Lincoln, Nebraska Short-Term Rental Market
Lincoln short-term rentals averaged $180 ADR, 59.3% occupancy and $3,037 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Lincoln, Nebraska is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $3,037. average daily rate is $180. the top operator in Lincoln is Evolve with 11 listings. market score is 91/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lincoln, Nebraska is the state capital and home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a population of 300,619. As of September 2026, the Lincoln STR market averaged an average daily rate (ADR) of $180, occupancy of 59.3% and revenue of $3,037 per listing for the month. Year over year, occupancy rose 3.9%, ADR rose 1.5% and revenue rose 11.9%, so growth is coming mostly from more nights booked rather than from rate increases.
The Lincoln area STR market tracks 649 listings. Entire places make up 574 of them and private rooms make up 75, so roughly 88% of supply is whole-home inventory. By bedroom count, the market includes 187 one-bedroom listings, 181 two-bedroom listings, 133 three-bedroom listings, 101 four-bedroom listings and 46 five-bedroom listings. Small units dominate, but there is a meaningful base of larger homes suited to groups traveling for football weekends and graduation events.
By channel, 387 listings are on Airbnb only, 31 are on Vrbo only and 231 are listed on both platforms. That makes Airbnb the primary booking channel, with a large group of hosts distributing across both.
Demand is anchored by Cornhuskers football at Memorial Stadium, state government activity at the Nebraska State Capitol, university events and drive-in guests from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Annual visitor counts for Lincoln alone are not published, though Nebraska as a whole drew roughly 20 million visitors in 2023. Calendar 2026 is tracking ahead of last year, with year to date occupancy of 60% and ADR of $147, compared with 55.8% and $144 for all of 2025. Lincoln requires a city license for every STR unit, covered in the regulatory section below.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 45% |
| Feb | 54% |
| Mar | 57% |
| Apr | 58% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 68% |
| Jul | 71% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 57% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 51% |
| Dec | 48% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Lincoln are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lincoln
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 11 | 225 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Leavetown | 6 | 0 | ★ 0.00 |
| 3 | Ava And Team | 3 | 103 | ★ 4.70 |
| 4 | Traverse | 3 | 17 | ★ 3.90 |
| 5 | Hosteeva | 2 | 22 | ★ 4.30 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lincoln?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Lincoln 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 | 59.6% |
| vrbo | 4.8% |
| both | 35.6% |
Home Value Trends (Lincoln)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Lincoln 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 Lincoln — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Lincoln under regulations effective June 14, 2021 (Ordinance 21075, Lincoln Municipal Code chapter 5.39). An STR is any residential dwelling rented for 30 or fewer consecutive days. Enforcement is rated strict, and the city uses a third-party monitoring firm to identify unlicensed rentals and issue violations.
Every STR unit needs its own Short-Term Rental License from the City of Lincoln. The license costs $250 and renews annually. Applications require proof of ownership, a floor plan and agreement to occupancy and safety standards. Occupancy is capped by the number and size of bedrooms.
Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required. An owner-residency mandate was proposed but dropped before adoption and replaced with a spacing approach. STRs are allowed in many zoning districts but are regulated by district. In low-density residential zones, licensed properties must meet buffer and spacing requirements, and a 5-year sunset clause applies, after which no new STR licenses are issued in those areas.
On taxes, Lincoln levies a 4% city STR occupation tax, remitted monthly through the Host Compliance/Granicus portal by the 25th. Other taxes include Nebraska state sales tax of 5.5%, Lincoln city sales tax of 1.75%, state lodging tax of 1% and Lancaster County lodging tax of 4%. The combined burden on STR stays is well above 16%. Airbnb and Vrbo typically collect state-administered taxes but may not remit the locally administered city occupation tax, which leaves that obligation with the host. No major rule changes were found in the last 24 months. Investors should confirm zoning and spacing eligibility before buying.
Market Comparison
Lincoln is a university and government city where demand is steady but nightly prices are moderate. September 2026 occupancy was 59.3% and the ADR was $180.
The typical home value is $297,539, and the seasonal-sum gross yield of 7.5% reflects the balance of rate, occupancy and purchase price. Luxury listings at $329 ADR and professionally managed listings at $250 ADR sit well above the $180 market average, so operators who position properties at the top of the market can outperform on rate.
Growth is also a point of difference. Revenue is up 11.9% year over year, supported by a 3.9% gain in occupancy. The market score data rates rental demand at 93.6, seasonality at 85.0, investability at 81.8 and regulation at 72.1, for a total score of 90.6.
Among tracked operators, Evolve leads with 11 listings, followed by Leavetown with 6 and Ava And Team and Traverse with 3 each. Hosteeva has 2. The market is fragmented, with no single operator controlling a large share of 649 listings, so independent hosts can compete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lincoln, Nebraska
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Do I need a license to run an Airbnb in Lincoln, Nebraska?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Lincoln?
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