Gloucester, Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Gloucester/Norfolk-VA Beach STRs averaged $221/night at 56.2% occupancy in April 2026 across roughly 9,450 active listings.
Quick Answer: Gloucester, Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 73%. average monthly revenue is $7,033. average daily rate is $388. the top operator is Village Realty with 347 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Norfolk/VA Beach regional market, which includes Gloucester. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Gloucester.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Gloucester/Norfolk-Virginia Beach STR market spans coastal Virginia from the Chesapeake Bay’s Middle Peninsula to the Hampton Roads metro, with approximately 9,450 active listings. In April 2026, the average daily rate was $221 and average occupancy sat at 56.2%, producing a RevPAR of $124. The market has a strong dual-channel presence: 4,192 listings (44%) appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 3,733 (40%) are Airbnb-only, and 1,529 (16%) are VRBO-only. By listing type, entire-place rentals dominate at 8,543 units (90%), with private rooms at 910 and shared rooms negligible at 1. The bedroom mix is evenly distributed across size classes: one-bedrooms at 2,358 listings and two-bedrooms at 2,362 are the most common, followed by three-bedrooms at 1,623, then notably large vacation properties at five-plus-bedrooms (1,769) and four-bedrooms (1,326). Year-over-year, occupancy declined 6.5 percentage points while ADR rose 5.9%, resulting in net revenue growth of 3.9%. The market’s revenue growth score is 98 out of 100, the highest of any metric, reflecting strong and consistent upward momentum in per-listing earnings.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $145 | $1,720 |
| Feb | 52% | $145 | $1,759 |
| Mar | 58% | $164 | $2,277 |
| Apr | 57% | $194 | $2,705 |
| May | 59% | $246 | $3,392 |
| Jun | 71% | $335 | $5,722 |
| Jul | 72% | $324 | $5,883 |
| Aug | 71% | $314 | $5,656 |
| Sep | 51% | $232 | $3,151 |
| Oct | 46% | $184 | $2,312 |
| Nov | 46% | $172 | $2,023 |
| Dec | 44% | $166 | $2,023 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Gloucester
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Village Realty | 347 | 1,946 | ★ 4.38 |
| 2 | Sojourn | 260 | 3,731 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 244 | 8,294 | ★ 4.29 |
| 4 | Brindley Beach Vacation & Sales | 234 | 617 | ★ 4.11 |
| 5 | Christian Taylor Vacations | 200 | 1,555 | ★ 4.58 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Gloucester?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,358 |
| 2 bed | 2,362 |
| 3 bed | 1,623 |
| 4 bed | 1,326 |
| 5 bed | 1,769 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $417 |
| Luxury | $696 |
| Professionally Managed | $504 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,697 |
| Entire Place | $7,516 |
| House | $8,503 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 39.5% |
| vrbo | 16.2% |
| both | 44.3% |
Investment Analysis
Gloucester County and the surrounding coastal Virginia area present a strong investment case. At an April 2026 all-listings revenue average of $3,263 per month, a property generating that figure would produce approximately $39,156 annualized, a gross yield of roughly 10.4% against the typical home value of $377,425. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.883 and median 29 days to pending indicate a buyer-favorable market where negotiating room exists, unlike more competitive metro markets. The tier spread is wide: luxury listings average $468/night versus $221 for the all-market average, and professionally managed listings average $277/night, a 25% premium. Houses outperform all other types at $3,727/month versus $3,492 for entire-place listings generally and $2,651 for apartments. The revenue growth score of 98 out of 100 is a standout metric: annual average revenue grew from $2,422 in 2017 to $3,829 in 2025, a 58% increase over 8 years, and the upward trajectory has been consistent outside the 2022 dip. The investability score of 69 and total market score of 56 reflect reasonable but not exceptional overall conditions, balanced by the high gross yield driven by lower home values relative to revenue generation.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, guests in this market booked an average of 38.4 days in advance with an average length of stay of 4.92 nights. The nearly 5-night average stay is one of the longer average stays in Virginia coastal markets, reflecting the vacation rental character of properties in this area where guests typically arrive for extended beach and waterfront stays rather than quick overnight trips. A 38-day booking window means operators using dynamic pricing tools should set pricing 5+ weeks out to capture the bulk of bookings before the majority of decisions are made. The long average stay also means lower per-booking cleaning and administrative costs, improving net operating income. Operators should consider 4-night minimums during peak summer months to optimize revenue without significantly reducing booking conversion.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Gloucester County, Virginia does not appear to have adopted a specific short-term rental permit or registration ordinance as of May 2026. No county-level STR permit requirement was identified in publicly available records. Operators are required to collect and remit a 6.3% state accommodations sales tax (comprised of 4.3% state rate plus 1% local option plus 1% additional county tax, per Virginia Tax Bulletin 21-6 effective July 1, 2021). Gloucester County may also levy a separate local transient occupancy tax of up to 5% under Virginia Code 58.1-3819; the specific adopted local rate was not confirmed through publicly available sources and operators should verify this directly with the Gloucester County Commissioner of the Revenue. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit state accommodations taxes on behalf of Virginia hosts. There are no identified caps on nights per year, no owner-occupancy requirements, and no special use permit requirements at the county level. Enforcement severity is rated minimal, consistent with the absence of a formal permitting regime. Virginia state law, as amended effective December 31, 2023, prohibits new local ordinances from requiring special use or conditional use permits for owner-occupied STRs.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, the Gloucester/Norfolk-VA Beach market performs near the national median on occupancy. The US STR median occupancy is approximately 55%; this market averaged 56.2% in April 2026, essentially at the national median. The market ADR of $221 matches the US median of approximately $220, placing this market right at the midpoint nationally for pricing. Among operators, Village Realty leads with 347 listings and a 4.38 rating, followed by Sojourn with 260 listings, Vacasa with 244 listings, Brindley Beach Vacation and Sales with 234 listings, and Christian Taylor Vacations with 200 listings. These top 5 collectively manage 1,285 listings, approximately 14% of the total market, indicating moderate consolidation for a market of this size. The revenue growth score of 98 out of 100 is the standout metric placing this market well above the national average on that dimension.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gloucester, Virginia
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Do I need a permit to run an STR in Gloucester County, VA?
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How does the Gloucester/VA Beach market compare to national averages?
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What property type generates the most revenue in this coastal Virginia market?
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