Durham, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Triangle region short-term rentals averaged $153 ADR, 61.2% occupancy and $2,596 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Durham, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Raleigh/Durham market area is 61%. average monthly revenue in the Raleigh/Durham market area is $2,596. average daily rate in the Raleigh/Durham market area is $153. 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 short-term rental performance in September 2026 is measured at the level of the Raleigh-Durham Triangle STR market. The same metric series covers Durham and surrounding communities in the Triangle region of North Carolina, so every performance figure below describes that region rather than Durham alone. In September 2026 the Triangle STR market averaged an all-listings ADR of $153 and occupancy of 61.2%, producing average monthly revenue of $2,596 per listing. Year over year, occupancy rose 1.7%, ADR rose 2.9% and revenue rose 6.1%, so the revenue gain came mostly from price with a smaller lift from occupancy. Entire-home listings earned an ADR of $169, above the all-listings average, which includes private rooms. The seasonal sum of monthly revenue is $25,036 per year. Annual occupancy has held near 62% since 2023 (61.2% in 2023, 62.0% in 2024, 61.3% in 2025, 62.3% so far in 2026), while ADR has climbed from $137 in 2023 to $153 in 2026 year to date. Bedroom, channel, and listing-type counts and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Durham, so this profile omits them. Durham itself has a population of 301,877 and Durham County drew a record 13.5 million visitors in 2025, about 2% more than the year before, generating over $1 billion in visitor spending. Demand is tied to Duke University, the Durham Bulls, Research Triangle Park business travel, the restaurant scene and venues such as the Durham Performing Arts Center. The visitor count includes day visitors and excludes commuters, so it is a demand indicator, not a count of overnight guests.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 55% |
| Feb | 63% |
| Mar | 65% |
| Apr | 63% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 68% |
| Jul | 69% |
| 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Durham, but the licensing picture is not fully settled, and enforcement severity is rated moderate. The best confirmed obligation is tax. Durham County levies a 6% room occupancy tax on accommodations rented for fewer than 90 days, on top of state and local sales tax (about 4.75% state plus local). Airbnb collects and remits the 6% county occupancy tax for hosts, but hosts generally remain responsible for sales tax registration with the state. On permits, sources conflict. Some summaries say Durham requires no special license. Several 2026 host guides describe an annual city registration with the City Clerk, commonly cited at $200 per year for two or fewer units and $400 for three or more, and at least one cites a Special Use Permit through the Planning Department. None of this could be confirmed in the Unified Development Ordinance, so the status should be treated as uncertain, not as no permit required. Rentals must be in residentially zoned or permitted areas and generally follow the same zoning rules as other dwellings, and the UDO has no dedicated short-term rental category. Occupancy is limited to no more than three unrelated individuals per dwelling unit, and properties must meet the minimum housing code, including working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Confirm current requirements with Durham Planning and the City Clerk before buying or listing.
Market Comparison
The Triangle STR market that includes Durham showed occupancy of 61.2% and an all-listings ADR of $153 in September 2026. Entire homes reached $169, professionally managed listings $167 and luxury listings $241. The growth trend is healthy: revenue up 6.1% and ADR up 2.9% year over year. Durham adds a diverse demand base from a university, a professional baseball team, a performing arts center and a research park. Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Durham, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Durham, North Carolina
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