Surge Intelligence
Texas and Florida Airbnb Market Data
Revenue, occupancy, nightly rates, and regulations for 161,188 short-term rentals across 12 Texas and Florida markets and 365 neighborhoods. Updated 2026-10-28.
Texas short-term rental markets compared
Trailing twelve months, entire-home listings. Click a city for neighborhood rankings, regulations, and live investment properties.
| Market | Listings | Avg revenue / yr | Nightly rate | Occupancy | Surge Score | Top neighborhood | STR rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | 13,231 | $45,526 | $234 | 58% | 74 | Westlake Hills $95,170 | Licensed / regulated |
| Houston | 12,803 | $34,303 | $185 | 56% | 66 | Cypress $39,343 | Licensed / regulated |
| Dallas | 10,830 | $40,192 | $202 | 60% | 74 | Red Oak $56,840 | Ban in litigation |
| San Antonio | 9,419 | $37,385 | $197 | 56% | 82 | SAT Airport $47,696 | Licensed / regulated |
| Galveston | 6,718 | $45,899 | $300 | 44% | 70 | Port Bolivar $54,231 | Licensed / regulated |
| Fort Worth | 5,160 | $38,936 | $205 | 57% | 82 | North Richland Hills $51,251 | Restricted zoning |
How the Texas Airbnb markets differ
Texas has no statewide short-term rental permit and no statewide ban, so the investment picture is set city by city. The 6 markets below range from Houston at $34,303 of average annual revenue per listing to Galveston at $45,899, and from licensed / regulated rules in Houston to a residential zoning ban in Fort Worth and a ban tied up in litigation in Dallas. Fort Worth currently holds the highest Surge Score at 82/100.
Austin is the Texas state capital, a major US tech hub, and the live-music and festival capital of the state. The average listing earns $45,526 a year at $234 a night and 58% occupancy; March is the peak month. Austin overhauled its STR rules in 2025: STRs are now a legal accessory use in every residential zone with a two-year operating license (about $836 on first application), platforms must delist unlicensed listings from July 1, 2026, and Hotel Occupancy Tax is 11% city plus 6% state. See Austin neighborhoods and Austin STR regulations.
Houston is the energy capital of the world and home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex on the planet. The average listing earns $34,303 a year at $185 a night and 56% occupancy; March is the peak month. Houston has no zoning and no cap on short-term rentals. See Houston neighborhoods and Houston STR regulations.
Dallas is the corporate and events capital of North Texas, with two dozen Fortune 500 headquarters and the State Fair of Texas. The average listing earns $40,192 a year at $202 a night and 60% occupancy; June is the peak month. Dallas passed a single-family zoning ban on STRs in 2023, but a court injunction has blocked enforcement since December 2023 and STRs continue operating citywide while the Texas Supreme Court case is pending. See Dallas neighborhoods and Dallas STR regulations.
San Antonio is the Alamo, the River Walk, Fiesta, and the largest military presence of any Texas metro. The average listing earns $37,385 a year at $197 a night and 56% occupancy; July is the peak month. San Antonio permits STRs citywide under a two-type permit system: Type 1 for owner-occupied ($300) and Type 2 for non-owner-occupied ($450), each valid three years, with Type 2 units in residential districts capped at 12.5% of a blockface. See San Antonio neighborhoods and San Antonio STR regulations.
Galveston is Texas's beach destination, the state's busiest cruise port, and the densest short-term rental market in Texas. The average listing earns $45,899 a year at $300 a night and 44% occupancy; July is the peak month. Galveston requires every STR unit to hold a $250 annual, non-transferable license through the Rentalscape portal, with the GVR registration number shown on every advertisement and a local contact who can respond within an hour. See Galveston neighborhoods and Galveston STR regulations.
Fort Worth is the Stockyards, Dickies Arena, and a fast-growing north Texas metro with strict residential STR zoning. The average listing earns $38,936 a year at $205 a night and 57% occupancy; June is the peak month. Fort Worth prohibits STRs in nearly all residential districts and actively enforces, so investable inventory is concentrated in commercial and mixed-use zones and in surrounding suburbs with their own rules. See Fort Worth neighborhoods and Fort Worth STR regulations.
Texas
Austin Airbnb Market Data
46 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
74
Avg revenue
$46K
Listings
13,231
Houston Airbnb Market Data
53 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
66
Avg revenue
$34K
Listings
12,803
Dallas Airbnb Market Data
55 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
74
Avg revenue
$40K
Listings
10,830
San Antonio Airbnb Market Data
37 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
82
Avg revenue
$37K
Listings
9,419
Galveston Airbnb Market Data
8 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
70
Avg revenue
$46K
Listings
6,718
Fort Worth Airbnb Market Data
31 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
82
Avg revenue
$39K
Listings
5,160
Florida short-term rental markets compared
Trailing twelve months, entire-home listings. Click a city for neighborhood rankings, regulations, and live investment properties.
| Market | Listings | Avg revenue / yr | Nightly rate | Occupancy | Surge Score | Top neighborhood | STR rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | 38,122 | $50,763 | $253 | 61% | 79 | Championsgate $60,959 | Restricted zoning |
| Kissimmee | 28,140 | $52,068 | $263 | 60% | 85 | Championsgate $60,959 | Licensed / regulated |
| Panama City Beach | 14,407 | $55,155 | $287 | 56% | 65 | Sunnyside $64,525 | Licensed / regulated |
| Fort Lauderdale | 12,128 | $53,608 | $263 | 62% | 66 | Nurmi Isles $130,759 | Licensed / regulated |
| Tampa | 6,394 | $36,426 | $180 | 60% | 64 | Hyde Park $48,707 | Restricted zoning |
| Naples | 3,836 | $56,800 | $319 | 56% | 47 | Naples Park $60,956 | Restricted zoning |
How the Florida Airbnb markets differ
Florida licenses every vacation rental at the state level through the DBPR and, since 2011, has blocked cities and counties from banning them or capping how often they rent, so the local picture comes down to registration programs, grandfathered zoning, and county tax rates. The 6 markets below range from Tampa at $36,426 of average annual revenue per listing to Naples at $56,800. Kissimmee currently holds the highest Surge Score at 85/100.
Orlando is the theme-park capital of the world, anchored by Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and the Orange County Convention Center, with the whole-home vacation rental market concentrated in the Kissimmee and ChampionsGate resort corridor of Osceola County. The average listing earns $50,763 a year at $253 a night and 61% occupancy; March is the peak month. City of Orlando prohibits whole-home short-term rentals in residential zoning and only allows owner-occupied home sharing with a $275 first-year registration. See Orlando neighborhoods and Orlando STR regulations.
Kissimmee is the vacation home capital of Central Florida, minutes from the Walt Disney World gates, where purpose-built resort communities in Osceola County and the Davenport corridor on the Polk County line make up most of the whole-home rental supply. The average listing earns $52,068 a year at $263 a night and 60% occupancy; July is the peak month. Short-term rentals are allowed in unincorporated Osceola County inside the county's rental overlay (the STRPD district and resort communities) with a Florida DBPR license, a $30 Osceola Local Business Tax Receipt, and a self-remitted 6% Tourist Development Tax on top of 6% state sales tax and a 1.5% county surtax, 13.5% combined. See Kissimmee neighborhoods and Kissimmee STR regulations.
Panama City Beach is the Emerald Coast's largest beach rental market, 27 miles of white sand on the Gulf of Mexico with a drive-to guest base from Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, and the rest of the Southeast. The average listing earns $55,155 a year at $287 a night and 56% occupancy; July is the peak month. Panama City Beach allows short-term rentals citywide and regulates them through a Vacation Rental Certificate under Ordinance 1632 ($250 registration, $150 annual re-registration with inspection) backed by a Florida DBPR license, a Bay County Tourist Development Tax registration, and a PCB Business Tax Receipt. See Panama City Beach neighborhoods and Panama City Beach STR regulations.
Fort Lauderdale is the yachting capital of the world and Broward County's beach and cruise hub, with seven miles of beach, Port Everglades, and a canal network that earns it the Venice of America nickname. The average listing earns $53,608 a year at $263 a night and 62% occupancy; March is the peak month. Fort Lauderdale allows short-term rentals citywide but requires a city Vacation Rental Certificate of Compliance ($880 initial application with inspection, $650 or $200 annual renewal), a city Business Tax Receipt, and a Florida DBPR license. See Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods and Fort Lauderdale STR regulations.
Tampa is Tampa Bay's business and medical hub, anchored by Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, MacDill Air Force Base, the University of South Florida, Port Tampa Bay, and Raymond James Stadium, with the Gulf beaches across the bay. The average listing earns $36,426 a year at $180 a night and 60% occupancy; March is the peak month. Both the City of Tampa and unincorporated Hillsborough County limit homes in residential zoning to stays of seven days or longer under rules that predate Florida's 2011 preemption, so nightly stays in ordinary neighborhoods are off the table outside Hillsborough's Resort Dwelling Overlay Districts. See Tampa neighborhoods and Tampa STR regulations.
Naples is Southwest Florida's luxury Gulf coast market, known for Fifth Avenue South, white-sand beaches, championship golf, and the wealthiest seasonal residents in the state. The average listing earns $56,800 a year at $319 a night and 56% occupancy; March is the peak month. The City of Naples enforces a grandfathered 30-day minimum rental period in residential zoning (with three shorter rentals allowed per year), so nightly vacation rentals inside city limits are limited to specific districts. See Naples neighborhoods and Naples STR regulations.
Florida
Orlando Airbnb Market Data
46 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
79
Avg revenue
$51K
Listings
38,122
Kissimmee Airbnb Market Data
16 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
85
Avg revenue
$52K
Listings
28,140
Panama City Beach Airbnb Market Data
9 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
65
Avg revenue
$55K
Listings
14,407
Fort Lauderdale Airbnb Market Data
28 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
66
Avg revenue
$54K
Listings
12,128
Tampa Airbnb Market Data
25 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
64
Avg revenue
$36K
Listings
6,394
Naples Airbnb Market Data
11 neighborhoods · updated September 2026
Surge Score
47
Avg revenue
$57K
Listings
3,836
Texas and Florida Airbnb Market Data FAQ
Which Texas city is best for Airbnb investment?
It depends on what you optimize for. Galveston has the highest average revenue per listing ($45,899 a year), Galveston the highest nightly rate ($300), Dallas the highest occupancy (60%), and Fort Worth the highest Surge Score (82/100), which also weighs regulatory risk and demand consistency. Each city page on this site breaks the market down by neighborhood.
How much does an Airbnb make in Texas?
Across the 58,161 active entire-home listings Surge tracks in 6 Texas markets, average annual revenue runs from $34,303 in Houston to $45,899 in Galveston. Nightly rates range from $185 to $300 and occupancy from 44% to 60%.
Are short-term rentals legal in Texas?
Texas has no statewide ban, and state law does not require a state-level STR permit; the 6% state Hotel Occupancy Tax applies everywhere. Rules are set city by city: Austin (licensed / regulated), Houston (licensed / regulated), Dallas (ban in litigation), San Antonio (licensed / regulated), Galveston (licensed / regulated), Fort Worth (restricted zoning). Each market's regulations page covers the city and every suburb in the metro.
Which Florida city is best for Airbnb investment?
It depends on what you optimize for. Naples has the highest average revenue per listing ($56,800 a year), Naples the highest nightly rate ($319), Fort Lauderdale the highest occupancy (62%), and Kissimmee the highest Surge Score (85/100), which also weighs regulatory risk and demand consistency. Each city page on this site breaks the market down by neighborhood.
How much does an Airbnb make in Florida?
Across the 103,027 active entire-home listings Surge tracks in 6 Florida markets, average annual revenue runs from $36,426 in Tampa to $56,800 in Naples. Nightly rates range from $180 to $319 and occupancy from 56% to 62%.
Are short-term rentals legal in Florida?
Florida has no statewide ban. State law (F.S. 509.032) stops cities and counties from prohibiting vacation rentals or regulating how often or how long they rent, unless the local rule predates June 1, 2011, and every vacation rental needs a Florida DBPR license. The 6% state sales tax plus a county Tourist Development Tax apply everywhere. Local registration rules are set city by city: Orlando (restricted zoning), Kissimmee (licensed / regulated), Panama City Beach (licensed / regulated), Fort Lauderdale (licensed / regulated), Tampa (restricted zoning), Naples (restricted zoning). Each market's regulations page covers the city and every suburb in the metro.
Where does this market data come from?
Short-term rental performance (revenue, nightly rate, occupancy, listing counts, and five-year trends) comes from Surge market data on entire-home listings and is refreshed monthly. Surge tracks 365 neighborhoods across the 12 markets, each with its own page, boundary map, and governing STR jurisdiction.
What is the Surge Score?
The Surge Score is a 0 to 100 rating of a market or neighborhood's short-term rental investment quality. It combines revenue and occupancy performance, demand consistency across the year, supply growth relative to demand, and regulatory risk. Higher is better; scores are comparable across cities and neighborhoods.
Want this analysis for a specific property?
Surge buys, designs, and manages short-term rentals across Texas and Florida. Send us an address and we will underwrite it against the neighborhood data on this site.
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