We’re in the middle of ski season, and while some Americans are watching the Olympic skiing, others are thinking about what it would be like to have a mountain home to rent on Airbnb.
AirDNA—a firm that aggregates and analyzes Vrbo and Airbnb data—recently identified the top 10 mountain markets for short-term rental properties.
According to an AirDNA economist Jamie LaneMountain destinations are among the strongest segments of the short-term rental market.
“Many of the most popular markets in the mountains have seen significant increases in home prices over the past few years,” Lane tells Realtor.com®. “Markets in this range often benefit from steady, seasonal demand and less expensive home prices than those in higher mountain areas. That combination can create a balanced investment profile, with strong income potential compared to acquisition costs.”
AirDNA ratings include the northern states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia; Southern Kentucky region; and the warm areas of the West such as Arizona and California.
Hot spots that are under the radar
Chloe GarlaschiAirDNA’s communications manager, says a few standouts include areas near the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, and New York’s Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley regions.
“These are not necessarily the most popular places in the mountains, but they combine reliable demand with accessible entry prices, which support strong potential. [return on investment],” he told Realtor.com
These areas serve more as regional resorts than major aviation resorts.
“That generally means strong weekend demand related to proximity to major metros, but also seasonality,” it said. Hannah Jonessenior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.
“The common thread in all these markets is relatively low prices compared to large resort towns, coupled with a reliance on regional tourism rather than domestic or international travel.”
Top 10 hill towns
To put the ratings together, AirDNA got a positive yield—it measures the market’s average revenue potential against its listing prices. Simply put, the company analyzed how much revenue the property could generate versus what it would cost to buy.
Based on that methodology, these are the top cities in the mountains to own a short-term rental investment property, according to AirDNA.
1. East Stroudsburg, PA
Mountain: The Poconos
Median list price: $389,450
Average yield: 15.1%
Average annual income: $55,000
“The Poconos are one of the most established short-term rental regions in the Northeast, benefiting from easy access to New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia,” Jones said. “Demand varies throughout the seasons, skiing in the winter, pools and water parks in the summer, and foliage in the fall, which helps smooth revenue compared to seasonal markets only.”
2. Emerald Lakes, PA
Mountain: The Poconos
Median listing price: $398,000
Average yield: 13.9%
Average annual income: $59,000
Poconos real estate agent Jennifer Mazzellat eXp Realty, says, “99% of my clients are experienced investors who know that the Poconos is one of the best markets to grow their short-term rental portfolio.
“We’re entering a seller’s market,” he told Realtor.com. “Low inventory with strong demand for active investment properties often leads to short days on market and oversupply conditions. Large buyers must be ready to move quickly and make decisions about new assets.”
3. Reading, PA
Mountain: Appalachian Foothills / Hawk Mountain region
Median listing price: $254,950
Average yield: 13.4%
Average annual income: $36,000
“Demand for Airbnbs in Reading is diverse and reliable, mountain recreation is playing a growing role in how visitors plan their trips,” said Lane.
“Hawk Mountain and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains attract spring and summer vacationers for hiking, scenic spots, and nature-focused getaways, while nearby outdoor amenities like Gring’s Mill Recreation Area and Nolde Forest help extend weekend stays.”
4. Elmira, NY
Mountain: Finger Lakes/Southern Tier Hills
Median list price: $126,000
Average yield: 12.9%
Average annual income: $28,000
“The Finger Lakes region excels in experiential tourism, including wine trails, lakeside recreation, and scenic landscapes, which drive continued demand for recreation, especially in the summer and fall,” Jones said.
5. Kingston, NY
Mountain: Catskills
Median list price: $425,000
Average yield: 12.2%
Average annual income: $56,000
“The Hudson Valley benefits from strong and consistent demand from New York City’s weekend, year-round appeal of food, art, hiking, and fall foliage,” Jones said.
6. Safford, AZ
Mountain: Mount Graham/Pinaleno Mountains
Median list price: $345,000
Average yield: 10.8%
Average annual income: $38,000
“Safford, AZ, is one of the most undervalued markets around the mountains in the Southwest, and home prices are still under $200,000, which is almost a price that buyers from Phoenix and Tucson find hard to believe,” it said. Saint Rhodesreal estate specialist at Clever Offers.
7. Desert Hot Springs, CA
Mountain: San Jacinto and Little San Bernardino Mountains
Median list price: $430.995
Average yield: 10.4%
Average annual income: $48,000
“We are getting a lot of buyers in Desert Hot Springs who are buying properties to rent [out] on Airbnb,” a real estate agent Shana Gatesby Craft & Bauer, tells Realtor.com. “The mountains throughout the Coachella Valley are amazing for hiking, with hundreds of beautiful hikes to enjoy, including the trail to Tahquitz Falls.”
8. Rogers, KY
Mountain: Sandstone Cliffs/Red River Gorge
Median list price: $459,500
Average yield: 10.4%
Average annual income: $49,000
“Rogers is consistent with what we often see in nature-led mountain markets, where demand is driven by outdoor activities near places like the Red River Gorge rather than major tourist destinations,” Lane told Realtor.com. “This property’s appeal in terms of cabins, privacy, and outdoor entertaining supports short-term rental interest, and with approximately $49,000 in income and a double-digit yield, it presents a balanced investment profile among a wide range.”
9. Redding, CA
Mountain: Shasta-Cascade County
Median list price: $449,950
Average yield: 10.4%
Average annual income: $53,000
“Redding, CA, attracts different types of investors,” Rhodes said. “These are buyers who are focused on purchasing and cash flow as a secondary motivator, targeting price points under $200,000 while enjoying the benefits of strong local tourism.”
10. Staunton, VA
Mountain: Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive
Median list price: $370,000
Average yield: 10.2%
Average annual income: $43,000
“We’re seeing investors with a proven track record buying properties in Staunton where they know they can use their knowledge of the market with strong design and unique features,” said the real estate agent. Sydney Robertsonof Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates.
