El Prado, New Mexico Short-Term Rental Market
Taos County caps STR permits at 400; September 2026 ADR $245, occupancy 46.4%, revenue $3,132 monthly.
Quick Answer: El Prado, New Mexico is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Taos market area is 46%. average monthly revenue in the Taos market area is $3,132. average daily rate in the Taos market area is $245. the top operator in the Taos market area is Vacasa with 239 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Taos regional market, which includes El Prado. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to El Prado.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers the Taos County STR market around El Prado, an unincorporated community immediately north of the Town of Taos. Performance figures reflect the wider Taos County area, so the numbers describe the county market rather than El Prado alone. In September 2026 the average daily rate was $245, occupancy was 46.4%, and average monthly revenue per listing was $3,132. Entire homes averaged $249 per night. Year over year, occupancy rose 8.3%, ADR rose 4.2%, and revenue rose 1.7%, which suggests demand recovered faster than pricing power in the latest comparison. Annualized across the seasonal pattern, a typical listing generates about $36,653 per year.
Demand is tied to the Taos tourism economy. The greater Taos area draws over one million visitor trips annually, with peak season reaching roughly 15,000 visitors per day. Winter skiers head to Taos Ski Valley, which averages about 300 inches of snow, while art and culture travelers visit galleries, the Millicent Rogers Museum, and Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Outdoor travelers add summer and fall demand through the Rio Grande Gorge, hiking, and rafting. Visitor trips dipped about 7.1% in 2024 after a strong prior period, so the market is not immune to softness.
Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts, along with top operator names, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for El Prado, so this profile omits them. Over the longer run, annual occupancy peaked at 56.4% in 2021 and has eased to 46.7% in 2026 year to date, while ADR climbed from $233 to $277 over the same span.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 42% |
| Feb | 54% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 27% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 57% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 53% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 57% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for El Prado are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Taos market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Taos market as a whole, which includes El Prado, so these counts are not El Prado-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 239 | 7,221 | ★ 4.38 |
| 2 | Evolve | 186 | 7,989 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | Resort Properties | 148 | 1,996 | ★ 4.66 |
| 4 | M Vacation | 142 | 3,424 | ★ 4.56 |
| 5 | Abode Vacation | 93 | 4,053 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in El Prado?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for El Prado 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 | 27.9% |
| vrbo | 9.9% |
| both | 62.2% |
Home Value Trends (El Prado)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for El Prado 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 El Prado — 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
Taos County caps short-term rental permits at 400 countywide, and that cap is the first thing to understand before buying in El Prado. El Prado is unincorporated, so it falls under Taos County Short-Term Rental Ordinance 2024-4, adopted August 20, 2024 and effective October 19, 2024. Short-term rentals are permitted, and a permit is mandatory.
There are two tiers. Owner-occupied rentals, where the owner lives on the property at least 275 days per year, pay a $400 permit fee. Non-owner-occupied rentals pay $900. The county does not require owner occupancy or primary residence for the non-owner tier. Several categories are exempt from the cap: properties with an existing home occupation permit, owners who have lived in the county 10 or more years, and owners who qualify for an affordable-housing exemption by leasing a separate long-term unit at an affordable rate. Zone-by-zone density limits were still being finalized during implementation.
Guests pay a 5% county lodgers tax on stays of 29 nights or fewer, which Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit. The county committed to dedicated code enforcement officers with authority to issue and revoke permits and cite violators, and complaints can be filed by phone or an online portal. Enforcement is rated moderate. Properties inside incorporated municipalities such as the Town of Taos follow their own rules. Verify cap availability before purchasing.
Market Comparison
The Taos County market shows a split profile. Occupancy was 46.4% in September 2026 while the ADR was $245, so rate is carrying the market more than volume.
The pattern holds over time. Annual occupancy has slid from 56.4% in 2021 to 46.7% in 2026 year to date, while ADR has risen from $233 to $277. The most recent year over year reading is more encouraging, with occupancy up 8.3% and ADR up 4.2%.
Premium tiers widen the rate advantage: professionally managed listings at $291 are about 18.7% above the all-listings ADR, and luxury listings at $405 are about 65.3% above it. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for El Prado, so this profile omits them. For investors, the draw is a high-rate destination market with a permit cap that limits new supply, balanced against occupancy below 50%.
Frequently Asked Questions About El Prado, New Mexico
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