Killeen, Texas Short-Term Rental Market
Killeen STRs averaged $123/night at 59.4% occupancy in April 2026, driven by year-round military demand from nearby Fort Cavazos.
Quick Answer: Killeen, 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 wider Killeen market, which covers 13 areas. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Killeen.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Killeen is a city of approximately 160,616 residents in Bell County, Texas, adjacent to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), one of the largest U.S. Army posts. The proximity to Fort Cavazos generates year-round STR demand from military relocations, temporary duty assignments, graduation ceremonies, and visitor stays that insulate this market from the seasonal swings seen in tourist-dependent markets.
In April 2026, the market recorded an ADR of $123, occupancy of 59.4%, RevPAR of $73, and average monthly revenue of $2,010. Year-over-year, occupancy grew 0.92 percentage points, ADR rose 0.99%, and revenue declined 0.38%, indicating a stable but flat market.
The listing mix includes a meaningful share of private-room rentals, reflecting the room-rental demand common in military markets. Entire-place listings account for 1,464 units (82.6%), private rooms for 292 (16.5%), and one shared room. By bedroom count, three-bedroom (560) and one-bedroom (553) listings are nearly equal, followed by two-bedroom (336), four-bedroom (242), and five-bedroom or larger (65). Airbnb dominates the channel mix at 1,081 listings, with dual-listed at 625 and VRBO at only 51.
The market’s total investment score is 59.9 out of 100. The standout metric is seasonality at 92.7, reflecting the low month-to-month variability in this demand-consistent military market. Investability scores 77.0.
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 Killeen 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 Killeen, so these counts are not Killeen-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 Killeen?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Killeen 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 (Killeen)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Killeen 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 Killeen — 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
Killeen legalized and began actively regulating short-term rentals after the City Council approved an STR program on October 1, 2023, with mandatory registration launching May 1, 2024, under City Code Sec. 31-953. An STR is defined as any room, home, or guest house rented for fewer than 30 days.
Every operator must obtain an annual permit for each property. The permit costs $200 for the first year (including the initial inspection fee) and $100 per year for renewal. Registration is handled through the city’s vendor (Neumo, via hoteltaxonline.com). Each property must pass a health and safety inspection before permit issuance and at each renewal. Operators must carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance for the duration of the permit. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no annual night cap.
The Hotel Occupancy Tax is 15% in total: 7% city, 2% Bell County, and 6% Texas state. The city portion is remitted via Avenu/Avalara and the state portion via the Texas Comptroller. Both must be collected from guests and remitted on a monthly basis.
Enforcement is handled by Code Enforcement and is described as moderate. Operating without a valid permit violates the city Code of Ordinances and may result in citations and fines.
Market Comparison
Killeen’s April 2026 ADR of $123 is well below the national STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the affordable-price-point, mid-market nature of a military-adjacent destination. Occupancy at 59.4% is near the national median of approximately 55%, and the high seasonality score of 92.7 places this market among the most demand-consistent in the country.
The market’s total investment score is 59.9. Investability scores 77.0, reflecting low regulatory barriers, consistent demand, and accessible entry costs. Revenue growth scores 56.6, consistent with the flat year-over-year trajectory in 2025-2026.
The professional management sector is smaller and less consolidated than in resort markets. Second Home Hosting leads with 44 listings and a 4.52 average rating across 243 reviews. Evolve manages 36 listings (4.54 rating, 893 reviews). Baird Rental Management holds 30 listings with the highest rating among the top five at 4.92 (1,121 reviews). Meyers Adventures manages 11 listings (4.86 rating, 376 reviews) and CRIBS manages 6 listings (4.89 rating, 25 reviews). The top five operators together account for only 127 listings, suggesting the market is largely operated by individual owners rather than institutional managers, which may present an opportunity for operators with professional management capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Killeen, Texas
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