816-325-7823 to confirm their address qualifies before submitting an application. This rule directly limits STR density across many residential blocks.
Approved operators must collect and remit a 6.5% transient guest tax on stays of 30 nights or fewer, filed monthly with the Finance Department. No published cap on annual rental nights was identified. Owner-occupancy and primary-residence requirements are not explicitly stated for most properties, though non-owner-occupied homes and accessory dwelling units may fall under the city’s Rental Ready Program under Chapter 4 of the city code.
In November 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 7189 establishing temporary STR rules for June 1 through July 30, 2026 to manage demand from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, for which Kansas City is a host region. Enforcement is complaint-driven and handled by Business License staff through an online complaint system. The regulation score of 57.8 out of 100 reflects the discretionary Planning Commission approval process and the spacing rule.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Independence occupancy of 63.6% in April 2026 stands well above the U.S. median of approximately 55%. Its $212 average daily rate is roughly 4% below the national median of approximately $220, a modest gap consistent with Midwest pricing levels.
The market’s composite score of 94.2 out of 100 is led by rental demand (95.2) and seasonality (91.6), reflecting broad-based, year-round demand rather than a narrow event window. The regulation score of 57.8 is the lowest dimension, reflecting the discretionary Planning Commission permit process and the 500-foot spacing rule.
Market leadership is spread across local and national operators. Karat Vacation Rental Management leads with 100 listings and 9,523 reviews (4.72 average rating), representing roughly 2.1% of the 4,678-listing market. Cozy in KC holds 93 listings and the highest review count among the top operators at 10,800 reviews (4.84 rating), representing 2.0% of the market. OwlStays manages 85 listings with 3,517 reviews (4.54 rating). Together, the top three operators account for 278 listings, roughly 5.9% of total active supply. The full top five operators (adding Short Term Rental Manager at 76 listings, 4.84 rating, and Evolve at 59 listings, 4.60 rating) account for 413 listings, or 8.8% of the market, confirming a fragmented supply base.
Frequently Asked Questions About Independence, Missouri
How many active short-term rental listings are there in Independence, MO?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Independence, MO?
What is the typical occupancy rate in Independence, MO?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Independence, MO?
What tax do Independence, MO STR operators collect?
How does the 2026 FIFA World Cup affect the Independence, MO STR market?
What is the annual revenue potential for an Independence, MO STR?
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