Jackson, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Jackson, MI STRs averaged $161/night at 49.2% occupancy in April 2026, with July peaks reaching 71% occupancy and $4,113 in monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Jackson, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $1,956. average daily rate is $161. the top operator is Evolve with 368 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Jackson, Michigan is a mid-sized city of approximately 30,854 residents in south-central Michigan, roughly equidistant from Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Kalamazoo. The short-term rental market draws primarily regional drive-market visitors for outdoor recreation, festivals, and motorsports events at nearby Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
The active STR inventory totals approximately 9,101 listings. Entire-place rentals dominate at 8,471 units (93.1%), with private rooms at 651 and shared rooms a negligible 4. Bedroom distribution is relatively balanced: two-bedroom units lead with 2,625, followed by three-bedroom (2,498), one-bedroom (2,246), four-bedroom (1,101), and five-plus-bedroom (631) properties. Airbnb is the primary channel with 4,198 exclusive listings, VRBO holds 1,143 exclusively, and 3,785 properties are listed on both platforms.
In April 2026, the market posted an ADR of $161.22 and occupancy of 49.2%, yielding a RevPAR of $79.35. Year-over-year, occupancy was nearly flat (down just 0.20 percentage points), ADR rose 3.09%, and revenue dipped 2.22%. The market’s overall score is 79.9 out of 100, with investability at a standout 97.3 and revenue growth at 80.6, reflecting strong long-term trajectory even in a recent soft patch.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $144 | $1,621 |
| Feb | 44% | $146 | $1,641 |
| Mar | 44% | $136 | $1,697 |
| Apr | 48% | $143 | $1,717 |
| May | 52% | $168 | $1,965 |
| Jun | 62% | $209 | $3,097 |
| Jul | 71% | $218 | $4,113 |
| Aug | 64% | $214 | $3,777 |
| Sep | 46% | $187 | $2,375 |
| Oct | 45% | $164 | $2,116 |
| Nov | 42% | $148 | $1,770 |
| Dec | 45% | $150 | $1,816 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Jackson
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 368 | 11,383 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Freshwater Vacation Rentals | 61 | 2,562 | ★ 4.85 |
| 3 | LiveSuites | 59 | 1,199 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | Short Term Rentals | 31 | 2,489 | ★ 4.68 |
| 5 | Simple Lyfe Stays | 29 | 2,354 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Jackson?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,246 |
| 2 bed | 2,625 |
| 3 bed | 2,498 |
| 4 bed | 1,101 |
| 5 bed | 631 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $173 |
| Luxury | $335 |
| Professionally Managed | $179 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,522 |
| Entire Place | $2,061 |
| House | $2,081 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 46% |
| vrbo | 12.5% |
| both | 41.5% |
Investment Analysis
Jackson, MI presents a compelling entry-cost argument. The typical home value stands at $189,892 (Zillow, April 2026), among the more affordable entry points in the Midwest STR landscape. Average monthly revenue in April 2026 was $1,956 across all listing types. Annualizing that figure implies approximately $23,478 in gross annual revenue, yielding a gross return of roughly 12.4% against the typical home value. That is a notably high gross yield, though investors should model seasonal variation carefully since the summer peak is substantial.
Rate tiers show a defined premium for managed properties. The all-listings ADR of $161.22 rises to $172.94 for entire-home listings, $178.87 for professionally managed properties, and $335.02 for luxury-tier units. Revenue by type confirms the pattern: houses average $2,081 per month and entire-place listings average $2,061, while apartments trail at $1,522. The revenue growth score of 80.6 out of 100 reflects a multi-year upward trend: annual average revenue climbed from $1,698 in 2017 to $2,745 in 2025, a gain of 62% over eight years. The 2026 partial-year data reflects typical spring seasonality rather than a structural reversal.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, Jackson STR guests booked an average of 41.3 days in advance and stayed an average of 4.2 nights. The 41-day lead time suggests a mix of regional weekend planners who book 4 to 8 weeks out and summer event travelers who book earlier to secure availability around Michigan International Speedway race weekends or summer festivals.
The 4.2-night average stay is solidly above a standard two-night weekend, indicating that a meaningful share of guests are taking extended stays rather than pure overnight stops. This benefits operators by reducing turnover frequency and increasing per-booking revenue. Operators planning around the summer peak should consider setting 3 to 5 night minimums during July and August to maximize revenue per booking while discouraging the operational overhead of single-night stays during the highest-demand period.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Jackson, MI has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. STR operation is legal under the city’s general Chapter 28 zoning code and Chapter 14 housing and minimum-standards code. There is no STR-specific permit, no cap on nights per year, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
The primary compliance step for non-owner-occupied properties is registration with the city’s Community Development Department. Registrations are valid for three years and must be renewed at least 60 days before expiration. Registered properties must pass rental/housing inspections and meet minimum housing standards. Operators should contact Community Development at 517-788-4060 to confirm zoning-district allowances, inspection requirements, and current fee amounts.
On taxes, Michigan applies a 6% state use tax to short-term lodging (stays under 30 days). Effective April 1, 2024, Jackson County added a 3% Lodging and Excise tax to fund the county tourism board. Combined, guests typically pay approximately 9% in accommodation taxes. Enforcement is rated minimal because no dedicated STR enforcement program exists, though the city does actively enforce general rental registration and housing codes.
Market Comparison
Jackson’s April 2026 ADR of $161.22 is below the U.S. short-term rental median of approximately $220, consistent with its positioning as a regional Midwest drive-market rather than a coastal or mountain resort destination. Occupancy at 49.2% is slightly below the national median of roughly 55%, though the near-flat year-over-year trend suggests the market has stabilized. The investability score of 97.3 out of 100 is among the highest possible and reflects the combination of low entry cost and strong revenue relative to home values.
Evolve dominates the operator landscape with 368 listings, a 4.68 average rating across 11,383 reviews, representing approximately 4.0% of total supply. Freshwater Vacation Rentals is the second-largest operator with 61 listings and an impressive 4.85 average rating across 2,562 reviews. LiveSuites holds 59 listings at a 4.67 rating. Short Term Rentals ranks fourth with 31 listings and a 4.68 rating across 2,489 reviews, and Simple Lyfe Stays rounds out the top five with 29 listings and a 4.85 rating. The top five operators together account for approximately 548 listings, roughly 6.0% of the 9,101-listing market, confirming that supply is broadly fragmented across individual operators.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jackson, Michigan
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