Durham, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Durham, NC STRs averaged $160 ADR at 63.5% occupancy in April 2026, with occupancy up 9.1% year-over-year across roughly 7,900 active listings.
Quick Answer: Durham, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Raleigh/Durham market area is 67%. average monthly revenue in the Raleigh/Durham market area is $2,964. average daily rate in the Raleigh/Durham market area is $159. the top operator in the Raleigh/Durham market area is Evolve with 106 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Raleigh/Durham regional market, which includes Durham. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Durham.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Durham is a city of 301,877 residents and one of the three corners of North Carolina’s Research Triangle, alongside Raleigh and Chapel Hill. Durham County drew 13.5 million visitors in 2025, generating over $1 billion in visitor spending. Demand is anchored by Duke University, the Durham Bulls baseball club, Research Triangle Park (one of the largest research parks in the US), a nationally recognized food and restaurant scene, and major arts venues including the Durham Performing Arts Center.
The STR market encompasses approximately 7,922 active listings. Entire-place units account for the majority at 6,456, with private rooms adding 1,470 and shared rooms 21. The bedroom distribution skews toward 1-bedrooms at 3,077 listings, followed by 3-bedrooms (1,991), 2-bedrooms (1,874), 4-bedrooms (729), and 5-bedrooms (251). Channel distribution is Airbnb-dominated: 4,858 listings are Airbnb-only, 2,714 are on both platforms, and only 375 are VRBO-only, reflecting Durham’s urban character and younger traveler demographic.
In April 2026, Durham STRs averaged $160 per night at 63.5% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $101 and average monthly revenue of $2,783. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 9.1% and revenue grew 9.0%, while ADR was essentially flat at -0.2%. The overall market score is 87.6 out of 100, with rental demand scoring 92.1 and seasonality at 94.2, two of the highest sub-scores in this market batch.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 63% |
| Mar | 65% |
| Apr | 63% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 68% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 65% |
| Oct | 68% |
| Nov | 64% |
| Dec | 59% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Durham are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Raleigh/Durham market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Raleigh/Durham market as a whole, which includes Durham, so these counts are not Durham-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 106 | 3,065 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Coveted Hospitality | 99 | 1,152 | ★ 4.18 |
| 3 | Landing | 91 | 10 | ★ 3.72 |
| 4 | Landing, Inc. | 74 | 174 | ★ 4.55 |
| 5 | Triangle short term rentals | 69 | 1,400 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Durham?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Durham 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 | 61.1% |
| vrbo | 4.7% |
| both | 34.2% |
Home Value Trends (Durham)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Durham 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 Durham — 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
Durham’s short-term rental regulatory status is partially unresolved in primary sources as of mid-2026, and investors should verify requirements directly before operating.
The clearly confirmed obligation is tax: Durham County levies a 6% room occupancy tax on rentals of fewer than 90 days, in addition to North Carolina state and local sales taxes (approximately 4.75% state rate plus applicable local). Major booking platforms including Airbnb collect and remit the 6% county occupancy tax on hosts’ behalf, but hosts generally remain responsible for sales tax registration with the NCDOR.
On permitting: Durham’s Unified Development Ordinance does not contain a distinct short-term rental accessory-use category. Multiple 2026 host-guidance sources describe an annual Durham STR registration with the City Clerk, commonly cited at $200 per year for properties with 2 or fewer units and $400 per year for 3 or more units. Some sources also describe a Special Use Permit requirement and owner-occupancy distinctions for residential zones. These requirements could not be confirmed in primary Durham UDO or ordinance text. The correct status is uncertain rather than a definitive absence of any requirement.
Properties must meet Durham’s minimum housing code, including working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and safe electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems. General occupancy is limited to no more than three unrelated persons per dwelling unit.
Investors should contact the Durham Planning Department and the City Clerk/Business Licensing directly to confirm current registration and permit requirements before listing. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Durham’s April 2026 ADR of $160 is below the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting a budget-to-mid-range urban market positioning rather than a premium destination. Occupancy at 63.5% is above the US STR median of approximately 55%, supported by the strong institutional demand from Duke University and Research Triangle Park.
The market’s total score of 87.6 is among the highest in this analysis batch. The rental demand score of 92.1 and seasonality score of 94.2 place Durham in the top tier for consistent, year-round demand. The revenue growth score of 66.0 and investability of 64.8 are moderate, reflecting the lower absolute ADR and price-sensitive guest base relative to larger metros.
The professional management segment in Durham is fragmented and smaller than comparable cities. Evolve leads with 106 listings and 3,065 reviews at a 4.52 average rating. Coveted Hospitality manages 99 properties with 1,152 reviews at a 4.18 rating. Landing operates 91 listings (10 reviews, 3.72 rating), while Landing, Inc. holds 74 listings with 174 reviews at a 4.55 rating. Triangle Short Term Rentals rounds out the top five with 69 listings at a strong 4.78 average rating. The top 5 operators together account for 439 listings, roughly 5.5% of total active inventory, indicating a highly fragmented market where independent hosts dominate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Durham, North Carolina
What is the average nightly rate for Durham, NC short-term rentals?
How much can a Durham short-term rental earn per month?
How seasonal is the Durham short-term rental market?
Do I need a permit to operate a short-term rental in Durham, NC?
What drives short-term rental demand in Durham, NC?
What is the occupancy tax rate for Durham short-term rentals?
Who are the top short-term rental operators in Durham, NC?
Analyze Durham Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Durham.
Free Durham STR Calculator →
