Houston Airbnb Market Data
& Investment Analysis

Houston is the energy capital of the world and home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex on the planet. Its short-term rental market holds 14,009 active entire-home listings across 53 neighborhoods that Surge tracks. Over the twelve months ending August 2026, the average listing earned $34,281 in gross revenue at a $184 average nightly rate and 56% occupancy, for revenue per available night of $103. Revenue per listing is up 1.9% year over year.

Houston suits investors who want a large, liquid, regulation-light market with diversified demand. The main things to underwrite are HOA and deed restrictions, which are enforceable regardless of city rules, and flood zone exposure.

Spring is the high season: the Rodeo, convention calendar, and mild weather stack up in March, while January is the slowest month. The average Houston listing earned $3,734 in March against $2,334 in January, a 1.6x swing between the best and worst month. Properties near the Texas Medical Center and the Energy Corridor hold the steadiest year-round occupancy because medical and corporate demand does not follow the leisure calendar.

Inside the 610 Loop you get the highest nightly rates and the strongest weekend demand; the ring just outside the Loop and the northern suburbs trade lower entry prices for slightly lower rates, and the coastal edge toward La Porte and Kemah behaves more like a leisure market.

By gross revenue the strongest neighborhoods are Seabrook, Cypress, and Clear Lake City, averaging $40,420, $39,213, and $37,516 a year. Nightly rates span $132 in Angleton to $236 in Sheldon. On the Surge Score, which also weighs demand consistency and regulatory risk, Angleton, The Woodlands, and Greater Ost rank highest. For value, Angleton, Friendswood, and Pasadena pair below-median nightly rates with above-median occupancy. The full ranking is on the Houston neighborhoods page.

Houston has no zoning and no cap on short-term rentals. Since January 1, 2026 every STR needs a $275 annual Certificate of Registration and must remit 7% city plus 6% state Hotel Occupancy Tax. Read the full Houston STR regulations, including every suburb's rules and the tax filing requirements.

Revenue scales with size. A one-bedroom in Houston averages $22,169 a year at $105 a night, while a four-bedroom averages $47,229 at $277. Larger homes earn more per booking but usually run lower occupancy, so compare revenue per available night, not just nightly rate, when you choose a floor plan. Among tracked amenities, listings with a hot tub earned about 51% more than the Houston baseline; the Insights tab ranks every amenity by revenue, rate, and occupancy lift.

Model a specific purchase with the Houston investment analysis and calculator. Data on this page comes from Surge market data on entire-home listings and was last refreshed 2026-09-10.