Colorado City, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Colorado City, TX STRs averaged $166/night at 56.3% occupancy in April 2026 across a market scoring 99.2 overall.
Quick Answer: Colorado City, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 59%. average monthly revenue is $2,432. average daily rate is $156. the top operator is Trans Pecos Realty Management with 58 listings. market score is 99/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Texas West Area regional market, which includes Colorado City. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Colorado City.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Colorado City, Texas is a small West Texas market anchored by Lake Colorado City State Park, drawing regional anglers, campers, and road-trippers from I-20. The STR market totals approximately 3,946 active listings based on the latest dimension snapshot, making it a notably large market relative to the town’s 3,976 residents,most demand flows from out-of-town visitors rather than locals. In April 2026, the market averaged $166/night in ADR and 56.3% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $93.59.
Year-over-year, occupancy slipped 1.4 percentage points while ADR gained 2.6%, resulting in a net revenue decline of 3.2% against April 2025 levels. Despite that short-term softness, the long-run trend is positive: annual average ADR has climbed from $132 in 2017 to $162 in 2026, and annual average revenue per listing has grown from $1,547 to $2,574 over the same span.
Listing type is heavily skewed toward entire-place rentals, which account for 3,668 of 3,946 listings (93%). Private rooms add 271 listings and shared rooms just 7. On the bedroom side, 1-bedroom units are the most common (1,710 listings), followed closely by 3-bedroom (892) and 2-bedroom (885) units. Larger 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom properties make up the remaining 444 listings. Airbnb is the dominant channel at 2,671 listings, with 1,049 cross-listed on both platforms and 226 on VRBO only.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48% | $132 | $1,878 |
| Feb | 56% | $136 | $1,931 |
| Mar | 65% | $151 | $2,709 |
| Apr | 59% | $146 | $2,367 |
| May | 54% | $139 | $2,065 |
| Jun | 55% | $139 | $2,092 |
| Jul | 54% | $137 | $2,084 |
| Aug | 50% | $127 | $1,798 |
| Sep | 51% | $136 | $1,820 |
| Oct | 57% | $147 | $2,297 |
| Nov | 59% | $149 | $2,310 |
| Dec | 53% | $145 | $2,215 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Colorado City
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trans Pecos Realty Management | 58 | 5,411 | ★ 4.91 |
| 2 | Big Bend Vacation Rentals | 53 | 7,575 | ★ 4.92 |
| 3 | Evolve | 38 | 849 | ★ 4.70 |
| 4 | Leavetown | 36 | 26 | ★ 4.58 |
| 5 | Happy Homes of Texas | 32 | 1,170 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Colorado City?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,710 |
| 2 bed | 885 |
| 3 bed | 892 |
| 4 bed | 328 |
| 5 bed | 116 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $163 |
| Luxury | $276 |
| Professionally Managed | $221 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,012 |
| Entire Place | $2,533 |
| House | $2,660 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 67.7% |
| vrbo | 5.7% |
| both | 26.6% |
Investment Analysis
Colorado City presents one of the more unusual investment profiles in Texas STRs: extremely low home acquisition costs combined with a productive rental market. The typical home value stands at $98,444 (Zillow, April 2026 snapshot), against median list prices around $110,383. At the April 2026 average revenue of $2,561.55/month, an investor projecting annualized revenue of approximately $30,738 against a $98,444 acquisition would see an implied gross revenue yield of roughly 31% before expenses,a figure well above typical STR markets and reflective of the low entry cost rather than unusually high revenue.
Tier differences are meaningful. The average ADR across all listings is $166/night, while entire-home listings average $172/night. Professionally managed properties reach $251/night and luxury-tier listings average $307/night, indicating that premium positioning commands substantial premiums even in this rural market.
The market score of 99.2 (out of 100) reflects strong investability (96.4) and near-perfect seasonality (97.1) and total scores. Revenue growth scores at 78.6, consistent with the moderate multi-year ADR appreciation trend. The regulation score of 68.1 reflects the current light regulatory environment, though investors should verify permit requirements with the city before purchasing.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The April 2026 data shows an average booking lead time of 36.4 days,meaning guests typically book just over five weeks in advance. This is a relatively short planning window compared to larger destination markets, suggesting that Colorado City draws spontaneous regional visitors (anglers, campers, road-trippers) who decide on trips within a month of departure rather than planning far ahead.
Average length of stay is 4.22 nights, consistent with extended weekend and week-long outdoor recreation trips. This LOS reduces turnover costs compared to markets dominated by 1-2 night stays, which is favorable for operator margins.
The combination of short lead times and multi-night stays means pricing should be updated at least weekly in the 0-6 week window before each date, with aggressive last-minute discounting available if occupancy targets aren’t met by 7-10 days out. The March peak and fall shoulder (October-November) likely see the earliest bookings; January and August may see more last-minute demand.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Colorado City does not appear to have a short-term rental-specific ordinance. No STR registration, permit requirement, occupancy cap, or owner-occupancy rule was found in the city’s Code of Ordinances (current through Ordinance 2024-27, October 2024). The str_permitted field is true and permit_required is false in the area profile, consistent with a permissive operating environment.
General residential zoning and property-maintenance codes apply; operators should confirm the parcel’s zoning designation with the city before operating, as STRs would fall under standard residential zoning rules. HOA or deed restrictions, if applicable, may impose additional limits not captured here.
On taxation: Texas levies a 6% state hotel occupancy tax (HOT) on stays under 30 days, which applies statewide to STRs. Colorado City and Mitchell County may add a local HOT (Texas cities may add up to 7%), but a specific local rate could not be verified from available sources. Operators should confirm the applicable local rate directly with the city secretary (325-728-5331) and the Texas Comptroller before collecting and remitting taxes.
Enforcement is rated minimal, reflecting the absence of a dedicated STR enforcement program. The regulatory environment is favorable for STR operation as of mid-2026, but small-town ordinances can change without broad notice.
Market Comparison
Colorado City’s 56.3% occupancy in April 2026 is above the approximate US STR median of 55%, reflecting solid baseline demand for a rural West Texas market. Its $166/night ADR, however, sits well below the national STR median ADR of approximately $220, consistent with the rural, price-sensitive visitor profile.
The market’s total score of 99.2 (out of 100) places it in the top tier of markets scored by this methodology, driven by near-perfect investability (96.4) and seasonality (97.1) scores alongside strong rental demand (85.6). The revenue growth score of 78.6 reflects steady but not explosive historical growth.
Among professional operators, Trans Pecos Realty Management leads with 58 listings and a 4.91 average guest rating across 5,411 reviews. Big Bend Vacation Rentals operates 53 listings with the highest rated-portfolio in the market at 4.92 across 7,575 reviews. Evolve manages 38 listings with a 4.70 average rating. Together these three operators control 149 of the professionally managed listings, representing the most review-credentialed operators active in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado City, Texas
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