Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Boston? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in Boston:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Boston?
The short-term rental market in Boston shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $3,810 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $6,664 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $9,896+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $1,794
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Boston
The market in Boston shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 58% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 79% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 90%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 29%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Boston
Daily rates in Boston vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $193 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $305 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $466+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $111
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Boston
Peak Season (October, September, May)
- Revenue peaks at $6384.76 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 65.97%
- Daily rates average $282.24
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $4919.22 per month
- Occupancy maintains 54.35%
- Daily rates hold at $243.00
Low Season (February, December, January)
- Revenue drops to $2358.55 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 38.51%
- Daily rates adjust to $204.79
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Boston in 2025?
Yes! Boston demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a healthy occupancy rate of 54% and strong monthly revenue averaging $4919 and As a mature market with 2565 active listings, there's strong demand despite the competition. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in Boston
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Back Bay | Famous for its Victorian brownstones, shopping on Newbury Street, and being home to many cultural attractions. A prime spot for both tourists and business travelers. | Copley Square, Prudential Center, Boston Public Library, Newbury Street, Trinity Church |
| Beacon Hill | One of Boston's oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods, known for its brick sidewalks and historic buildings. Very popular with visitors wanting a charming experience close to downtown. | Acorn Street, Massachusetts State House, Charles Street, Boston Common, Public Garden |
| South End | Known for its trendy restaurants, art galleries, and Victorian brownstones. A vibrant neighborhood attractive to young professionals and those wanting to explore local culture. | The Boston Center for the Arts, Dining at Tremont Street, SoWa Open Market, South End Art & Design, Bertoia Collection |
| North End | Boston's Little Italy, celebrated for its rich culture, delicious food, and vibrant atmosphere. A must-visit for tourists seeking authentic Italian cuisine. | Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Hanover Street, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Bova's Bakery |
| Seaport District | A rapidly growing area with modern development, waterfront views, and numerous restaurants. Great for business travelers and tourists enjoying a modern Boston experience. | Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Institute of Contemporary Art, Seaport Boulevard, Harpoon Brewery, Legal Sea Foods |
| Fenway-Kenmore | Home to Fenway Park and a mix of cultural attractions. Appeals to sports fans and visitors wanting to enjoy a fun, vibrant area. | Fenway Park, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Kenmore Square, Emerald Necklace Parks |
| Dorchester | Boston's largest neighborhood, offering a mix of culture, history, and local flavor. Attractive for those wanting a more authentic experience away from tourist hotspots. | Dorchester Park, Franklin Park Zoo, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Ashmont Theatre, Neponset River Reservation |
| Charlestown | Known for its historic sites and waterfront views. Close to downtown Boston and offers a charming, residential feel with visitor appeal. | Bunker Hill Monument, USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Mystic River, The Hill House |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Boston?
Yes, Boston requires a license for operating an Airbnb. Current market data shows 70% of active listings maintain proper licensing, confirming this requirement. Getting licensed is an essential first step before listing your property.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Boston
Spacious 3 Bed 2.5 Bath Home Top Loc. w/Parking
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
3 Bdrm 2BA Apt Quiet Spotless Parking Top Location
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Luxurious & Spacious Townhome
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Spacious, Sun-filled Brownstone in Heart of Boston
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Art Penthouse / Roofdeck in the Heart of Boston
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Brownstone Townhouse in Fenway
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Boston
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healing Homes | 58 | $6,971,250 | 7044 | 4.69/5.0 |
| Healing Homes | 72 | $6,660,368 | 7894 | 4.60/5.0 |
| Healing Homes | 60 | $6,077,056 | 7353 | 4.72/5.0 |
| Maverick | 88 | $4,830,711 | 13034 | 4.66/5.0 |
| Paige | 73 | $4,798,662 | 6188 | 4.77/5.0 |
| Adam | 45 | $3,398,950 | 465 | 3.83/5.0 |
| Evonify MA | 51 | $2,776,305 | 2269 | 4.36/5.0 |
| Thatch | 47 | $1,638,262 | 1525 | 4.30/5.0 |
| Jason | 19 | $1,527,411 | 1705 | 4.94/5.0 |
| Sonder (Boston) | 21 | $1,322,948 | 1707 | 4.41/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Boston
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by entire home listings (72.4%), with apartment & condo and house properties comprising 94.7% of inventory
- Untapped potential in others, boutique & hotels, outdoor & mobile segments (5.3% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 2,565 properties in Boston shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 35.7% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms together representing 55.8% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (35.7%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (1.6%)
- Market concentration: 55.8% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 2,565 properties in Boston reveals that 2 guests properties dominate the market, representing 29.7% of all listings. The average property accommodates 3.0 guests, with a clear trend towards smaller guest capacities. Properties accommodating 2 guests and 4 guests make up 45.1% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 2 guests (29.7% of market)
- Least common capacity: 7 guests (1.4% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 3.0 guests per property
- Market concentration: 45.1% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly smaller guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 2,565 properties in Boston, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (32.1% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 181-270 days (26.3% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 271-366 days (32.1%)
- Most common booking duration: 181-270 days (26.3%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 53.4%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 47.8%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
535 listings
23.6% of total
2 Nights
497 listings
21.9% of total
3 Nights
186 listings
8.2% of total
4-6 Nights
138 listings
6.1% of total
7-29 Nights
485 listings
21.4% of total
30+ Nights
429 listings
18.9% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 45.5%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 6.1% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (18.9%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 53.7% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Consider monthly stay discounts to capture the growing extended-stay market
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Super Strict 30 Days
15 listings
0.7% of total
Super Strict 60 Days
18 listings
0.8% of total
Refundable
1 listings
0% of total
Non-refundable
1 listings
0% of total
Flexible
280 listings
13.2% of total
Moderate
393 listings
18.6% of total
Firm
552 listings
26.1% of total
Strict
858 listings
40.5% of total
Key Insights
- Strict is the preferred policy at 40.5% of listings
- Stricter policies (Firm & Strict) dominate at 66.6% of the market
- Strong market consensus around Strict policies
- Non-refundable policies are least common at 0.0% of listings
Recommendations
- The market supports stricter policies, with 66.6% using Firm or Strict terms
- Strong market preference for Strict policies suggests this should be your baseline
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in May, Apr, Jul, averaging 73 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Feb, Dec, Jan, averaging 38 days
- Spring shows the longest average booking window at 68 days, while Winter has the shortest at 38 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Spring bookings at least 68 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Winter to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Feb-Jan when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Boston
Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in Boston:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 79.6% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: Canada (4.7%) and United Kingdom (3.2%)
- English is the top language at 70.1%, followed by Spanish (14.7%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 6.6%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for New York and Boston markets
- Develop localized content for Canada and United Kingdom
- Prioritize English and Spanish language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding Boston. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milford | 11 | $7,203 | $539.76 | 62% |
| Nantucket | 560 | $6,766 | $978.35 | 41% |
| Town of East Hampton | 1,437 | $6,201 | $979.48 | 37% |
| Milton | 12 | $6,009 | $437.69 | 52% |
| Pomfret | 15 | $5,871 | $468.18 | 51% |
| Middletown | 381 | $5,774 | $551.70 | 45% |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | 14 | $5,528 | $467.31 | 53% |
| Westminster | 11 | $5,502 | $390.76 | 57% |
| Hanover | 25 | $5,431 | $761.11 | 37% |
| Scituate | 84 | $5,295 | $535.40 | 48% |
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