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 in the Tennessee Area market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Tennessee Area market area is $3,325. average daily rate in the Tennessee Area market area is $218. the top operator in the Tennessee Area market area 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 53% |
| Apr | 49% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 59% |
| Jul | 61% |
| Aug | 51% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 47% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cosby are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Tennessee Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Tennessee Area market as a whole, which includes Cosby, so these counts are not Cosby-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cosby 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 | 45.5% |
| vrbo | 9.4% |
| both | 45.2% |
Home Value Trends (Cosby)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cosby are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Cosby — 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
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
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