We’re right in the middle of ski season, and while some Americans are tuning in to watch Olympic skiing, others are imagining what it would be like to own a mountain home they could rent out on Airbnb.
AirDNA—a firm that compiles and analyzes Vrbo and Airbnb data—recently identified the top 10 mountain markets to buy short-term rental real estate.
According to AirDNA chief economist Jamie Lane, mountain destinations are among the most resilient segments of the short-term rental market.
“Many of the most popular mountain markets have seen substantial increases in home values in the past few years,” Lane tells Realtor.com®. “The markets on this list tend to benefit from steady, multiseason demand and more affordable home prices than those in top mountain destinations. That combination can create a more balanced investment profile, with strong revenue potential relative to acquisition costs.”
AirDNA’s rankings include the Northern states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia; the Southern state of Kentucky; as well as warmer Western destinations such as Arizona and California.
Under-the-radar mountain hot spots
Chloé Garlaschi, communications manager of AirDNA, says a few standouts include areas near the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, along with New York’s Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley regions.
“These aren’t necessarily the most famous mountain destinations, but they combine reliable demand with more accessible entry prices, which supports stronger [return on investment],” she tells Realtor.com
These locations function more as regional getaway spots rather than major fly-in resort hubs.
“That typically means strong weekend demand tied to proximity to large metros, but also pronounced seasonality,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com.
“The common thread across these markets is relatively affordable prices compared to big-name resort towns, paired with dependence on regional tourism rather than national or international travel.”
Top 10 mountain towns
To compile the rankings, AirDNA zeroed in on yield—measuring the average revenue potential of homes on the market against their listing prices. Put simply, the company analyzed how much income a property could produce relative to what it would cost to purchase.
Based on that methodology, these are the top mountain towns for owning a short-term rental investment property, according to AirDNA.
1. East Stroudsburg, PA
Mountain: The Poconos
Median listing price: $389,450
Average yield: 15.1%
Average annual revenue potential: $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,” says Jones. “Demand is diversified across seasons, ski in winter, lakes and waterparks in summer, and foliage in fall, which helps smooth revenue compared to purely seasonal markets.”
2. Emerald Lakes, PA
Mountain: The Poconos
Median listing price: $398,000
Average yield: 13.9%
Average annual revenue potential: $59,000
Poconos real estate agent Jennifer Mazzell, at eXp Realty, says, “99% of my clients are savvy investors who know the Poconos are one of the best markets to grow their short-term rental portfolio.
“We are entering a seller’s market,” she tells Realtor.com. “Low inventory with a strong demand for viable investment properties often leads to shorter days on the market and multiple-offer situations. Serious buyers have to be ready to move quick and make decisions on new inventory.”
3. Reading, PA
Mountain: Appalachian Foothills/Hawk Mountain region
Median listing price: $254,950
Average yield: 13.4%
Average annual revenue potential: $36,000
“Demand for Airbnbs in Reading is diversified and dependable, with mountain recreation playing a growing role in how visitors plan trips,” says Lane.
“Hawk Mountain and the surrounding Appalachian foothills draw spring and summer travelers for hiking, scenic overlooks, and nature-focused getaways, while nearby outdoor assets like Gring’s Mill Recreation Area and Nolde Forest help extend weekend stays.”
4. Elmira, NY
Mountain: Finger Lakes/Southern Tier Hills
Median listing price: $126,000
Average yield: 12.9%
Average annual revenue potential: $28,000
“The Finger Lakes region stands out for experiential tourism, including wine trails, lakefront recreation, and scenic landscapes, which drive steady leisure demand, particularly in summer and fall,” says Jones.
5. Kingston, NY
Mountain: Catskills
Median listing price: $425,000
Average yield: 12.2%
Average annual revenue potential: $56,000
“The Hudson Valley benefits from strong and consistent demand from New York City weekenders, with year-round appeal tied to dining, arts, hiking, and fall foliage,” says Jones.
6. Safford, AZ
Mountain: Mount Graham/Pinaleno Mountains
Median listing price: $345,000
Average yield: 10.8%
Average annual revenue potential: $38,000
“Safford, AZ, is one of the most undervalued markets adjacent to the mountains in the Southwest, with home prices still below $200,000, which is almost a price point buyers coming from Phoenix and Tucson find hard to believe,” says Sain Rhodes, real estate expert at Clever Offers.
7. Desert Hot Springs, CA
Mountain: San Jacinto and Little San Bernardino Mountains
Median listing price: $430,995
Average yield: 10.4%
Average annual revenue potential: $48,000
“We do get a lot of buyers in Desert Hot Springs who purchase properties to rent [out] on Airbnb,” real estate agent Shana Gates, with Craft & Bauer, tells Realtor.com. “The mountains throughout the Coachella Valley are incredible for hiking, since there are hundreds of beautiful scenic hikes to enjoy, including a trail to the Tahquitz Falls waterfall.”
8. Rogers, KY
Mountain: Sandstone Cliffs/Red River Gorge
Median listing price: $459,500
Average yield: 10.4%
Average annual revenue potential: $49,000
“Rogers aligns with what we typically see in nature-led mountain markets, where demand is driven by outdoor experiences around destinations like Red River Gorge rather than large-scale tourism hubs,” Lane tells Realtor.com. “The area’s appeal around cabins, privacy, and outdoor recreation supports steady short-term rental interest, and with roughly $49,000 in revenue potential and a double-digit yield, it reflects a relatively balanced investment profile within the broader list.”
9. Redding, CA
Mountain: Shasta-Cascade Region
Median listing price: $449,950
Average yield: 10.4%
Average annual revenue potential: $53,000
“Redding, CA, attracts different types of investors,” says Rhodes. “These are affordability-focused buyers with cash flow as a secondary motivator, targeting sub-$200,000 price points while still enjoying the benefits of the area’s strong tourism.”
10. Staunton, VA
Mountain: Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive
Median listing price: $370,000
Average yield: 10.2%
Average annual revenue potential: $43,000
“We are seeing investors with proven track records buy strategically in Staunton where they know they can implement their knowledge of the market with robust design and differentiated amenities,” says real estate agent Sydney Robertson, of Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates.
