Joseph, Oregon Short-Term Rental Market
Joseph OR STRs averaged $174/night at 45.7% occupancy in April 2026 across 6,310 active listings.
Quick Answer: Joseph, Oregon is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Oregon Area market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the Oregon Area market area is $3,814. average daily rate in the Oregon Area market area is $231. the top operator in the Oregon Area market area is Vacasa with 372 listings. market score is 55/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Oregon Area regional market, which includes Joseph. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Joseph.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Joseph is a small arts and outdoor destination town in the Wallowa Valley of northeastern Oregon, often called the gateway to the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Despite a resident population of approximately 1,054, the STR dataset covers a substantial surrounding area: 6,310 active listings as of April 2026. The market posted an average daily rate of $174.29 and occupancy of 45.7%, producing a RevPAR of $79.62. The listing mix is dominated by entire-place rentals: 5,822 (92.3% of total), 480 private rooms (7.6%), and 8 shared rooms. The bedroom mix is tilted toward smaller units: 1-bedroom leads at 2,382 (37.8%), followed by 2-bedroom at 1,591 (25.2%), 3-bedroom at 1,507 (23.9%), 4-bedroom at 564 (8.9%), and 5-bedroom at 259 (4.1%). Channel distribution shows 3,079 Airbnb-only listings, 506 VRBO-only, and 2,725 on both platforms. Visitors are primarily drive-market leisure travelers from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho drawn by alpine scenery, Wallowa Lake, hiking and backpacking in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, fishing, and Joseph’s nationally recognized public bronze-sculpture scene. Key annual events include Chief Joseph Days Rodeo in July and Bronze, Blues and Brews in August. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 2.93 percentage points and revenue fell 3.12%, while ADR rose 3.54%, indicating softer demand offset by higher average nightly rates.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 42% |
| Feb | 48% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 48% |
| May | 55% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 63% |
| Sep | 54% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 46% |
| Dec | 48% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Joseph are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Oregon Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Oregon Area market as a whole, which includes Joseph, so these counts are not Joseph-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 372 | 27,196 | ★ 4.58 |
| 2 | Evolve | 123 | 5,400 | ★ 4.72 |
| 3 | The Official Collins Lake Resort | 89 | 360 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Mt Hood Vacation Homes | 66 | 3,894 | ★ 4.52 |
| 5 | Arrived Vacation Rentals | 63 | 4,437 | ★ 4.75 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Joseph?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Joseph 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 | 48.8% |
| vrbo | 8% |
| both | 43.2% |
Home Value Trends (Joseph)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Joseph 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 Joseph — 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
Joseph permits short-term rentals and the primary compliance obligation is multi-layered lodging tax registration. Within Joseph city limits, no dedicated STR operating ordinance was identified in the current municipal code. There is no confirmed city STR permit requirement, no owner-occupancy mandate, no primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap within city limits. Operators must register and remit transient lodging taxes at three levels: the City of Joseph levies a 3% transient lodging tax (approved to increase to 4% effective January 1, 2027, with the additional 1% earmarked for Main Street improvements), Wallowa County levies a 5% county transient lodging tax (operators must register with the County Treasurer, receive a non-transferable Certificate of Authority, and file quarterly returns), and Oregon state adds 2.5% (increased from 1.5% effective January 1, 2026 under HB 2977). The combined effective rate as of 2026 is approximately 10.5%, rising to approximately 11.5% in 2027. For properties in unincorporated Wallowa County (outside city limits), STRs are permitted in Commercial Recreation (CR-2) zones via a county zone permit with conditions including off-street parking, an approved fire-protection contract, and a local manager contact provided to neighbors and the planning department. Enforcement is complaint-based and rated minimal. Investors should confirm parcel jurisdiction (city vs. county) before purchasing, as county properties face additional permit requirements.
Market Comparison
At 45.7% occupancy and $174.29 ADR, Joseph falls below the approximate U.S. STR median occupancy of 55% but is closer to the national median ADR of roughly $220 than most markets at this occupancy level, reflecting the premium rates the Wallowa Valley commands among outdoor recreation destinations. The market’s total score of 55.4 out of 100 and investability score of 69.2 are the lowest of the five markets in this batch, indicating lower relative opportunity or higher risk. The revenue growth score of 55.1 and the year-over-year occupancy decline of 2.93 percentage points suggest demand has not recovered to 2021 levels. Among top operators, Vacasa leads with 372 listings and 27,196 reviews at a 4.58 rating, representing 5.9% of total listings. Evolve holds 123 listings with 5,400 reviews at 4.72. The Official Collins Lake Resort manages 89 listings with 360 reviews at 4.78. Mt Hood Vacation Homes operates 66 listings with 3,894 reviews at 4.52. Arrived Vacation Rentals holds 63 listings with 4,437 reviews at 4.75. Vacasa’s dominant position at 5.9% of listings, combined with its lower-than-average 4.58 rating, leaves room for well-managed independent operators to compete on guest experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joseph, Oregon
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