Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania Short-Term Rental Market
Lake Harmony Pocono STRs averaged $346/night at 36.0% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue growing 5.2% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 36%. average monthly revenue is $3,482. average daily rate is $346. the top operator is Evolve with 516 listings. market score is 86/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Lake Harmony is a small unincorporated resort community in Kidder Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, within the Pocono Mountains. Its approximately 718 permanent residents are vastly outnumbered by second-home owners and short-term visitors, with over 69% of housing units classified as seasonal or recreational. The short-term rental market draws primarily from the New York City, Philadelphia, and New Jersey metro areas, with four-season appeal anchored by summer lake recreation and winter ski access at Big Boulder and Jack Frost.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $346 and an occupancy rate of 36.0%, generating $125 in revenue per available room. Revenue grew 5.2% year-over-year despite a 2.70 percentage point occupancy decline, as ADR gains of 2.70% partially offset the occupancy softening.
Approximately 8,590 listings are active in this market. Entire-place properties dominate at 8,417 listings (98% of the market), with 171 private rooms and 2 shared rooms. The bedroom distribution skews toward larger vacation homes: three-bedroom (3,444 listings), four-bedroom (1,844), five-bedroom (1,631), two-bedroom (1,073), and one-bedroom (595). This large-home concentration reflects the group and retreat character of Pocono vacation rental demand. Channel distribution shows strong dual-platform presence: 5,352 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 2,613 on Airbnb only, and 625 on VRBO only. The overall market score of 85.7 out of 100, with an investability score of 99.4, places Lake Harmony among the top STR investment markets in the data set.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $361 | $3,651 |
| Feb | 41% | $363 | $3,828 |
| Mar | 28% | $314 | $2,949 |
| Apr | 37% | $302 | $2,938 |
| May | 38% | $332 | $2,898 |
| Jun | 49% | $358 | $4,150 |
| Jul | 61% | $362 | $5,747 |
| Aug | 63% | $360 | $6,050 |
| Sep | 33% | $331 | $3,125 |
| Oct | 38% | $318 | $3,387 |
| Nov | 37% | $333 | $3,227 |
| Dec | 42% | $372 | $3,981 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Harmony
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 516 | 21,759 | ★ 4.56 |
| 2 | Pocono Rental Management | 123 | 5,740 | ★ 4.64 |
| 3 | LiveFree Hospitality | 96 | 7,069 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 85 | 2,357 | ★ 4.39 |
| 5 | Techvestor | 75 | 6,155 | ★ 4.69 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lake Harmony?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 595 |
| 2 bed | 1,073 |
| 3 bed | 3,444 |
| 4 bed | 1,844 |
| 5 bed | 1,631 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $351 |
| Luxury | $585 |
| Professionally Managed | $390 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,976 |
| Entire Place | $3,533 |
| House | $3,624 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 30.4% |
| vrbo | 7.3% |
| both | 62.3% |
Investment Analysis
Lake Harmony ranks among the highest-scoring STR investment markets in the data set, with an investability score of 99.4 out of 100 and a revenue growth score of 95.6. The April 2026 average daily rate of $346 is well above national norms, and the high-ADR tiers reinforce the upside potential: luxury listings averaged $585 and professionally managed properties averaged $390.
Monthly revenue for the average listing reached $3,482 in April 2026. Entire-place listings averaged $3,533 and house listings averaged $3,624. At the April 2026 pace, annualized revenue would be approximately $41,781, though summer months in the Poconos are considerably stronger, with August averaging $6,050 and July averaging $5,747.
No typical home value was available in the data for this area. The median list price was $529,763 as of April 2026, with 65 properties for sale. Using median list price as a rough entry-cost proxy, the implied gross revenue yield at the annualized April pace is approximately 7.9% ($41,781 divided by $529,763). This does not account for the high initial permit cost ($2,000 for the first Certificate of Occupancy), required commercial liability insurance of at least $500,000, annual inspection fees, or property management costs.
Year-over-year occupancy declined 2.70 percentage points through April 2026, but ADR rose 2.70% and revenue grew 5.2%, suggesting that operators are effectively managing rate to compensate for reduced demand. The 2025 annual average showed 41.3% occupancy and $374 ADR, consistent with healthy underlying performance before the April 2026 seasonal trough.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Lake Harmony guests booked an average of 37 days in advance in April 2026, and the average length of stay was 3.07 nights. The 37-day lead time is moderate for a drive-to vacation market, suggesting that summer and holiday weekends fill well in advance while shoulder-season availability remains more open.
A 3.07-night average stay aligns with typical weekend-plus-one-night patterns common in Pocono rentals, where Friday through Monday occupancy drives revenue. Operators benefit from slightly longer stays than pure weekend markets, reducing turnover costs compared to two-night minimum markets.
For pricing strategy, the combination of a 37-day lead time and clear peak-season concentration in July and August means that listings should be fully priced and available by May to capture early summer bookings from tri-state area travelers. Winter ski weekends (January through February) also book in advance and justify premium pricing. The March through May shoulder, by contrast, often requires promotional pricing or minimum-stay flexibility to reduce vacancies during the post-ski, pre-lake gap.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals in Lake Harmony operate under Kidder Township’s STR ordinance, adopted in July 2021 after the township identified over 600 rental properties, including more than 234 in Lake Harmony Estates alone. The framework is among the more demanding in Pennsylvania.
Each STR unit requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate of Occupancy: the initial permit costs $2,000, with annual renewal at $1,000. Owners must pass a yearly inspection, submit floor and site plans, certify a functioning septic system, provide on-site parking, and carry at least $500,000 in commercial general liability insurance. A 24-hour local contact must respond to problems within one hour.
Maximum occupancy is set by bedroom count (for example, 8 occupants for a two-bedroom, scaling to 18 for a seven-bedroom). Bedrooms must have two means of egress, smoke detectors in each bedroom and hallway, and carbon monoxide detectors. Violations carry escalating fines: $300 for the first offense, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third and beyond.
The combined lodging tax is 9%: 6% Pennsylvania state hotel occupancy tax plus 3% Carbon County room tax. There is no annual cap on rental nights and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement for standard STRs. Enforcement is rated strict. Operators should confirm current fees directly with the township, as fees are set by resolution and may be updated.
Market Comparison
Nationally, STR markets average approximately 55% occupancy and $220 in ADR. Lake Harmony’s April 2026 occupancy of 36.0% is below the national average, consistent with the spring trough timing of the data. The $346 ADR is 57% above the national median, reflecting the premium Pocono vacation rental market. In summer peak months, occupancy reaches 62% to 63%, above national norms.
Revenue growth of 5.2% year-over-year through April 2026 is above average for established vacation markets. The investability score of 99.4 out of 100 and revenue growth score of 95.6 indicate that this is one of the most highly rated vacation markets in the STR data set on those dimensions.
Evolve leads the Lake Harmony market by a wide margin with 516 listings and 21,759 reviews at a 4.56 average rating. Pocono Rental Management holds 123 listings with 5,740 reviews (4.64 rating). LiveFree Hospitality manages 96 listings with 7,069 reviews (4.78 rating). Vacasa operates 85 listings (4.39 rating) and Techvestor holds 75 listings with 6,155 reviews (4.69 rating). The top five operators together account for 895 listings, approximately 10.4% of the estimated 8,590-listing market, indicating meaningful but not dominant professional management penetration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania
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