Houston Airbnb Market
Trends & Insights
Seasonality, demand drivers, supply growth, and amenity performance for Houston short-term rentals.
Houston Has Opportunity — But Execution Matters
Market Grade
66/100
Surge Score™
Our data-driven market assessment — updated with the latest metrics
Assessment
Houston's short-term rental market earns an overall Surge Score of 66/100, driven by an average monthly revenue of $2,857 across 14,009 active listings with 55.5% average occupancy and a $184 nightly rate.
Over the past year, revenue has grown 1.9% while occupancy is down 3.9%. The market is holding steady — revenue is up but occupancy has softened, suggesting operators are pushing rates higher while the market absorbs new supply.
Seasonality plays a moderate role — peak revenue in March is 45% higher than the January trough. The relatively flat seasonality curve means more predictable cash flow year-round.
The sweet spot for Houston is 4-bedroom properties at $3,936/month. Larger properties command premium nightly rates and attract families and groups, though they require more investment in furnishing and upkeep.
The highest-performing neighborhoods are Seabrook, Cypress, Clear Lake City. These areas consistently outperform the market average — if you're choosing where to buy, these zip codes deserve first consideration.
This analysis is generated from proprietary market data, Census demographics, and economic indicators. Not financial advice — always perform your own due diligence before investing.
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Houston is the energy capital of the world and home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex on the planet. Demand comes from four segments: business travel, medical travel, events, leisure. That mix is why the market holds 56% occupancy across 14,009 listings and why revenue per listing is up 1.9% year over year.
Business travel. Energy, aerospace, and corporate relocation traffic drives strong midweek demand and high weekday ADR.
Medical travel. The Texas Medical Center generates year-round stays from patients, families, and visiting clinicians.
Events. NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and the George R. Brown Convention Center host thousands of events a year, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each March.
Leisure. Space Center Houston, the Museum District, and one of the country's best food scenes fill weekends.
Spring is the high season: the Rodeo, convention calendar, and mild weather stack up in March, while January is the slowest month. The charts below break down seasonality, supply against demand, amenity performance, and our saturation signal month by month. For the neighborhood view, see the Houston neighborhoods page; for rules, the Houston regulations page.
When Does Houston Make Money?
Average monthly revenue & occupancy across 5 years of data
Peak Month
Mar
$3,217/mo · 64% occ
Trough Month
Jan
$2,214/mo · 49.9% occ
Revenue Swing
45%
Peak vs trough variance
Why This Matters for STR Investors
Seasonality is one of the most important factors in underwriting an STR investment. It tells you how much of your annual income is concentrated in a few peak months versus spread evenly throughout the year. In Houston, Mar generates 45% more revenue than Jan — a moderate swing that gives you the best of both worlds. You'll see meaningful revenue bumps during high season without the stress of dramatic off-season dips. This makes cash flow planning more predictable than highly seasonal markets like ski towns or beach destinations. You can still benefit from dynamic pricing during peak months while maintaining solid baseline income year-round.
Revenue & Occupancy Trends
36-month performance trajectory — is this market growing or saturating?
Avg Revenue (Last 12mo)
$2,857
+1.9% YoY
Avg Occupancy (Last 12mo)
55.5%
Current Revenue
$2,784
Latest month
Market Signal
Growing
Revenue & occ trending up
Why This Matters for STR Investors
Revenue and occupancy trends over time reveal whether a market is gaining momentum or losing steam — and that directly impacts your investment thesis. In Houston, revenue is up 1.9% year-over-year while occupancy remains stable. That combination is the strongest signal in STR investing: it means traveler demand is growing faster than new listings are entering the market. When demand outpaces supply, existing operators have pricing power — you can raise rates without losing bookings. This is the ideal window to enter a market because your property will benefit from the rising tide rather than fighting for scraps in an oversaturated space.
Which Amenities Drive the Most Revenue?
How each amenity impacts revenue, rates, and occupancy in Houston
Highest Revenue Lift
Hot Tub
+51.0% vs market avg
Highest ADR Lift
Hot Tub
+65.5% vs market avg
Best for Occupancy
Gym
+11.0% vs market avg
Why This Matters for STR Investors
In Houston, listings with a hot tub earn 51% more revenue than the market average — the single biggest amenity driver. Pool access adds +15% to monthly revenue. These premiums compound with bedroom count: larger properties with premium amenities see the widest gap versus comparable listings without them. Use this data to prioritize renovation spending and amenity investments that directly lift your bottom line.
How Crowded Is Houston?
STR density, competitive landscape, and market concentration
Saturation Level
Moderate Saturation
5.8 STRs per 1K households
Active Listings
14,009
Competing for guests
Market-Wide Occupancy
55.5%
Average across all STRs
Saturation Indicators
STR Density
5.8 per 1K
Below average density — less competition per household
Market Occupancy
55.5%
Lower demand signal — pricing and positioning are key
Annual Revenue per STR
$34,281
Revenue spread across many operators — volume or niche strategy needed
Market Concentration
14%
Revenue is spread evenly — more neighborhoods can perform well
Why This Matters for STR Investors
Market saturation tells you how crowded the playing field is — and it's one of the biggest risks new investors overlook. Houston has 14,009 active short-term rentals across approximately 2400K households, which works out to 5.8 STRs per 1,000 households. For context, heavily saturated resort markets like Kissimmee or Panama City Beach run 15-20+ STRs per 1,000 households. At 5.8, Houston still has room for new operators to enter without being drowned out by competition. Lower saturation generally means less price pressure, higher occupancy rates, and more forgiving margins if your listing isn't perfect from day one. This is especially important for first-time investors who are still learning the operational side. Revenue is relatively well-distributed across neighborhoods, which gives you more flexibility in where you invest without being locked into a small number of 'must-buy' zones.
Market News & STR Alerts
Houston Airbnb Market Insights FAQ
Not on current data. Houston has 14,009 active entire-home listings, and revenue per listing over the last twelve months is up 1.9% year over year. A saturating market shows falling revenue per listing as supply outruns demand. 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. The saturation signal on this page tracks the ratio of listing growth to demand growth each month.
Over the trailing twelve months Houston averaged $184 per night and 56% occupancy, with March the strongest month ($3,734 per listing) and January the weakest ($2,334). Spring is the high season: the Rodeo, convention calendar, and mild weather stack up in March, while January is the slowest month. Listings with a hot tub earned about 51% more than the market baseline. The five-year charts on this page show how rate and occupancy have moved month by month.
Houston short-term rental demand comes from four segments. (1) Business travel: Energy, aerospace, and corporate relocation traffic drives strong midweek demand and high weekday ADR. (2) Medical travel: The Texas Medical Center generates year-round stays from patients, families, and visiting clinicians. (3) Events: NRG Stadium, Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and the George R. Brown Convention Center host thousands of events a year, including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each March. (4) Leisure: Space Center Houston, the Museum District, and one of the country's best food scenes fill weekends.
When new listings grow faster than booked nights, occupancy and nightly rates compress and per-listing revenue falls. Houston's advantage is demand diversification: business travel, medical travel, events, leisure do not all move together, which puts a floor under occupancy. The supply and demand chart on this page tracks active listings, available nights, and booked nights over time; treat supply growth above 20% with demand growth under 10% as a signal to be more selective on neighborhood and property type.
Three things: (1) supply growth in your target neighborhood, since above 15% a year competition intensifies; (2) nightly-rate direction, because falling rates signal oversupply while stable or rising rates (currently $184 in Houston) indicate pricing power; and (3) regulatory changes. 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.
In Houston, listings with a hot tub earned roughly 51% more per year than the market baseline of $34,281. The amenity performance section on this page ranks every tracked amenity by revenue, rate, and occupancy lift so you can prioritize the upgrades that pay back fastest.
Deep Market Analytics
Granular STR performance data, competitive landscape, and demand forecasts
Monthly Revenue Seasonality
19,468
Total Active STR Listings
14 days
Avg Booking Lead Time
3.2 nights
Avg Length of Stay
+12.3%
Supply Growth (YoY)
Revenue Distribution
Competitive Landscape
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