Gilchrist, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Gilchrist's Galveston County STR market averaged $296 ADR, 37.4% occupancy and $3,093 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Gilchrist, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Galveston market area is 37%. average monthly revenue in the Galveston market area is $3,093. average daily rate in the Galveston market area is $296. the top operator in the Galveston market area is Vacasa with 386 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Galveston regional market, which includes Gilchrist. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gilchrist.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Gilchrist is a small unincorporated beach community on the Bolivar Peninsula in Galveston County, Texas. Short-term rental performance here is reported at a shared level, so every performance figure on this page describes the Galveston County STR market. As of September 2026, the Galveston County STR market posted an average daily rate (ADR) of $296, occupancy of 37.4% and average monthly revenue of $3,093 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 20.8%, ADR is up 6.8% and revenue is up 15.9%, a recovery driven mostly by more booked nights rather than rate alone.
Entire-place rentals averaged a $300 ADR and $3,120 in monthly revenue, while houses reached $3,528 and apartments $2,129. The gap between houses and apartments is $1,399 a month, which shows how much guests pay for space near the beach.
Longer-run annual figures show a market that has held its ground. Average occupancy was 43.3% in 2025 with a $286 ADR, and 2026 year to date figures through September are 47.2% occupancy and a $308 ADR, with monthly revenue averaging $4,199. The 2021 high was 51.4% occupancy, so occupancy is still below its post-pandemic peak, while rates are well above it, since the 2021 ADR was $274.
Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Gilchrist, so this profile omits them.
The visitor base is mostly Texas residents from the Houston and Beaumont areas who come for 27 miles of drive-on Gulf beaches, surf and pier fishing, and birding near Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge and Bolivar Flats. Demand is heavily weighted to summer and sensitive to weather and hurricanes.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 27% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 52% |
| Apr | 41% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 67% |
| Jul | 69% |
| Aug | 46% |
| Sep | 35% |
| Oct | 38% |
| Nov | 31% |
| Dec | 32% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Gilchrist are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Galveston market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Galveston market as a whole, which includes Gilchrist, so these counts are not Gilchrist-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 386 | 21,460 | ★ 4.39 |
| 2 | Ryson Vacation Rentals by Vtrips | 370 | 7,450 | ★ 4.33 |
| 3 | Evolve | 354 | 17,277 | ★ 4.57 |
| 4 | Sand `N Sea Properties | 195 | 1,185 | ★ 4.66 |
| 5 | Cobb Real Estate | 190 | 3,899 | ★ 4.79 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gilchrist?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Gilchrist 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 | 23.4% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 65% |
Home Value Trends (Gilchrist)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist — 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
Short-term rentals are permitted in Gilchrist. The community is unincorporated, so there is no city government and no city-level STR licensing. Properties fall under Galveston County jurisdiction.
Operators are expected to register with the Galveston County Park Board of Trustees. The registration costs $50 and renews annually. Reporting also cites a one-time setup fee for new or independently managed properties.
Occupancy tax is reported at 15%. That figure reflects the 6% Texas state hotel occupancy tax plus a local county tax of up to 9%. Sources are not consistent, and at least one claims only the 6% state tax applies on the peninsula, so investors should confirm the current county rate and registration requirement directly with the Galveston County Park Board before operating.
There are no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements. Gilchrist has no STR-specific zoning, density caps or minimum-distance rules, and no maximum number of rental nights is published. Enforcement is rated minimal and is complaint-based, covering issues such as noise, parking and safety, and is handled through the county sheriff rather than a dedicated STR program.
Recent changes are limited. Rollover Pass, the area’s signature fishing attraction, was closed and filled in 2019. The City of Galveston raised its STR registration fee from $50 to $250, but that is a separate jurisdiction and does not apply to unincorporated Gilchrist. The major operating risk is environmental rather than regulatory, given the peninsula’s hurricane exposure.
Market Comparison
The Galveston County STR market shows a split result in September 2026, with 37.4% occupancy and a $296 ADR.
The seasonal peak lifts occupancy. July reaches 69.5% and June 67.1%, with ADRs of $338 and $346. The rest of the year falls short, with January at 27.4%. The 2026 year to date occupancy is 47.2% with a $308 ADR.
The trend is favorable. Occupancy is up 20.8% year over year, ADR is up 6.8% and revenue is up 15.9%, so growth is coming from both volume and rate.
Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Gilchrist, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gilchrist, Texas
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