Schenectady, New York Short-Term Rental Market
Schenectady, NY STRs averaged $288/night at 55.9% occupancy in June 2026; city and county both require registration.
Quick Answer: Schenectady, New York is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Albany/Saratoga Springs market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Albany/Saratoga Springs market area is $4,038. average daily rate in the Albany/Saratoga Springs market area is $288. the top operator in the Albany/Saratoga Springs market area is Evolve with 73 listings. market score is 41/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Albany/Saratoga Springs regional market, which includes Schenectady. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Schenectady.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Schenectady requires layered city and county compliance for short-term rentals. At the city level, most rental dwellings must register with the Building Department and pass a rental inspection (roughly a $50 fee) before renting; single-family homes and owner-occupied two-family homes are typically exempt from registration. At the county level, all STRs must register with the Schenectady County Finance Department and obtain a Certificate of Authority to collect the county’s 5% Hotel/Motel Room Occupancy Tax, which has covered Airbnb/VRBO-style rentals since 2018; the county launched a new online registry and payment portal in May 2026. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate and no fixed annual night cap.
Schenectady sits in New York’s Capital Region on the Mohawk River, population 69,495, drawing regional leisure visitors, casino gamblers at Rivers Casino & Resort, theatergoers at Proctors Theatre, and business travelers.
StaySTRA tracks Schenectady’s ADR, occupancy, and revenue at a shared regional level with Troy, Ballston Spa, and Queensbury, so the figures below describe the eastern New York area STR market. In June 2026, that area STR market posted a blended ADR of $288.49 and 55.9% occupancy, with average monthly revenue of $4,038/listing. Occupancy is up 3.99 percentage points and revenue is up 8.59% year over year, while ADR is down 14.47%.
One note on the annual data below: the 2026 row is a January-through-June average, before this market’s July-August peak, so it understates what a full-year 2026 average will likely show once summer is included. Bedroom mix, listing-type breakdown, and the top-property-manager list are tracked at the same shared regional level rather than uniquely for Schenectady, so this profile omits those breakdowns.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 43% |
| Feb | 52% |
| Mar | 48% |
| Apr | 53% |
| May | 55% |
| Jun | 57% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 49% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Schenectady are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Albany/Saratoga Springs market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Albany/Saratoga Springs market as a whole, which includes Schenectady, so these counts are not Schenectady-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 73 | 1,822 | ★ 4.61 |
| 2 | Enlightened Habitat | 26 | 2,165 | ★ 4.80 |
| 3 | Luxe Rentals | 20 | 1,561 | ★ 4.56 |
| 4 | Saratoga Stays | 18 | 386 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Archer Casten | 17 | 509 | ★ 4.29 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Schenectady?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Schenectady 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 | 60.9% |
| vrbo | 5.1% |
| both | 34% |
Home Value Trends (Schenectady)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Schenectady 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 Schenectady — 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 legal in Schenectady but face layered city and county requirements. At the city level, most rental dwellings must register with the Schenectady Building Department and pass a rental inspection (roughly a $50 fee) to obtain a rental certificate before being rented; single-family and owner-occupied two-family homes are typically exempt from registration. City code enforcement is reported to be active, with meaningful penalties for non-compliance.
At the county level, all short-term residential rentals (under 30 consecutive days) must register with the Schenectady County Finance Department and obtain a Certificate of Authority to collect the county’s 5% Hotel/Motel Room Occupancy Tax, which has explicitly covered Airbnb/VRBO-style rentals since 2018. The tax is remitted monthly, due the 20th of the following month; the county launched a new online registry and payment portal in May 2026. Operators must also collect New York State and local sales tax (roughly 4% state plus applicable local).
Schenectady does not impose a citywide owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate, and there is no fixed annual night cap, though hosts should confirm zoning eligibility for their specific parcel. Enforcement is rated strict.
Market Comparison
This eastern New York area STR market’s June 2026 occupancy of 55.9% runs about level with the commonly cited US STR median of roughly 55%, while its $288.49 blended ADR is well above the roughly $220 US median; its luxury tier ($686.74) is more than three times the national ADR benchmark.
Top-property-manager data is not currently published uniquely for Schenectady in this snapshot (tracked at a shared regional level with Troy, Ballston Spa, and Queensbury instead), so this profile omits a named-operator comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions About Schenectady, New York
Does Schenectady, NY require a short-term rental permit?
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in Schenectady, NY?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Schenectady?
Does Schenectady require owner-occupancy for short-term rentals?
When is the busiest season for short-term rentals in Schenectady?
What is the gross yield on a Schenectady short-term rental?
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