Bird In Hand, Pennsylvania Short-Term Rental Market
Bird In Hand STRs averaged $198/night at 53.8% occupancy in April 2026, within a Lancaster County market drawing nearly 10 million visitors annually.
Quick Answer: Bird In Hand, Pennsylvania is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lancaster market area is 66%. average monthly revenue in the Lancaster market area is $4,388. average daily rate in the Lancaster market area is $229. the top operator in the Lancaster market area is Evolve with 41 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Lancaster regional market, which includes Bird In Hand. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bird In Hand.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bird In Hand sits at the heart of Lancaster County’s Amish Country tourism corridor, one of Pennsylvania’s most visited destinations. The short-term rental market here is buoyed by the county’s estimated 9.99 million annual visitors, creating consistent demand for immersive farm-stay and countryside accommodations. As of April 2026, the market average daily rate is $198, occupancy is 53.8%, and RevPAR is $107. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 1.1 percentage points while ADR rose 4.5%, producing a net revenue gain of 1.6% versus April 2025.
The market holds approximately 1,774 tracked listings: 1,519 entire-place units and 255 private rooms. The private room share (14%) is notably higher than most STR markets, reflecting the prevalence of farm-stay and bed-and-breakfast style properties in the Amish Country corridor. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead at 707 listings, followed by 3-bedroom (373), 2-bedroom (359), 4-bedroom (208), and 5-bedroom (122). Channel distribution strongly favors Airbnb: 998 listings appear on Airbnb only, 688 on both platforms, and just 88 on VRBO only. The market scores 88.2 overall, with rental demand at an exceptional 94.9 out of 100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 46% |
| Mar | 49% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 65% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 57% |
| Oct | 60% |
| Nov | 52% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bird In Hand are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lancaster market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lancaster market as a whole, which includes Bird In Hand, so these counts are not Bird In Hand-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 41 | 2,455 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Stay Lancaster | 36 | 5,810 | ★ 4.95 |
| 3 | Unique Stays | 34 | 224 | ★ 4.53 |
| 4 | Amish Farm Stay | 30 | 4,839 | ★ 4.92 |
| 5 | Awakened Properties | 18 | 3,291 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bird In Hand?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bird In Hand 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 | 56.3% |
| vrbo | 5% |
| both | 38.8% |
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Bird In Hand — 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
Bird In Hand is an unincorporated community in Upper Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As of May 2026, Upper Leacock Township was finalizing its first STR ordinance following a public hearing on April 16, 2026. The proposed ordinance classifies STRs as special exception uses in Agricultural, Medium Density Residential, Mixed Use, General Village, and General Commercial zones. Adoption status had not been publicly confirmed in available sources as of the profile update; operators should confirm directly with the township.
At the county level, Lancaster County requires all STR operators to register annually for $50 with the Lancaster County Treasurer and file monthly hotel tax returns by the 25th of each month. Tax obligations total approximately 11%: Pennsylvania’s 6% state Hotel Occupancy Tax plus Lancaster County’s 5% (3.9% Hotel Room Rental Tax plus 1.1% Hotel Excise Tax). Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit the Pennsylvania state tax automatically for qualifying listings. No owner-occupancy, primary residence, or maximum nights-per-year requirement was identified. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Bird In Hand’s April 2026 ADR of $198 is slightly below the US STR median of approximately $220, while occupancy at 53.8% is slightly below the national median of approximately 55%. The market’s strength lies not in headline metrics but in consistent demand: the rental demand score of 94.9 out of 100 places it among the top demand markets nationally.
The top property managers in this market are distinctly local and boutique. Evolve leads with 41 listings and 2,455 reviews (4.78 average rating). Stay Lancaster follows with 36 listings and an outstanding 5,810 reviews at a 4.95 average rating. Unique Stays holds 34 listings (4.53 rating). Amish Farm Stay manages 30 listings with 4,839 reviews and a 4.92 rating. Awakened Properties rounds out the top five with 18 listings and a 4.82 rating.
Unlike larger coastal markets dominated by national operators, Bird In Hand’s top managers are region-specific specialists. Stay Lancaster and Amish Farm Stay both hold ratings above 4.9, suggesting that local expertise and authentic positioning are genuine differentiators in this market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bird In Hand, Pennsylvania
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