Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Short-Term Rental Market
Harrisburg, PA STRs averaged $165/night at 47.9% occupancy in April 2026, with 13,132 active listings across the market.
Quick Answer: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 57%. average monthly revenue is $3,184. average daily rate is $207. the top operator is Evolve with 372 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Pennsylvania Area regional market, which includes Harrisburg. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Harrisburg.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Harrisburg is Pennsylvania’s state capital and anchors the Hershey-Harrisburg tourism region of Dauphin County, which draws approximately 10 million overnight and day visitors annually and generated roughly $2.73 billion in direct visitor spending in 2024. The STR market reflects this mix of government and business travel, regional drive-market leisure visitors, and proximity to Hersheypark and nearby Hershey attractions. As of April 2026, the Harrisburg STR market recorded an average daily rate of $165 and occupancy of 47.9%, producing a RevPAR of $79. Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 0.99 percentage points while ADR gained 1.9% and average monthly revenue rose 1.8%, indicating rate-driven rather than occupancy-driven growth. The active listing base totals approximately 13,132 units. Entire-place listings dominate at 11,475 (87.4% of supply), followed by 1,644 private-room listings and 13 shared-room listings. Bedroom distribution shows 1-bedroom units as the largest segment at 4,497 listings, followed by 2-bedrooms at 3,308, 3-bedrooms at 3,024, 4-bedrooms at 1,346, and 5-bedroom-plus properties at 944. By platform, 4,769 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 7,363 are Airbnb-only, and 1,000 are VRBO-only. The market’s overall score of 91.9 out of 100 reflects solid investability (93.9) and revenue growth (69.2) fundamentals.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $168 | $1,995 |
| Feb | 46% | $172 | $2,009 |
| Mar | 42% | $139 | $1,693 |
| Apr | 48% | $142 | $1,800 |
| May | 51% | $159 | $2,038 |
| Jun | 57% | $178 | $2,670 |
| Jul | 62% | $179 | $3,029 |
| Aug | 59% | $178 | $2,925 |
| Sep | 48% | $161 | $2,162 |
| Oct | 50% | $160 | $2,281 |
| Nov | 45% | $153 | $1,916 |
| Dec | 46% | $162 | $2,044 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Harrisburg
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 372 | 15,238 | ★ 4.66 |
| 2 | RedAwning | 65 | 212 | ★ 4.42 |
| 3 | MVR Vacation Rentals | 45 | 1,640 | ★ 4.85 |
| 4 | BNB Breeze | 43 | 3,650 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Equestrian House PA | 42 | 76 | ★ 4.47 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Harrisburg?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,497 |
| 2 bed | 3,308 |
| 3 bed | 3,024 |
| 4 bed | 1,346 |
| 5 bed | 944 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $221 |
| Luxury | $398 |
| Professionally Managed | $301 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,103 |
| Entire Place | $3,425 |
| House | $3,637 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 56.1% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 36.3% |
Investment Analysis
Harrisburg’s STR investment dynamics center on a large, diverse listing base serving both leisure and business demand. No housing value data was available for this market at the time of this analysis, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided. On revenue, the April 2026 average monthly STR revenue was $2,062. At an annualized pace of approximately $24,745, Harrisburg generates meaningful income, though below more resort-oriented Pennsylvania markets. The ADR tier spread reveals significant upside potential: all-listings ADR was $165, entire-home listings averaged $178, professionally managed properties averaged $247, and luxury-tier listings averaged $332. The $82 gap between the professionally managed and all-listings ADR suggests professional management adds approximately 50% to nightly rates compared to the market average. Occupancy slipped 1.0 percentage point year-over-year in April 2026, a modest headwind in a market that has seen ADR and revenue move modestly higher. The 2025 annual average revenue of $2,522 per month is up from $2,456 in 2024, continuing a slow recovery from the 2022 peak of $2,487. The revenue growth score of 69.2 and regulation score of 68.6 suggest manageable compliance costs alongside positive long-term revenue trajectory.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
As of April 2026, the average booking lead time in Harrisburg was approximately 43 days, and the average length of stay was 3.9 nights. A 43-day lead window means most guests confirm reservations about six weeks ahead of arrival, giving operators meaningful time to adjust pricing before the check-in date. The 3.9-night average stay suggests guests are booking extended weekend or midweek trips, likely tied to government and business travel combining with leisure extensions, or visitors pairing Hersheypark with Capitol area sightseeing. Minimum-stay policies of three to four nights align well with the market’s actual booking behavior and can reduce turnover costs without materially shrinking the bookable demand pool. Operators should list calendars at least 90 days out to capture group and government travelers who plan further in advance, while using dynamic pricing tools to handle last-minute demand within the 43-day booking window.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and require registration at multiple levels. All rental dwellings, including STRs, fall under the City’s Residential Rental Unit Registration Program (Codified Ordinances Chapter 8-511), enforced by the Codes Bureau. Hosts must also register with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and collect and remit hotel occupancy tax. Combined lodging tax is approximately 11%: 6% Pennsylvania state hotel occupancy tax plus 5% Dauphin County hotel room rental tax. Secondary STR guides describe an additional Short-Term Rental Operating License through the Department of Building and Housing Development, reportedly priced at approximately $200 per year for owner-occupied units and $350 per year for non-owner-occupied units, with annual renewal and inspection. These same guides describe zoning restrictions limiting non-owner-occupied STRs to commercial and mixed-use zones while permitting owner-occupied STRs in residential R-1 and R-2 zones subject to an approximately 8-guest cap, and a 400-foot separation rule between non-owner-occupied STRs. These specific license tiers, fees, and zoning thresholds come from third-party sources and could not be confirmed against the official Harrisburg municipal code. Investors should verify current requirements directly with the City of Harrisburg Codes Bureau before purchasing. Third-party sources also reference a more comprehensive STR framework taking effect in 2026. Owner occupancy is not required at the state level; primary residence is not required. Enforcement is classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Against US STR benchmarks of approximately 55% occupancy and a median ADR near $220, Harrisburg’s April 2026 figures of 47.9% occupancy and $165 ADR position it as a below-median occupancy, below-median ADR market. However, the market compensates with scale: 13,132 active listings reflect a substantial STR base for a mid-size state capital. The five largest operators collectively hold 567 listings. Evolve dominates with 372 listings and 15,238 reviews at a 4.66 average rating, the clearest sign of professional management maturity in the market. RedAwning holds 65 listings with 212 reviews at a 4.42 rating. MVR Vacation Rentals manages 45 listings with 1,640 reviews at a 4.85 rating. BNB Breeze operates 43 listings with 3,650 reviews at a 4.84 rating. Equestrian House PA rounds out the top five with 42 listings and 76 reviews at a 4.47 rating. The market’s total score of 91.9, investability score of 93.9, and seasonality score of 84.3 reflect a market with strong structural demand, even if per-listing averages trail higher-profile leisure destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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