Belton, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Belton, TX short-term rentals averaged $123/night at 59.4% occupancy in April 2026, with a permit required and 15% total lodging tax.
Quick Answer: Belton, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Killeen market area is 65%. average monthly revenue in the Killeen market area is $2,422. average daily rate in the Killeen market area is $133. the top operator in the Killeen market area is Second Home Hosting with 44 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Killeen regional market, which includes Belton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Belton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Belton is a small city in Bell County, Central Texas, situated midway between Austin and Waco along Interstate 35. With a population of approximately 24,000, it serves as an event, recreation, and military-adjacent lodging market. The Bell County Expo Center, Belton Lake, and proximity to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor generate consistent demand from event attendees, outdoor recreation visitors, and people visiting military personnel.
As of April 2026, the short-term rental market averaged a $123 daily rate and 59.4% occupancy, generating $2,010 in average monthly revenue per listing. RevPAR stood at $73. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 0.9%, ADR rose 1.0%, and revenue declined slightly by 0.4%.
The listing mix is predominantly entire-place properties: of 1,757 categorized listings, 1,464 (83.3%) are entire-place rentals, 292 are private rooms, and 1 is a shared room. Bedroom distribution is nearly even between one-bedroom (553) and three-bedroom (560) properties, followed by two-bedroom (336), four-bedroom (242), and five-bedroom (65). Airbnb is the dominant platform with 1,081 listings, VRBO has 51, and 625 listings appear on both platforms. The market’s overall score of 59.9 out of 100 reflects moderate total opportunity, with an investability score of 77.0 and a high seasonality score of 92.7.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 50% |
| Feb | 60% |
| Mar | 64% |
| Apr | 60% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 66% |
| Aug | 62% |
| Sep | 60% |
| Oct | 59% |
| Nov | 59% |
| Dec | 56% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Belton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Killeen market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Killeen market as a whole, which includes Belton, so these counts are not Belton-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Second Home Hosting | 44 | 243 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 36 | 893 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Baird Rental Management | 30 | 1,121 | ★ 4.92 |
| 4 | Meyers Adventures | 11 | 376 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | CRIBS | 6 | 25 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Belton?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Belton 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 | 61.5% |
| vrbo | 2.9% |
| both | 35.6% |
Home Value Trends (Belton)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Belton 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 Belton — 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
Belton adopted its first short-term rental ordinance effective March 13, 2023. Every Airbnb or VRBO-style rental within city limits must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Planning Department. Permits are valid for one year and must be renewed within 30 days of expiration; the renewal fee is $50. Permit renewal is withheld until local hotel/motel occupancy tax has been paid.
In 2024 the City Council amended the original ordinance. Key changes: the owner-occupied versus non-owner-occupied distinction was eliminated; the city now allows up to two STR units per lot, or 10% of units in duplex and multifamily properties; and the 500-foot separation requirement between STRs was removed in Imagine Belton form-based zoning districts, though it remains in effect in the Neighborhood Zone. There is no cap on nights per year and no primary-residence requirement.
On taxes, operators must collect and remit hotel occupancy tax: 7% to the City of Belton, 6% to the State of Texas, and 2% to Bell County, for a total of approximately 15% in combined lodging taxes. Enforcement is permit- and tax-driven rather than aggressive, classified as moderate.
Market Comparison
Belton’s April 2026 occupancy of 59.4% is above the US STR median of approximately 55%, reflecting the market’s multi-driver demand base providing consistent year-round bookings. Its ADR of $123 is substantially below the US median of roughly $220, consistent with a small Central Texas city rather than a major tourist destination.
The market scores investability at 77.0 out of 100, above average, while rental demand of 57.8 and revenue growth of 56.6 are at approximately median levels. The regulation score of 54.6 is below average, reflecting the permit requirement and 15% total lodging tax.
The professional management landscape is fragmented among local specialists. Second Home Hosting leads with 44 listings and a 4.52 average rating. Evolve manages 36 listings (4.54 rating, 893 reviews). Baird Rental Management holds 30 listings with the highest rating of the group at 4.92 across 1,121 reviews. Meyers Adventures manages 11 listings (4.86 rating), and CRIBS holds 6 listings (4.89 rating). No large national operator dominates this market, leaving room for independent operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Belton, Texas
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How does the Bell County Expo Center affect Belton short-term rental demand?
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