Dayton, Ohio Short-Term Rental Market
Dayton STRs averaged $129/night at 64.9% occupancy in April 2026 across 1,381 active listings.
Quick Answer: Dayton, Ohio is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 65%. average monthly revenue is $2,288. average daily rate is $129. the top operator is Evolve with 29 listings. market score is 97/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Dayton, Ohio’s short-term rental market encompasses 1,381 active listings as of April 2026, making it a mid-sized market with broad inventory depth. The average daily rate stood at $129 in April 2026, with occupancy at 64.9% and RevPAR of $83.82. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 3.7 percentage points, ADR held essentially flat at +0.2%, and average monthly revenue grew 7.8% — a signal of demand-side strength rather than rate-led growth.
The listing mix tilts heavily toward entire-place rentals, which account for 1,202 of the 1,381 total listings (87%). Private rooms contribute 179 listings. Bedroom distribution is broadest at the 1-bedroom tier (514 listings), followed by 2-bedroom (387), 3-bedroom (326), 4-bedroom (106), and 5-bedroom (48). Airbnb dominates channel distribution with 885 Airbnb-only listings; an additional 457 properties list on both platforms. VRBO-only inventory is thin at 40 listings.
Market scores from the latest snapshot indicate strong investment fundamentals: investability scores 99.1 out of 100, rental demand scores 97.9, and total score reaches 96.5. Seasonality is also well-rated at 92.2, suggesting relatively consistent year-round demand. The two softer signals are revenue growth (54.8) and regulation (61.3), reflecting moderate growth trajectory and the city’s evolving regulatory posture.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | $87 | $1,331 |
| Feb | 60% | $90 | $1,396 |
| Mar | 63% | $96 | $1,668 |
| Apr | 64% | $104 | $1,783 |
| May | 64% | $106 | $1,899 |
| Jun | 70% | $107 | $2,049 |
| Jul | 72% | $105 | $2,137 |
| Aug | 68% | $104 | $2,029 |
| Sep | 63% | $103 | $1,718 |
| Oct | 62% | $105 | $1,850 |
| Nov | 58% | $99 | $1,622 |
| Dec | 57% | $98 | $1,616 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Dayton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 29 | 687 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | JlawFoundations | 15 | 1,948 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | Sadie Group | 10 | 880 | ★ 4.94 |
| 4 | Landing, Inc. | 10 | 14 | ★ 3.40 |
| 5 | Crew Housing | 7 | 100 | ★ 4.95 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Dayton?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 514 |
| 2 bed | 387 |
| 3 bed | 326 |
| 4 bed | 106 |
| 5 bed | 48 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $141 |
| Luxury | $206 |
| Professionally Managed | $174 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,741 |
| Entire Place | $2,490 |
| House | $2,608 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 64% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 33.1% |
Investment Analysis
Dayton’s combination of very low acquisition costs and solid STR revenue makes it one of the more accessible entry points for STR investors in the Midwest. The April 2026 housing snapshot shows a typical home value of $138,867 and a median sale price of $147,333, with median list prices at $153,267. Homes go pending in a median of 13 days, and properties sell at 96.1% of list price, suggesting a competitive but not frenzied market with 571 homes for sale.
At an average monthly revenue of $2,288 in April 2026, annualized revenue projects to approximately $27,450. This reflects April specifically; the seasonal peak months (June through August) average $2,000 to $2,137 per month, and the trough months (January through February) average $1,331 to $1,396. Against a $138,867 median home value, even a conservative full-year revenue estimate represents a meaningful gross return.
Tier differentiation is meaningful: all-listings ADR averages $129, while entire-home listings average $141, professionally managed properties average $174, and luxury-tier listings average $206 per night. Operators able to position in the premium tier capture 59% more per night than the all-listings baseline. Revenue by property type shows houses averaging $2,608/month and entire-place listings averaging $2,490/month, versus apartments at $1,741/month.
The YoY revenue growth of 7.8% over the past year, combined with occupancy improvement of 3.7 percentage points, points to underlying demand growth. Market investability scores 99.1 out of 100.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Dayton STR guests book an average of 47 days in advance as of April 2026. This mid-range lead time suggests a mix of planners and shorter-window bookers, and supports a pricing strategy that holds rates firm through roughly 6 weeks out before applying last-minute fill pricing. Hosts who discount aggressively early may leave money on the table when occupancy at 64.9% indicates the market absorbs inventory at reasonable rates.
Average length of stay is 4.9 nights. This sits above the typical 2-3 night weekend trip profile, indicating that Dayton attracts a meaningful share of extended-stay guests, likely including corporate travelers, military personnel connected to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and longer leisure visits. Stays in the 4 to 7 night range reduce turnover costs and cleaning frequency relative to high-churn weekend-only markets, which has positive implications for net operating margins. A minimum-night policy of 3 to 4 nights would align well with the market’s booking profile without materially reducing demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
As of mid-2026, the City of Dayton does not operate a formal short-term rental licensing or registration program. The city’s official STR page states it ‘currently does not have a system in place to register or regulate STRs’ and handles complaints on a case-by-case basis. STRs are defined as overnight lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
In June 2023, Dayton contracted Avenu STR IP LLC to identify and map active STR addresses and assess concentration patterns. The city has signaled that future steps ‘may include host compliance monitoring, implementing a registration process, and the adoption of regulations,’ so the regulatory picture is likely to tighten over the medium term.
Operators are still subject to general municipal requirements: a City of Dayton business registration and compliance with local transient lodging tax. A 3% local occupancy tax applies (Montgomery County hotel/motel tax), in addition to Ohio’s 6% state accommodations tax. Airbnb and VRBO may remit some of these taxes automatically on behalf of hosts.
There is currently no published cap on nights per year, no official owner-occupancy mandate, and no primary-residence requirement per the city’s own documentation. Some third-party guides claim otherwise, but those claims are not corroborated by official city sources. Enforcement severity is rated minimal. Operators should verify current requirements directly with the City of Dayton Planning office before listing.
Market Comparison
Dayton occupancy of 64.9% in April 2026 runs above the US STR median of approximately 55%, a notable outperformance for a secondary Midwest market. ADR at $129 sits below the US median of approximately $220, which is consistent with Dayton’s lower cost of living and housing cost base — but also signals potential rate upside as demand continues to grow. RevPAR at $83.82 is below national medians but competitive given the market’s entry cost.
The operator landscape is fragmented, which is characteristic of a market without dominant institutional players. Evolve leads with 29 listings and 687 reviews (rating 4.36 out of 5). JlawFoundations holds 15 listings with a strong 4.85 rating across 1,948 reviews. Sadie Group manages 10 listings with a 4.94 rating and 880 reviews, the highest-rated operator in the market. Together, the top three operators account for 54 of 1,381 total listings, representing less than 4% market concentration — the market is dominated by independent operators.
The market’s total score of 96.5 and investability of 99.1 place Dayton at the high end of secondary-market benchmarks. Revenue growth scores 54.8, reflecting a market in steady rather than rapid expansion mode, with year-over-year revenue up 7.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dayton, Ohio
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