Cookeville, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Cookeville TN STRs averaged $165/night at 49.6% occupancy in April 2026, anchored by waterfalls tourism and Tennessee Tech University demand.
Quick Answer: Cookeville, Tennessee is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 56%. average monthly revenue is $3,325. average daily rate is $218. the top operator is Evolve with 408 listings. market score is 73/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Tennessee Area regional market, which includes Cookeville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cookeville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cookeville is the seat of Putnam County in the Upper Cumberland region of Middle Tennessee, positioned about 80 miles east of Nashville. The market draws outdoor recreation travelers to more than 150 waterfalls within roughly 40 miles, including Cummins Falls and Burgess Falls State Parks, along with visitors connected to Tennessee Tech University. Putnam County visitor spending reached $132 million in 2017, supporting approximately 1,060 hospitality jobs at that time.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $165 and an occupancy rate of 49.6%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,239 per listing. RevPAR came in at $81.57. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 0.87 percentage points, ADR increased 0.60%, and revenue grew 2.26%, indicating a market moving in a modestly positive direction across all three headline metrics.
The market carries approximately 12,510 active listings. Entire-place properties account for 11,881 units (95%), with 612 private rooms and 17 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units are most common (4,078), followed by 2-bedroom (3,352), 3-bedroom (3,027), 4-bedroom (1,217), and 5-bedroom (807). Channel distribution shows 5,688 Airbnb-only listings, 1,170 VRBO-only listings, and 5,652 listings on both platforms, a roughly even split between single-channel and dual-channel operators.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $132 | $1,477 |
| Feb | 45% | $130 | $1,462 |
| Mar | 53% | $147 | $2,014 |
| Apr | 49% | $152 | $2,015 |
| May | 52% | $169 | $2,243 |
| Jun | 59% | $203 | $3,156 |
| Jul | 61% | $204 | $3,446 |
| Aug | 51% | $189 | $2,654 |
| Sep | 46% | $171 | $2,178 |
| Oct | 53% | $164 | $2,461 |
| Nov | 47% | $159 | $2,040 |
| Dec | 45% | $157 | $2,042 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Cookeville
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 408 | 14,027 | ★ 4.73 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 106 | 2,376 | ★ 4.59 |
| 3 | Byers & Harvey | 74 | 2,303 | ★ 4.85 |
| 4 | RedAwning | 64 | 848 | ★ 4.62 |
| 5 | RETREAT VACATIONS | 62 | 3,050 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cookeville?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 4,078 |
| 2 bed | 3,352 |
| 3 bed | 3,027 |
| 4 bed | 1,217 |
| 5 bed | 807 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $222 |
| Luxury | $371 |
| Professionally Managed | $285 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,057 |
| Entire Place | $3,411 |
| House | $3,732 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 45.5% |
| vrbo | 9.4% |
| both | 45.2% |
Investment Analysis
Cookeville’s investability score of 92.79 out of 100 is among the strongest indicators in this market’s profile, pointing to favorable supply-demand dynamics and accessible market entry conditions. The total market score of 73.12 reflects solid underlying fundamentals, though revenue growth (57.98) and regulation (67.57) score in the moderate range.
At an all-listings ADR of $165 in April 2026, tier separation is material. Entire-home listings average $168/night, while professionally managed properties post $203/night, a 23% premium over the all-listings average. Luxury-tier properties reach $279/night, anchoring the top of the market.
Monthly revenue averaged $2,239 in April 2026. Houses outperformed at $2,408/month, and entire-place units broadly averaged $2,291/month. Apartments averaged $1,806/month. Annualizing the April figure yields approximately $26,871 per year per listing, but peak months (July at $3,445, June at $3,135) contribute substantially more than January ($1,478), so per-listing annual revenue varies widely by property type and pricing strategy.
No housing price data was available from our sources for Cookeville at this time, so a direct gross yield calculation cannot be provided here. Given Tennessee’s relatively low property tax rates and home prices compared to coastal markets, investors should model returns using local comparable sales.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Cookeville guests book an average of 42.2 days in advance, reflecting a market where travelers plan ahead for weekend waterfall trips and outdoor recreation stays. The average length of stay is 3.96 nights, just under 4 nights, pointing toward extended-weekend and short-week stays from Nashville and Knoxville day-trippers converting to overnight visitors, university event attendees, and outdoor recreation groups.
The nearly 4-night average stay reduces turnover costs relative to markets dominated by 1-2 night visits, lowering cleaning frequency and platform fees per night stayed. The 42-day average booking window gives operators a reasonable pricing horizon: dynamic pricing adjustments made 6-8 weeks before a weekend can still capture demand effectively.
For peak summer weeks, particularly July 4th and Labor Day weekends, demand builds earlier. Operators should set minimum stays of 3-4 nights for peak summer and major event weekends to maximize revenue and reduce the operational burden of back-to-back short stays.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cookeville regulates short-term rentals under an ordinance first adopted in December 2017 (Ordinance O17-11-20). STRs are legal but require a Short-Term Rental Permit (STRP) from the City Codes Department before listing. The permit process involves several steps: verifying that the property’s zoning allows STR use, completing the application, passing a fire inspection, obtaining city and county business licenses, carrying appropriate insurance, and submitting the permit application with applicable fees.
The most important constraint is zoning. STRs are only allowed in specific districts: RM8, RM14, PRD, CBD, CN, CL, CG, MS, and UNV. Properties in standard single-family residential neighborhoods are generally NOT eligible for an STRP; only owner-occupied Bed and Breakfast Homes may operate in those areas under specific conditions. STR units are also capped at four sleeping rooms and must be rented for under 30 continuous days. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement for permitted zones.
On taxes, Cookeville levies a local hotel/motel occupancy tax (Ordinance O19-07-10, effective September 2019) at 3.0% that applies to short-term rentals. Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit this tax for bookings made through their platforms. Tennessee state sales tax and any applicable local option sales tax apply separately.
Exact STRP permit fee amounts and renewal intervals were not published in available sources and should be confirmed directly with the Cookeville Codes Department before operating. Enforcement is classified as moderate. No major ordinance overhaul has occurred since 2017; the 2025 update was limited to administrative improvements to occupancy-tax filing forms.
Market Comparison
Cookeville’s April 2026 ADR of $165 sits below the US short-term rental median of approximately $220, a discount consistent with its positioning as an inland, outdoor-recreation market rather than a coastal or major urban destination. Occupancy at 49.6% is slightly below the national median of roughly 55%, reflecting the seasonal nature of waterfall and outdoor tourism.
With a total market score of 73.12 out of 100 and an investability score of 92.79, Cookeville ranks as a high-opportunity market for investors entering at current price points. Rental demand (67.92) and seasonality (71.27) reflect solid but not exceptional performance metrics, while the regulation score (67.57) accounts for the zoning restrictions that limit eligible properties.
Evolve dominates the professional management landscape with 408 listings and 14,027 reviews at a 4.73 rating. This scale represents nearly 3.3% of all active inventory and makes Evolve the single largest operator in the market by a wide margin. Vacasa is a distant second at 106 listings (4.59 rating), followed by regional operators Byers and Harvey (74 listings, 4.85 rating), RedAwning (64 listings, 4.62 rating), and RETREAT VACATIONS (62 listings, 4.82 rating). Together the top five manage 714 listings, approximately 5.7% of active inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cookeville, Tennessee
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