Kemah, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Kemah STR operators averaged $291/night at 40.2% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks reaching 69.5%.
Quick Answer: Kemah, Texas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 64%. average monthly revenue is $6,976. average daily rate is $395. the top operator is Vacasa with 386 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Galveston regional market, which includes Kemah. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kemah.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kemah is a small Galveston Bay waterfront city of roughly 2,562 residents in the Greater Houston metro, drawing an estimated 4 million visitors annually through its 60-acre Kemah Boardwalk entertainment complex. The short-term rental market reflects that outsized visitor volume relative to the city’s permanent population.
As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $291, occupancy of 40.2%, and RevPAR of $117. The April occupancy dip reflects the shoulder-season pattern typical of this coastal market, with summer months driving the bulk of annual performance.
The active listing base totals approximately 9,216 units based on the latest dimension snapshot. Entire-place listings account for 9,046 of those, representing 98.2% of the market. Private-room listings add another 161, with shared rooms at just 9. The bedroom mix skews toward mid-size units: 3-bedroom listings lead at 2,935, followed closely by 2-bedroom (1,984) and 1-bedroom (1,977) units. Larger properties include 1,553 four-bedroom and 752 five-bedroom listings.
On a year-over-year basis, April 2026 showed occupancy down 1.4 percentage points and ADR down 1.5%, but revenue grew 3.7% compared to April 2025, indicating rate and availability mix shifts are supporting top-line gains despite softer occupancy. Market investability scores 78.0 out of 100 and revenue growth scores 83.4, reflecting positive long-term trends even with moderate near-term softness.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27% | $197 | $1,640 |
| Feb | 39% | $208 | $1,826 |
| Mar | 52% | $274 | $3,605 |
| Apr | 41% | $264 | $3,040 |
| May | 51% | $308 | $4,011 |
| Jun | 67% | $346 | $6,161 |
| Jul | 69% | $331 | $6,105 |
| Aug | 46% | $300 | $3,923 |
| Sep | 35% | $265 | $2,581 |
| Oct | 38% | $245 | $2,594 |
| Nov | 31% | $247 | $2,084 |
| Dec | 32% | $236 | $2,083 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kemah
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 Kemah?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,977 |
| 2 bed | 1,984 |
| 3 bed | 2,935 |
| 4 bed | 1,553 |
| 5 bed | 752 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $399 |
| Luxury | $625 |
| Professionally Managed | $447 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,560 |
| Entire Place | $7,056 |
| House | $8,025 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 23.4% |
| vrbo | 11.5% |
| both | 65% |
Investment Analysis
Kemah’s STR market generates an average monthly revenue of $3,361 per listing as of April 2026, implying annualized gross revenue of approximately $40,328 at current run rates. That figure varies significantly by unit type: houses average $3,837 per month, entire-place listings $3,395, and apartments $2,277.
Rate tier comparisons reveal a meaningful premium for professionally managed and luxury inventory. The all-listings ADR stands at $291, while tier_entire_home comes in at $294 and tier_professionally_managed reaches $321. Luxury-tier listings command an average of $475 per night, a 63% premium over the market average.
Year-over-year revenue in April grew 3.7% despite a 1.4-point occupancy decline and a 1.5% ADR dip, suggesting that operators are filling more nights at slightly lower rates rather than holding firm on price. The 2024 full-year average revenue of $3,470/month and 2025 average of $3,601/month confirm a gradual upward trend after a trough in 2023 ($3,346).
No Zillow housing price data is currently available for this specific area in the database, so a direct gross-yield calculation cannot be made. Investors should source local comparable sale prices independently before underwriting returns. The market’s investability score of 78.0 and revenue-growth score of 83.4 out of 100 suggest favorable operator conditions relative to national benchmarks.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Kemah STRs show an average booking lead time of 37 days as of April 2026, meaning guests typically reserve just over five weeks in advance. This is a relatively short window compared to destination resort markets, reflecting the drive-to nature of the Kemah visitor base, which is concentrated in the Greater Houston metro.
Average length of stay sits at 3.0 nights, consistent with weekend-trip behavior from nearby urban markets. A 3-night average means operators turn units roughly 10 times per month at full occupancy, with meaningful cleaning and restocking costs per stay.
For pricing strategy, the 37-day lead window means last-minute discounting is a relevant tool for shoulder-season fill, but peak summer weekends likely book well inside that window as Houston-area travelers plan Boardwalk trips. Setting firm prices through May for June and July slots, then deploying dynamic pricing for fall openings, aligns with the actual booking behavior this market exhibits.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in Kemah and regulated under City Ordinance 1198. Any dwelling or portion of a dwelling rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days requires a Short-Term Rental Permit from the city. The permit fee is $450 annually, with a credit of up to $150 available to operators who install an approved sound-monitoring system, reducing the net cost to $300 in those cases.
Permits run on the calendar year and expire December 31 regardless of when they were issued. Renewal applications open November 1 each year. A permit also terminates automatically upon a change of ownership.
Within 30 days of application, the city conducts a mandatory on-site inspection that establishes the property’s maximum occupancy and on-site parking limits, and confirms minimum health and safety standards. A property must pass this inspection before the permit is issued.
Kemah imposes a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax on STR revenue, filed monthly or quarterly (quarterly due dates: April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31). A 5% penalty applies for late remittance, and a zero-receipts return is required even in months with no income.
Kemah does not require owner-occupancy or primary residence, and does not cap rental nights per year. The city does solicit neighbor complaints through an online STR reporting page, signaling active enforcement. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. The permit application was updated November 12, 2025.
Market Comparison
Kemah’s April 2026 ADR of $291 is above the approximate U.S. STR median of $220, reflecting the waterfront premium and proximity to the 4-million-visitor Kemah Boardwalk. Occupancy at 40.2% trails the U.S. median of approximately 55%, which is typical for a shoulder month in a heavily seasonal coastal market. July occupancy of 69.5% aligns more closely with peak-season national norms for leisure destinations.
The market’s revenue-growth score of 83.4 out of 100 places it above most comparable Texas coastal markets, and the investability score of 78.0 reflects a favorable regulatory environment (moderate enforcement, no owner-occupancy requirement) and strong seasonal revenue concentration.
The professional management segment is active. Vacasa leads with 386 listings and 21,460 reviews at a 4.39 average rating. Ryson Vacation Rentals by Vtrips holds 370 listings and 7,450 reviews at 4.33. Evolve manages 354 listings with 17,277 reviews at 4.57. Sand N Sea Properties operates 195 listings at 4.66, and Cobb Real Estate rounds out the top five with 190 listings at 4.79. Together the top five operators account for roughly 1,495 managed listings against a total base of approximately 9,216, meaning the large majority of inventory is independently operated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kemah, Texas
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