Cosby, Tennessee Short-Term Rental Market
Cosby, TN STRs averaged $165/night at 49.6% occupancy in April 2026, with July peaking at $204/night and 61% occupancy.
Quick Answer: Cosby, 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 Cosby. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cosby.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Cosby is a small unincorporated community on the northeastern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited national park in the United States. With a resident population of only 807, the local economy is heavily oriented toward cabin-style vacation rentals catering to hikers, anglers, and outdoor visitors seeking a quieter alternative to the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge corridor roughly 20 miles to the west.
As of April 2026, the Cosby short-term rental market recorded an average daily rate of $165 and occupancy of 49.6%, producing a RevPAR of $82. Average monthly revenue per listing came in at $2,239. The market carries an investability score of 92.79, the highest of the six market dimensions, reflecting strong income potential relative to property values.
Active inventory totals approximately 12,510 listings. Entire-place properties dominate overwhelmingly at 11,881 units (95% of supply), with private rooms accounting for 612 and shared rooms for 17. Airbnb is the primary channel with 5,688 exclusive listings; 5,652 listings cross-list on both Airbnb and VRBO, and 1,170 appear on VRBO only.
The bedroom distribution reflects the cabin-rental character of the market: 1-bedroom units total 4,078, 2-bedrooms 3,352, 3-bedrooms 3,027, 4-bedrooms 1,217, and 5-bedroom properties 807. Year-over-year, occupancy grew 0.87 percentage points in April 2026, ADR rose 0.60%, and revenue increased 2.26%.
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 Cosby
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 Cosby?
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
Cosby presents an attractive income profile anchored by Great Smoky Mountains National Park demand. Monthly revenue averaged $2,239 in April 2026, with an annualized run rate of approximately $26,871 for an average listing. House-type listings outperform at $2,408 per month, followed by entire-place properties at $2,291 per month. Apartment-style units averaged $1,806 per month.
The Zillow typical home value for Cosby was $261,940 as of the April 2026 snapshot, while the median list price stood at $413,167, reflecting a substantial gap between typical residential values and actively listed vacation properties. Using the typical home value as an entry-cost proxy, an average listing’s annualized revenue of $26,871 implies a gross revenue yield of approximately 10.3% before expenses, cleaning, management fees, and taxes. Investors should treat this as a pre-expense figure; net yields will be materially lower.
The professionally managed tier commands a significant ADR premium. The tier_professionally_managed ADR reached $203, versus $165 across all listings, a 23% differential. Luxury-tier properties averaged $279 per night. At 66 homes for sale in inventory, supply of purchasable properties is limited.
Year-over-year trends show steady, modest improvement: revenue grew 2.26%, ADR 0.60%, and occupancy gained 0.87 percentage points. The market’s revenue growth score of 57.98 suggests moderate rather than accelerating expansion, consistent with a maturing mountain cabin market.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Cosby)
Booking Insights
Cosby guests book an average of 42 days in advance, one of the longer lead times consistent with travelers planning national park itineraries, foliage trips, and group cabin stays. This extended booking window gives operators meaningful advance visibility into occupancy and the opportunity to adjust rates for high-demand periods like summer weekends and October foliage weeks before they fill.
Average length of stay is 4.0 nights, slightly above the weekend-trip norm. At 4.0 nights and 49.6% occupancy, a typical listing sees approximately 3 to 4 guest check-ins per month. The cabin-rental model at this stay length produces manageable turnover, though cleaning and supply restocking between group stays at larger properties (3-5 bedrooms) represent a meaningful operational cost.
The combination of 42-day lead time and 4-night average stay suggests that operators pricing summer and fall foliage periods should set rates at least 6 weeks out to capture the bulk of bookings. Last-minute discounting is less necessary in this market given the advance-planning behavior of park visitors, though shoulder and winter periods may benefit from targeted promotional pricing to improve fill rates.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Cosby is an unincorporated census-designated place in Cocke County, Tennessee, meaning there is no city government and no city-level STR ordinance. Short-term rentals are legal and operate widely throughout the area; cabin rentals are a core component of the local economy near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enforcement severity is rated minimal.
At the state level, the Tennessee Short-Term Rental Unit Act protects STR operators and limits how local governments may restrict them. Under this framework, a county or city may create a reasonable permit or application process and may act to shut down a unit only after three documented violations of generally applicable local laws. The Act also prohibits applying new STR restrictions retroactively to legally grandfathered units.
Land use in Cosby falls under Cocke County’s county-wide Zoning and Subdivision Regulations. The county Zoning Department (Building Commissioner, 423-237-7600) is the authority for parcel-specific zoning questions. No dedicated county STR permit, owner-occupancy requirement, or annual-night cap was identified in published sources. Owner-occupied and primary-residence requirements are not in place.
On taxes, Tennessee state and local sales tax applies to short-term stays. Since 2021, STR platforms including Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit applicable occupancy tax to the state on behalf of operators. Any specific Cocke County local occupancy (hotel/motel) tax rate should be verified with the Cocke County Clerk or the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Operators must carry the statewide minimum liability insurance unless the booking platform provides equivalent coverage.
Market Comparison
Cosby runs below the national STR median on occupancy (49.6% versus the U.S. median of approximately 55%) while coming below the national median ADR of approximately $220. This reflects the market’s rural mountain character: demand is strong during peak season but compressed in winter, pulling the annual average down. The investability score of 92.79 is the highest-rated dimension in this market and suggests the income-to-cost ratio is favorable.
The market is large by rural standards, with roughly 12,510 active listings concentrated in the cabin-rental segment. Evolve is the dominant professional operator with 408 listings and 14,027 reviews (4.73 average rating). Vacasa operates 106 listings with a 4.59 rating. Byers & Harvey manages 74 listings with a notably high 4.85 rating. RedAwning holds 64 listings (4.62 rating) and RETREAT VACATIONS operates 62 listings with a 4.82 rating. The top five operators together account for approximately 714 managed listings, or roughly 5.7% of the active market, indicating that the market remains predominantly owner-operated.
Relative to the broader Smoky Mountain STR corridor, Cosby positions as the quieter, less-commercialized alternative to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This distinction appeals to a specific visitor profile seeking seclusion, which supports occupancy but limits the rate ceiling compared to higher-traffic gateway markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosby, Tennessee
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Cosby, TN?
What occupancy rate do Cosby, TN short-term rentals achieve?
Are short-term rentals legal in Cosby, TN?
How much can a Cosby cabin rental generate annually?
What is the gross yield potential for a Cosby STR investment?
Who are the top property managers in the Cosby, TN STR market?
When is the best time to visit (or rent out) a cabin in Cosby, TN?
Analyze Cosby Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Cosby.
Free Cosby STR Calculator →
