What Akron's No. 2 Short-Term Rental Ranking Means for Ohio Real Estate Investors

Akron, Ohio is the second-best short-term rental market in the United States, according to a September 2026 AirDNA report first covered by Inman News. The report projects a 13 percent annual yield on an average home value under $325,000, with roughly $40,000 in annual revenue potential and listing growth above 10 percent. Two more Ohio towns, Geneva and Millersburg, made the same list of 17 markets.

What did the AirDNA short-term rental report find?

As Inman News reported on September 21, 2026, AirDNA, which analyzes Airbnb and Vrbo performance data, screened U.S. markets for three things: between 400 and 1,000 active listings, annual yields of 10 percent or more, and fewer than 20 percent of properties run by professional management companies. The result is a list of small and mid-size markets where an individual investor can still buy in at a reasonable price and compete without going up against large operators.

Rockford, Illinois took the top spot at a 14 percent yield on a $300,442 average home value, with $40,024 in annual revenue potential. Akron came in second, and Warner Robins, Georgia third at 12 percent. The rest of the list leans heavily Midwest and rural: Utica, New York; Otsego Lake and Houghton, Michigan; Michigan City and Gary, Indiana; Castle Rock Lake, Wisconsin; Manhattan, Kansas; Lawton, Oklahoma; Midland and Terlingua, Texas; Nolin River Lake, Kentucky; Dunnellon, Florida; and Geneva and Millersburg, Ohio.

Two demand drivers came up again and again: military installations and natural attractions. AirDNA's Bram Gallagher put it plainly: "Affordability combined with unique demand generators regularly pulls people into these markets."

Why did three Ohio markets make the list?

Each of the three has a different reason to be there, and the differences matter more than the ranking.

Akron is the only true metro on the Ohio list. Demand comes from the University of Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park on the city's north edge, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and its enshrinement week in nearby Canton, and a steady flow of medical, corporate, and relocation travelers. Home values are still well below Columbus and Cincinnati, which is what produces the 13 percent yield: the same nightly rate on a cheaper house.

Geneva, in Ashtabula County, sits at the center of the Grand River Valley wine region and a short drive from Geneva-on-the-Lake on Lake Erie. It is a classic seasonal leisure market: strong summer and fall weekends, quieter winters, and a visitor base that mostly drives in from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Columbus.

Millersburg, in Holmes County, is the seat of Ohio's Amish Country and draws year-round tourism to a small town with a limited hotel supply. That combination, high visitor demand and few conventional rooms, is exactly what short-term rentals fill.

So what does this mean for Ohio home investors?

The entry price is the story, not the yield. A 13 percent yield on a $325,000 house is a different investment from a 13 percent yield on a $900,000 house, because the down payment, the carrying cost during vacancy, and the downside if regulations change are all smaller. AirDNA's Linda Rollins made the same point: with mortgage rates where they are, affordable markets are where a decent down payment is still achievable. For Ohio investors, that is a home-field advantage. You can buy in Akron, Geneva, or Millersburg without leaving the state, and you can drive to the property.

Yield projections are averages, and averages hide a lot. AirDNA's $40,000 revenue figure is a market-wide projection. Within Akron, a renovated three-bedroom near Highland Square or within walking distance of the university will perform very differently from a dated two-bedroom on the outskirts. Before you underwrite a property, pull the comparable listings within a half mile, look at their actual booked nights, and assume you will land below the market average in year one.

Regulation is the variable that changes the math. Short-term rental rules in Ohio are set city by city and township by township. Akron has regulated short-term rentals since January 2023 under Ordinance 291-2022 (Article 37 of the city code): every short-term rental needs an annual registration certificate from the city, currently $250 per year, and the city collects a 5.5 percent short-term rental excise tax on top of Summit County's lodging tax. Certificates can be revoked for delinquent city taxes or utility bills. Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland likewise require permits or registration and collect lodging taxes. Geneva and Millersburg operate under their own local rules and county lodging taxes. A property that is legal to operate today may face new limits after the next council vote, so read the ordinance before you read the listing, and build a long-term-rental fallback into your numbers.

Rising listing counts cut both ways. AirDNA noted that revenue per available room kept growing in these markets even as listings grew more than 10 percent. That is a healthy sign, but it also means the low-competition window narrows every quarter. Markets that make a national list tend to attract exactly the professional operators the list was built to exclude.

The same logic applies outside the top 17. The report's demand drivers, military bases and natural attractions, describe several Ohio areas that did not make the cut because they fell outside AirDNA's listing-count range. Fairborn and Beavercreek sit at the gates of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in Ohio with a workforce of about 38,000, and constant temporary-duty and relocation traffic. Hocking Hills, Lake Erie's islands, and the Mohican area all carry strong seasonal demand. An investor who understands why Akron ranked can apply the same screen to the market closest to home.

How should an Ohio investor evaluate a short-term rental purchase?

Work through five questions before making an offer. What are the local rules, and is the property eligible under them today? What do comparable listings within a half mile actually earn, by month, not by year? What is the total monthly carrying cost, including county property tax, insurance rated for short-term use, utilities, and a management or cleaning allowance, and can you cover it through a slow season? What would the property rent for as a standard 12-month lease if short-term rentals were restricted? And what is the exit: does the house make sense as a resale to an owner-occupant, or only to another investor?

If the numbers hold up on all five, the property is a candidate. If they hold up only on the yield projection, keep looking.

Where can I learn more about investing in Ohio real estate?

Glasshouse Realty works with investors across the state. Our Investor Academy covers financing, property analysis, and Ohio landlord basics. Our market guides for Akron–Canton and Greater Cleveland, which includes Ashtabula County and Geneva, show county-level pricing and current listings, and the Greater Dayton guide covers the Wright-Patterson corridor. Use the Ohio mortgage calculator to estimate a full monthly payment, including county property tax, on any zip code.

Frequently asked questions

Is Akron a good place to buy a short-term rental?

AirDNA ranked Akron the No. 2 short-term rental market in the U.S. in September 2026, projecting a 13 percent annual yield on an average home value under $325,000. Whether a specific property is a good buy depends on its location within the city, its eligibility under Akron's short-term rental ordinance, and how its comparable listings actually perform.

What Ohio cities were named top short-term rental markets in 2026?

Three: Akron (No. 2 nationally), Geneva in Ashtabula County, and Millersburg in Holmes County. All three appeared on AirDNA's September 2026 list of 17 markets with 400 to 1,000 listings, 10 percent or higher yields, and under 20 percent professional management.

Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Ohio?

Ohio has no statewide short-term rental license, but many cities and townships require registration or a permit, set occupancy and parking limits, and collect lodging taxes. Akron, for example, requires a $250 annual registration certificate and charges a 5.5 percent short-term rental excise tax. Requirements differ between Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and smaller municipalities, so check with the city or township where the property sits before you buy.

What does "yield" mean in the AirDNA report?

Yield is projected annual short-term rental revenue divided by the average home value in the market. A 13 percent yield on a $300,000 home is about $39,000 in gross revenue before mortgage, taxes, insurance, cleaning, platform fees, and vacancy. It is a screening number, not a return on investment.

Are short-term rentals better than long-term rentals in Ohio?

Neither is better in general. Short-term rentals can produce higher gross revenue but carry higher operating costs, more regulatory risk, and seasonal swings. Long-term rentals produce steadier income with less management. Many Ohio investors underwrite a property both ways and buy only if it works as a long-term rental too.

Thinking about an investment property in Ohio?

Glasshouse Realty agents work with first-time and experienced investors in Akron–Canton, Greater Cleveland, Greater Dayton, Greater Cincinnati, and Springfield & Columbus. We will help you run the numbers on a specific property, understand the local rules, and see how it compares to the alternatives. The Difference is Clear.

Get in Touch

Sources

Last updated September 22, 2026.

Marian McPherson, "The Midwest is a short-term rental gold mine: Report," Inman News, September 21, 2026 (AirDNA rankings, yields, revenue projections, selection criteria, and quotes)
City of Akron Code of Ordinances, Title 11, Article 37: Short-Term Rentals (registration certificate requirement)
City of Akron Code of Ordinances, Chapter 104, Article 2: Short-Term Rental Excise Tax (5.5 percent excise tax)
City of Akron, Rental Registration (annual registration and fee)
Ideastream Public Media, "In just over 20 years, Wright-Patt's workforce doubled to a whopping 38,000," August 13, 2024 (Wright-Patterson workforce and largest single-site employer)
Photo: Stephen Leonardi, "Cityscape of Akron," via Pexels (Pexels License)

Glasshouse Realty is an independent, locally owned Ohio brokerage. This article is general information about the real estate market, not investment, tax, or legal advice. Yield and revenue figures are third-party projections. Verify local short-term rental regulations with the municipality before purchasing. Equal Housing Opportunity.