The Texas Airbnb map looks different than it did a year ago.
Two of the markets that anchored the old version of this ranking, Dallas and Houston, have slid out of the top ten on a yield basis. Not because they stopped drawing guests, but because their home prices never gave the revenue room to breathe. Meanwhile the markets rising up the list are ones most out-of-state investors have never shortlisted. Freeport. Abilene. Waco. Grand Prairie. Places you don’t associate with a vacation-rental thesis until you see what a two-tier operator earns there against what the house costs.
That’s the whole game in Texas right now. The state has no income tax and a steady stream of in-state travelers (a large share of guests in these markets drive in from Houston, Dallas, and Austin), so demand is durable. The spread between markets comes down to entry price and how hard you’re willing to operate. This guide ranks the ten best Texas markets by gross yield using our July 2026 data, and for each one it separates the headline number from what active operators actually clear. When a market starts to fit, you can get matched with an STR-specialist agent who knows its neighborhoods.
One note before the table. When you see an annual revenue figure on a market listing anywhere, ask what’s inside it. Ours is straightforward. Annual Revenue = ADR × Occupancy × 365, calculated on trailing-twelve-month data so seasonality is already baked in, gross before expenses. Full definitions live on our methodology page. Occupancy and ADR are the two levers feeding every revenue number below, which is why we show them for every market rather than burying them.
Texas Airbnb Market Rankings 2026 (and the City-by-City Breakdown)
Here are the ten best Texas markets ranked by gross yield, our fastest screen for how much revenue a property throws off relative to what you pay for it. The full profile for each market sits directly below the table.
| Rank | Market | Gross Yield | Annual Revenue | Occupancy | ADR | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freeport | 29% | $53,407 | 33% | $347 | $159,722 |
| 2 | Abilene | 19% | $49,206 | 81% | $157 | $219,057 |
| 3 | Corpus Christi | 15% | $40,534 | 45% | $185 | $225,063 |
| 4 | Waco | 15% | $34,328 | 39% | $211 | $200,100 |
| 5 | Port Bolivar | 14% | $63,932 | 34% | $378 | $388,797 |
| 6 | Grand Prairie | 14% | $50,872 | 48% | $283 | $318,420 |
| 7 | New Braunfels | 13% | $53,528 | 31% | $349 | $350,899 |
| 8 | Killeen | 13% | $33,209 | 63% | $125 | $221,099 |
| 9 | Amarillo | 13% | $30,975 | 63% | $121 | $209,934 |
| 10 | Galveston | 13% | $47,805 | 36% | $254 | $324,313 |
Data source: Chalet Airbnb Analytics, July 2026. Ranked by gross yield. Annual Revenue = ADR × Occupancy × 365 on trailing-twelve-month data, gross before expenses. See our methodology.
Read the table left to right and you can already see the two archetypes that split this list. The Gulf-coast markets (Freeport, Port Bolivar, New Braunfels, Galveston) run high ADRs against low occupancy, so revenue lands on a few strong months. The inland markets (Abilene, Killeen, Amarillo) invert that, with modest nightly rates but occupancy in the 60 to 80 percent range that fills the calendar year-round. Same state, two completely different operating jobs. The profiles below tell you which one each market is asking you to do.
One more thing to carry into every profile. The headline revenue in the table is a market-wide average that includes part-time and barely-active listings. Underneath it, we track an active-operator benchmark, which is what a full-time listing with real availability actually earns. In most of these markets that number is meaningfully lower than the headline, and it’s the one you should underwrite against. We show both for every market. If you’d rather have a local operator translate these numbers for a specific neighborhood, match with a Texas STR agent before you read on.
1. Freeport: the highest yield in Texas
Freeport tops the state at a 29% gross yield, and it gets there the way high-yield markets almost always do, with the cheapest entry price on the list. A Freeport home runs a median of about $160K while the headline listing pulls $53,407 a year at a $347 ADR. That price-to-revenue ratio is what no other Texas market can match.
The occupancy tells you the catch. At 33%, this is a market where the calendar is empty most of the week and your money is made in a compressed summer, with July occupancy near 61%. The active-operator benchmark here sits well below the headline, so the yield is real but it rewards operators who can command peak-season rates and hold reviews, not anyone expecting steady bookings.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 29% |
| Headline annual revenue | $53,407 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $42,000 |
| Occupancy | 33% |
| ADR | $347 |
| Median home value | $159,722 (up 7.5% YoY) |
| Active listings | 394 |
| US yield rank | #4 |
Who it fits. First-time buyers who want the lowest cash-in-the-door entry in Texas and are ready to actively manage a seasonal beach listing. Not a fit if you need year-round occupancy to cover the note.
2. Abilene: the occupancy outlier
Abilene is the most unusual market on this list and, for a certain investor, the most interesting. It posts a 19% gross yield on 81% occupancy, which is a combination almost nobody else here comes close to. Where the coastal markets fill up for a season, Abilene stays booked, driven by steady non-tourist demand rather than summer vacationers.
The tradeoff is the ADR. At $157 a night, you’re not commanding premium rates, so this is a volume-and-efficiency play, not a trophy-property play. It’s also a market where the gap between headline and reality is wide. The headline says $49,206, but the active-operator benchmark lands around $30,000, a reminder that even in a high-occupancy market the average is dragged down by part-time listings. Home values are appreciating (up 6.8% YoY), so factor rising acquisition cost into your model rather than assuming today’s price holds.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 19% |
| Headline annual revenue | $49,206 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $30,600 |
| Occupancy | 81% |
| ADR | $157 |
| Median home value | $219,057 (up 6.8% YoY) |
| Active listings | 178 |
| US yield rank | #13 |
Who it fits. Operators who prize a full calendar and predictable cash flow over big nightly rates. The efficiency profile (fast turns, tight cost control) matters more here than design and photography.
3. Corpus Christi: the balanced coastal option
Corpus Christi is the market most first-time coastal buyers should look at first, because it splits the difference. A 15% gross yield, 45% occupancy, and a $185 ADR give you a coastal Texas listing without the feast-or-famine seasonality of the smaller beach towns. Corpus Christi is also the deepest coastal market on this list by inventory, with more than 1,300 listings tracked, which means more comps to underwrite against and a healthier vendor ecosystem.
Home values are essentially flat year over year, so this is a cash-flow market, not an appreciation bet. Model it on revenue and expenses. The active-operator benchmark of roughly $33,000 against a $40,534 headline is one of the tighter gaps on the list, which is part of what makes it forgiving for a newer operator.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 15% |
| Headline annual revenue | $40,534 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $33,300 |
| Occupancy | 45% |
| ADR | $185 |
| Median home value | $225,063 (down 0.5% YoY) |
| Active listings | 1,335 |
| US yield rank | #32 |
Who it fits. First-time coastal investors who want a beach market that still books outside peak summer, plus enough inventory and comps to underwrite with confidence.
4. Waco: the inland value play
Waco earns its 15% gross yield on the lowest median home price of any inland market here, roughly $200K, and values have softened about 2% over the past year. That combination (cheap and getting cheaper) can hand a buyer real negotiating leverage. Waco draws a mix of event, university, and tourism demand, and its $211 ADR is stronger than you’d expect for a market this affordable.
Read the operator benchmark closely before you buy. Waco shows one of the widest headline-to-operator gaps on the list, with a $34,328 headline against an active-operator figure near $18,500. That spread says the market average is propped up by a thin band of strong listings and a long tail of weak ones. The upside is real for a sharp operator, but the median listing here is not clearing the headline.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 15% |
| Headline annual revenue | $34,328 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $18,500 |
| Occupancy | 39% |
| ADR | $211 |
| Median home value | $200,100 (down 2.3% YoY) |
| Active listings | 319 |
| US yield rank | #39 |
Who it fits. Value-focused buyers who can underwrite conservatively and operate above the market average. Soft home prices favor patient negotiators.
5. Port Bolivar: the premium-ADR revenue leader
Port Bolivar produces the highest headline revenue on this list, $63,932, on the strength of a $378 ADR, the top nightly rate here by a wide margin. This is the premium beach play, and Port Bolivar is where you’ll find the large Gulf-front houses that book at rates the inland markets can’t touch.
The yield still lands at 14% because the entry price is the second-highest on the list, near $390K, and values have dropped more than 10% over the past year. That price softening is worth watching. It can be an opening for a buyer, or a signal to underwrite cautiously. Occupancy is a seasonal 34%, and the operator benchmark of roughly $45,000 against the $63,932 headline is healthy for a premium market, but this is not a beginner’s listing. You need the capital to buy in and the operating chops to keep a high-rate property full through summer.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 14% |
| Headline annual revenue | $63,932 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $45,200 |
| Occupancy | 34% |
| ADR | $378 |
| Median home value | $388,797 (down 10.4% YoY) |
| Active listings | 633 |
| US yield rank | #43 |
Who it fits. Experienced operators with capital who can run a premium beach property and earn the nightly rate. Softening prices reward buyers who negotiate.
6. Grand Prairie: the metroplex balance
Grand Prairie is the top-ranked Dallas-Fort Worth market on this list, and it’s here because it blends metro demand with a workable yield. A 14% gross yield on 48% occupancy and a $283 ADR gives you steadier bookings than the coastal markets while still clearing a respectable nightly rate. Sitting between Dallas and Fort Worth, Grand Prairie pulls event, business, and leisure demand across the whole metroplex.
Home values are roughly flat, so treat it as a cash-flow market. The headline-to-operator gap is wide here too, $50,872 against roughly $31,800, so underwrite against the operator number and plan to run a tight operation in a competitive metro.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 14% |
| Headline annual revenue | $50,872 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $31,800 |
| Occupancy | 48% |
| ADR | $283 |
| Median home value | $318,420 (down 2.0% YoY) |
| Active listings | 272 |
| US yield rank | #47 |
Who it fits. Investors who want DFW metro exposure with better balance than Dallas or Houston proper. Best for operators comfortable competing in a dense market.
7. New Braunfels: Hill Country tourism, premium rates
New Braunfels is the Hill Country entry on this list, and it behaves like a destination market. A $349 ADR drives a strong $53,528 headline, powered by the tubing, river, and resort tourism the town is known for. New Braunfels sits between San Antonio and Austin, so it captures weekend demand from two major metros.
The 13% yield reflects a $351K median price and a demanding occupancy profile. At 31% for the year, this is one of the most seasonal markets on the list, with revenue concentrated hard in summer. The operator benchmark of roughly $35,000 against the headline is solid for a seasonal market, but you’re buying a summer business. Winter occupancy runs low, so your model needs to survive the off months.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 13% |
| Headline annual revenue | $53,528 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $35,000 |
| Occupancy | 31% |
| ADR | $349 |
| Median home value | $350,899 (down 2.6% YoY) |
| Active listings | 799 |
| US yield rank | #53 |
Who it fits. Operators who understand seasonal destination markets and can price aggressively in peak summer. Bring reserves for a slow winter.
8. Killeen: highest occupancy, lowest rates
Killeen is the year-round-demand extreme on this list. It posts a 13% gross yield on 63% occupancy, driven by steady non-tourist demand anchored to the Fort Cavazos military community rather than any vacation season. Killeen stays booked in a way the beach markets never do.
The tradeoff is rate. At a $125 ADR, this is the lowest nightly rate on the list, so revenue comes from volume, not price. The headline-to-operator gap is stark, a $33,209 headline against roughly $11,200 for the active-operator benchmark, which is the widest proportional spread here. Read that as a warning. The market average is carried by a small number of strong performers, and the typical listing earns well below the headline. Home values are flat, so underwrite this one purely on cash flow and be conservative on revenue.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 13% |
| Headline annual revenue | $33,209 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $11,200 |
| Occupancy | 63% |
| ADR | $125 |
| Median home value | $221,099 (down 0.9% YoY) |
| Active listings | 126 |
| US yield rank | #61 |
Who it fits. Efficiency-driven operators who want a full calendar and can win on volume at low rates. Underwrite against the operator number, not the headline.
9. Amarillo: steady Panhandle demand
Amarillo mirrors Killeen’s profile at the top of the Panhandle. A 13% gross yield on 63% occupancy and a low $121 ADR make this another volume market, fed by steady Route 66 and interstate travel demand that keeps listings booked across the year rather than in a summer spike. Amarillo is one of the few markets here where home values are appreciating (up 3% YoY), so acquisition cost may climb.
As with the other high-occupancy inland markets, the headline overstates the typical result. The $30,975 headline sits against an active-operator benchmark near $13,300. The full calendar is real and valuable, but the revenue per night is thin, so this market rewards operators who keep costs down and turns fast.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 13% |
| Headline annual revenue | $30,975 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $13,300 |
| Occupancy | 63% |
| ADR | $121 |
| Median home value | $209,934 (up 3.0% YoY) |
| Active listings | 275 |
| US yield rank | #66 |
Who it fits. Operators who want consistent year-round bookings in an affordable, stable market and can make volume-at-low-rates math work.
10. Galveston: the deep, established beach market
Galveston is the most established Airbnb market in Texas, with nearly 2,800 listings tracked, and it rounds out the list at a 13% gross yield. What Galveston gives up in yield it makes back in depth. Galveston has the comps, the vendor network, the liquidity, and, uniquely on this list, clear published STR rules. The city requires annual registration and a license per unit, so confirm current requirements with the city before you buy.
The economics are a $254 ADR against a seasonal 36% occupancy, producing a $47,805 headline and a healthy roughly $35,400 operator benchmark. Home values have softened 7% over the past year, which can favor a patient buyer. The catch here is competition, not demand. In a market this saturated, your edge has to be intentional, through design, pricing, and reviews, because guests have thousands of alternatives.
Data snapshot
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Gross yield | 13% |
| Headline annual revenue | $47,805 |
| Active-operator revenue | roughly $35,400 |
| Occupancy | 36% |
| ADR | $254 |
| Median home value | $324,313 (down 7.0% YoY) |
| Active listings | 2,799 |
| US yield rank | #68 |
Who it fits. Investors who want a proven, liquid beach market with clear regulations and are prepared to differentiate hard against heavy competition.
How to read these rankings before you buy
The gross yield column is a screen, not a verdict. It sorts markets by revenue relative to price, which is the fastest way to see where your dollars work hardest, but it says nothing about the specific street, the specific house, or how you’ll operate. Three habits will keep you honest as you move from this list to an actual offer.
Underwrite against the operator number, not the headline. Every market here shows a gap between the headline average and what active full-time operators clear, and in markets like Killeen, Waco, and Amarillo that gap is large. The headline includes dormant and part-time listings that drag the average in both directions. The operator benchmark is the closer proxy for what a committed owner earns, so build your model on that and treat the headline as the ceiling, not the expectation.
Match the market to how you’ll operate. This list splits cleanly into two jobs. High-ADR, lower-occupancy markets (Freeport, Port Bolivar, New Braunfels, Galveston) pay you to win on positioning, meaning design, photography, and pricing discipline through a short peak season. High-occupancy, lower-ADR markets (Abilene, Killeen, Amarillo) pay you to win on efficiency, meaning fast turns, tight costs, and a full calendar. Pick the one that fits how you actually want to run the property.
Confirm the rules and the numbers at the address level. Only Galveston publishes clear STR rules among these ten, so for the rest, verify current local regulation before you commit. Market averages are a screen, not an underwriting model. Before you write an offer, run the specific property against its own projected revenue, occupancy, and expenses rather than the market-wide number.
When you’re ready to move from research to offers, get matched with an STR-specialist agent who knows which neighborhoods in these markets actually cash flow. And if you’re weighing the tax side of a purchase this year, bonus depreciation can materially change the after-tax return on a short-term rental.
Data source: Chalet Airbnb Analytics, July 2026. All figures reflect trailing-twelve-month performance and refresh monthly. Annual Revenue = ADR × Occupancy × 365, gross before expenses. See our methodology for full definitions. Short-term rental performance and home values change, so treat this as a current snapshot and verify at the address level before investing.
