Laurelville, Ohio Short-Term Rental Market
Laurelville, OH STRs averaged $331/night at 49.8% occupancy in April 2026, with a perfect 100/100 investability score.
Quick Answer: Laurelville, Ohio is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 60%. average monthly revenue is $6,864. average daily rate is $402. the top operator is Book Hocking with 285 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Hocking Hills regional market, which includes Laurelville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Laurelville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Laurelville is a village of 509 residents that serves as a gateway to Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio’s most-visited state park system featuring Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs, and Rock House. The STR market recorded a $330.95 ADR and 49.8% occupancy in April 2026, generating $4,655 in average monthly revenue. Year-over-year, occupancy grew 3.20% and ADR rose 0.90%, with revenue showing a slight 2.12% decline reflecting comparison-period effects.
Entire-place listings make up approximately 98.7% of all inventory, with private rooms at 1.3% and no shared rooms. One-bedroom configurations are the most common at 31.2% of inventory, followed by two-bedroom (25.7%), three-bedroom (21.3%), five-bedroom-plus (10.9%), and four-bedroom (10.8%). The channel breakdown is notable: the plurality of listings (65.3%) cross-list on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously, with 22.9% exclusively on Airbnb and 11.7% exclusively on VRBO, reflecting the Hocking Hills cabin market’s strong VRBO tradition alongside Airbnb growth.
The market scores are exceptional. Investability reaches a perfect 100 out of 100, the highest possible rating. Rental demand scores 94.62 and the total market score is 91.74. These scores reflect the consistent high demand for Hocking Hills cabin accommodations driven by proximity to Ohio’s flagship nature destination. The market draws from the Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and greater Midwest day-drive radius, generating year-round weekend getaway demand. Revenue growth scores 51.65, reflecting a stable rather than rapidly growing rate environment, but the ADR trend from $213/night in 2017 to $360/night in 2025 shows sustained long-term rate appreciation.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $276 | $2,857 |
| Feb | 39% | $278 | $2,801 |
| Mar | 52% | $282 | $4,042 |
| Apr | 50% | $285 | $3,956 |
| May | 50% | $305 | $4,244 |
| Jun | 60% | $329 | $5,413 |
| Jul | 66% | $306 | $5,640 |
| Aug | 60% | $300 | $5,135 |
| Sep | 54% | $291 | $4,234 |
| Oct | 62% | $294 | $5,133 |
| Nov | 52% | $290 | $4,166 |
| Dec | 44% | $291 | $3,683 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Laurelville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Book Hocking | 285 | 19,286 | ★ 4.80 |
| 2 | Chalets in Hocking Hills | 51 | 6,462 | ★ 4.81 |
| 3 | Glamping Hub International | 42 | 637 | ★ 4.89 |
| 4 | 1st Choice Cabin Rentals | 42 | 5,259 | ★ 4.45 |
| 5 | Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls | 41 | 635 | ★ 4.78 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Laurelville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 780 |
| 2 bed | 644 |
| 3 bed | 534 |
| 4 bed | 271 |
| 5 bed | 274 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $401 |
| Luxury | $653 |
| Professionally Managed | $425 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,121 |
| Entire Place | $6,866 |
| House | $7,177 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 22.9% |
| vrbo | 11.7% |
| both | 65.3% |
Investment Analysis
At the April 2026 snapshot, Laurelville STRs generate an average of $4,655/month across all listing types. Using the 2025 full-year average of $5,243/month as a more reliable baseline, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $62,916 per listing. Housing price data for Laurelville is not available in the current dataset, so a gross yield calculation cannot be computed. Only 12 units were listed for sale in April 2026, indicating extremely limited inventory turnover in this rural cabin market.
Tier analysis shows the luxury tier averaging $520/night, 1.57x the market-wide $331. The professionally managed tier averages $336/night, essentially at par with the all-listings average. Entire homes average $331/night, also nearly identical to the market average, reflecting the fact that 98.7% of inventory is already entire-place. This pattern indicates a market where the property itself (cabin design, location, amenities) drives rate positioning more than management tier.
Revenue trend shows consistent ADR-led growth: 2022 averaged $4,407/month at $286 ADR, rising to $4,612 in 2023 at $312, $5,103 in 2024 at $346, and $5,243 in 2025 at $360 ADR. Revenue grew 19% from 2022 to 2025 while occupancy declined from 55.1% to 50.4%, confirming that the market is accepting higher rates without fully replenishing lost occupancy.
The perfect investability score of 100 out of 100 signals that this market’s combination of demand consistency, rate trajectory, and limited supply of permitted properties creates a favorable risk profile for investors who can acquire established cabin properties with existing bookings history.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Booking Insights
Laurelville STRs show an average booking lead time of 45.5 days (approximately 6-7 weeks) and an average length of stay of 2.57 nights as of April 2026.
The 2.57-night average stay is the shortest in this batch of markets and reflects the Hocking Hills cabin market’s weekend-getaway character. Most guests arrive Friday or Saturday and leave Sunday or Monday, making 2-night stays the dominant booking pattern. At 2.57 nights per stay, turnovers run approximately 12 times per month (30 days divided by 2.57 nights), which is the highest operational frequency of any market in this group.
Frequent turnover significantly affects net economics. Cleaning, linens, and restocking costs that would be incurred 4-5 times per month in a longer-stay market occur roughly 12 times per month here. Operators who underestimate cleaning costs relative to revenue will find their net margins compressed despite strong gross revenue figures. Cleaning fees structured to cover actual labor costs are essential in this market.
The 45-day lead window gives operators a reasonable pricing runway for peak weekends. Summer and fall foliage weekends (July, October) should be priced at a premium from 60-90 days out. Last-minute weekend discounting in the 0-14 day window can fill mid-week gaps without cannibalizing high-demand weekend rates.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are currently permitted in Laurelville and the surrounding Hocking Hills area with no enacted local permit requirement. The primary current obligation for operators is the Hocking County lodging (bed) tax of 6% (3% county plus 3% township), which applies to Airbnb, VRBO, and all other stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days. Operators must register with the Hocking County Lodging Tax Administrator and remit monthly. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on rental nights. Enforcement is minimal and currently focused on tax compliance.
However, a significant regulatory change is pending. Hocking County’s Regional Planning and Zoning Commission has circulated a draft countywide STR ordinance (most recent version dated January 29, 2026) that is not yet enacted as of mid-2026. If adopted, the proposed requirements would include: a $50 annual permit from the Regional Planning Office; a pre-permit third-party inspection (cost passed to applicant); $1,000,000 liability insurance; a BCI background check for the applicant; a 24/7 local contact able to be on-site within approximately 60 minutes; parking of at least one space per four guests; two egress points per sleeping area; specific bunk-bed clearances; landscaping buffers within 200 feet of neighboring properties; and reflective address placards. The draft defines an STR as a dwelling rented for 29 or fewer consecutive days and sets an 18-hour minimum rental period and an 18-year minimum renter age. If enacted, owners would have one year (plus a possible six-month extension) to come into compliance before enforcement begins.
Investors should monitor the Hocking County Regional Planning Commission for ordinance adoption status. Confirm current requirements with the Laurelville Mayor’s office (740-332-6735) for village-specific zoning, which may differ from county regulations.
Market Comparison
Compared to national STR benchmarks, Laurelville’s April 2026 occupancy of 49.8% falls below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s spring shoulder period and weekend-stay pattern. The national median ADR is approximately $220; Laurelville’s $331 exceeds it by 50%, placing this market firmly in the premium cabin tier despite being a rural Ohio destination.
The management landscape is dominated by specialized regional operators. Book Hocking leads the market with 285 listings and 19,286 reviews at a 4.80 average rating, an exceptional review volume for a regional operator that confirms its dominant position. Chalets in Hocking Hills manages 51 listings with 6,462 reviews at 4.81. Glamping Hub International holds 42 listings (4.89 rating, 637 reviews). 1st Choice Cabin Rentals operates 42 listings with 5,259 reviews and a 4.45 rating. Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls manages 41 listings (4.78 rating, 635 reviews).
Book Hocking’s 19,286 reviews across 285 listings (average 67.7 reviews per listing) reflect a mature, high-volume operation with deep market penetration. The presence of Glamping Hub International alongside traditional cabin operators indicates the market has attracted interest from alternative accommodation platforms.
The total market score of 91.74 and investability score of 100 are the strongest composite readings in this batch of markets. The regulation score of 76.31 reflects the currently favorable (minimal permit) environment, though this may change if the pending county draft ordinance is enacted. Rental demand at 94.62 confirms the strong and consistent visitor pull of the Hocking Hills region.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laurelville, Ohio
What is the average daily rate for Hocking Hills area STRs near Laurelville?
Do I need a permit to operate a cabin rental in Laurelville?
Which months are strongest for Laurelville STR revenue?
What is the average monthly revenue for a Laurelville cabin rental?
What is the investability score for the Hocking Hills market?
Who are the top property managers in the Hocking Hills market?
How short is the typical stay in a Hocking Hills cabin?
Analyze Laurelville Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Laurelville.
Free Laurelville STR Calculator →
