Alexandria, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Alexandria STRs averaged $185/night at 69.2% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 20,100 active listings.
Quick Answer: Alexandria, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 69%. average monthly revenue is $3,504. average daily rate is $185. the top operator is Blueground with 664 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Washington DC/Alexandria short-term rental market is one of the largest in the Mid-Atlantic, with roughly 20,100 active listings across the metro area. In April 2026, average daily rates reached $185 and average occupancy sat at 69.2%, producing a RevPAR of $128. The market skews heavily toward Airbnb: 13,486 listings are Airbnb-only, 5,656 appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, and only 980 list exclusively on VRBO. By listing type, entire-place rentals dominate at 14,881 units (74%), with private rooms accounting for 5,173 listings (26%) and shared rooms a negligible 68. By bedroom count, studios and one-bedrooms lead at 11,396 listings, followed by two-bedrooms at 4,304, three-bedrooms at 2,184, four-bedrooms at 1,234, and five-plus-bedrooms at 915. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 21.0 percentage points while ADR declined 2.6%, resulting in essentially flat revenue growth (-0.08%). The market’s rental demand score is 78 out of 100 and its seasonality score is 84 out of 100, reflecting consistent year-round demand driven by government, policy, and tourism traffic.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52% | $118 | $1,792 |
| Feb | 59% | $118 | $1,810 |
| Mar | 70% | $143 | $2,663 |
| Apr | 67% | $150 | $2,777 |
| May | 70% | $148 | $2,806 |
| Jun | 75% | $149 | $2,947 |
| Jul | 72% | $138 | $2,713 |
| Aug | 66% | $138 | $2,545 |
| Sep | 66% | $136 | $2,452 |
| Oct | 69% | $146 | $2,784 |
| Nov | 60% | $135 | $2,277 |
| Dec | 58% | $130 | $2,152 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Alexandria
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blueground | 664 | 514 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | WeHost | 373 | 6,479 | ★ 4.28 |
| 3 | Sojourn | 323 | 13,478 | ★ 4.75 |
| 4 | Global Luxury Suites | 231 | 2,897 | ★ 4.20 |
| 5 | Evolve | 223 | 5,141 | ★ 4.39 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Alexandria?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 11,396 |
| 2 bed | 4,304 |
| 3 bed | 2,184 |
| 4 bed | 1,234 |
| 5 bed | 915 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $222 |
| Luxury | $391 |
| Professionally Managed | $223 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,550 |
| Entire Place | $4,187 |
| House | $3,462 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 67% |
| vrbo | 4.9% |
| both | 28.1% |
Investment Analysis
Alexandria presents a moderate investment case backed by strong occupancy but compressed ADR relative to entry costs. At an April 2026 revenue average of $3,504 per month, a typical property generating that figure would produce roughly $42,048 annualized, a gross yield of approximately 6.2% against the current typical home value of $679,447. The sale-to-list ratio of 1.061 and median 8 days to pending signal a competitive acquisition environment with little room to negotiate below list. The tier gap is meaningful: luxury listings average $391/night versus $185 for the all-listings average, and professionally managed listings average $223/night. Investors who acquire higher-end properties or engage professional management can target per-night rates 20-110% above the market average. Entire-place rentals average $4,187/month in revenue versus $3,462 for houses and $3,550 for apartments. The total market score is 50 out of 100, with investability at 50 and revenue growth at 47, signaling that while demand is solid, return compression from high purchase prices limits upside. Revenue grew steadily from $1,815/month in 2017 to $3,095 in 2024 before dipping to approximately $3,038 in 2025, suggesting the market has matured.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Alexandria)
Booking Insights
In April 2026, Alexandria STR guests booked an average of 36.5 days in advance with an average length of stay of 4.8 nights. The 36-day lead time is above the national average for urban markets, reflecting the mix of planned government visits, policy conferences, and leisure travel that characterize Washington DC metro demand. For operators, a 36-day booking window means dynamic pricing adjustments made 5+ weeks out can still capture the majority of bookings. The 4.8-night average stay is notably longer than typical urban markets (usually 2-3 nights), reducing turnover costs and cleaning frequency. Operators with minimum-stay settings of 3-4 nights should find strong acceptance in this market, while 2-night minimums over weekends may leave revenue on the table for guests who would otherwise extend stays.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Alexandria adopted Ordinance No. 5575 on March 15, 2025, effective September 1, 2025, replacing a voluntary registry with a mandatory annual permitting system. Any residential property rented short-term for more than 10 days per calendar year must hold a city-issued permit obtained through the APEX online portal. The annual permit fee is $350 for investor-owned (non-owner-occupied) properties and $100 for owner-occupied units. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, meaning investor-owned STRs are explicitly permitted. No annual maximum nights cap applies. Maximum occupancy is 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, capped at 10. A property and its ADU cannot both be simultaneously listed as separate STRs. Parking minimums apply: 0.75 spaces per bedroom outside transit areas and 0.25 spaces per bedroom within Enhanced Transit Areas. The combined tax burden includes a 9.5% transient lodging tax plus an additional $1.25 per room per night for units accommodating 4 or more persons, plus applicable sales taxes, bringing the effective total to approximately 15.5% plus the flat per-night charge. Hosts must install and photograph smoke detectors, CO alarms, and fire extinguishers, and must notify adjacent property owners by certified mail. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, the Alexandria/Washington DC market outperforms on occupancy. The US STR median occupancy is approximately 55%; Alexandria averaged 69.2% in April 2026, roughly 14 percentage points above the national median. The market ADR of $185 is below the US median of approximately $220, reflecting the significant share of smaller urban apartments and private rooms that pull the average down. Among operators, Blueground leads with 664 listings, followed by WeHost with 373, Sojourn with 323, Global Luxury Suites with 231, and Evolve with 223. These top 5 operators collectively manage approximately 1,814 listings, about 9% of the total market, indicating a fragmented market where individual hosts retain the majority of inventory. The market’s total score of 50 out of 100 and investability score of 50 suggest average national investment attractiveness despite the above-average occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alexandria, Virginia
What is the average occupancy rate for STRs in the Washington DC/Alexandria area?
How much can an STR in Alexandria earn per month?
Do I need a permit to operate an STR in Alexandria, VA?
What are the tax obligations for Alexandria STR hosts?
When is the best time to rent an STR in the Washington DC area?
Which booking platform dominates the Washington DC/Alexandria STR market?
How does professional management affect nightly rates in this market?
Analyze Alexandria Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Alexandria.
Free Alexandria STR Calculator →
