Owners
What a Durango vacation home earns, and what decides it
A typical Durango short-term rental earns somewhere between $41,000 and $55,000 a year, depending on whose data you trust. The top homes earn roughly double that, and almost everything that separates them is in the owner's control.
Below is what the three most-cited data firms report for Durango, what moves a home from average to excellent, and how to think about your own.
The market, three ways
Each firm counts listings and revenue differently, so their numbers don't match. Taken together, they draw a clear picture.
| Airbtics | Rabbu | BnbCalc | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active listings | 1,256 | 581 | ~1,950 |
| Revenue per year | $55,000 | $45,478 | ~$41,000 |
| Average nightly rate | $262 | $301 | $357 |
| Occupancy | 56% | 37% | 29–31% |
| Period | Feb 2025–Jan 2026 | To Apr 2026 | Oct 2025–Sep 2026 |
One trend shows up everywhere: nightly rates are rising (up 12–16% year over year) while occupancy is flat or falling. Guests are paying more, but they're choosier about where they stay. That rewards the homes that stand out.
Size matters most
Bedrooms drive revenue more than anything else. The largest homes book slightly less often but command far higher rates.
| Bedrooms | Avg revenue / year | Avg nightly rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $40,854 | $242 |
| 3 | $54,698 | $350 |
| 4 | $76,780 | $496 |
| 5 | $97,480 | $724 |
| 6+ | $112,767 | $861 |
Source: Rabbu, trailing twelve months to April 2026.
Summer is the season. The shoulders decide the year.
July is Durango's best month, averaging about $7,260 per home; April is the slowest, at about $1,710. That's a fourfold swing. Summer, June through September, carries the year, with a second bump at Christmas and in March for spring skiing.
Almost every home fills in July. The difference between an average year and a great one is made in April, May, October and November, when guests need a reason to come.
What separates the top homes
BnbCalc puts Durango's high performers at around $77,000 a year and its low performers at around $19,000. The gap isn't luck. It comes down to five things:
1. Photography. Guests decide from the first image. Professional, naturally lit photos are the single cheapest upgrade an owner can make.
2. A hot tub. In Durango, homes with a hot tub are associated with about 22% more revenue (BnbCalc). After a day on the mountain, it's the amenity guests search for.
3. Pricing every day, not every season. With rates rising and occupancy falling, a set-and-forget price either leaves money on the table in July or sits empty in October. Rates should move with events, weather and demand.
4. Reviews and response time. Ranking on Airbnb and VRBO rewards five-star stays and fast replies. A local who answers in minutes, and fixes the hot tub the same afternoon, protects both.
5. A reason to come in the shoulder season. A fall aspen ride with bikes delivered, a spring ski weekend with lift tickets waiting. Homes that sell the trip, not just the beds, fill the months others don't.
What it means for your home
Start with your bedroom count and the table above, then ask honestly how your home scores on those five points. Every one of them is within an owner's control.
If you'd like a real number for your home, built from its size, location and history, we'll send you a personal estimate within two business days. No obligation.
Sources
Airbtics: Airbnb revenue in Durango (data Feb 2025–Jan 2026)
Rabbu: Durango, CO Airbnb market data (as of Apr 2026)
BnbCalc: Durango, CO market (12 months to Sep 2026)
Figures are third-party estimates of Airbnb and VRBO listings and vary by method.