Thirty-three percent occupancy is brutal for one of the most visited cities on earth, and that nine-point drop year-on-year is the story here — not the £192 nightly rate, which looks decent until you realise it's doing heavy lifting to compensate for guests you're simply not getting. New York's Local Law 18, which came into full force in late 2023, gutted the short-term rental market by requiring hosts to register, be present during stays, and cap guests at two — conditions that pushed thousands of operators out and left just over 10,000 active listings scrambling for the same demand. The rate spike is a supply shock, not a demand surge. For a buyer, this market punishes absentee ownership almost by design; if you can't be there, don't bother.
Year-over-year performance
Compared to the closest snapshot from approximately 12 months ago, the New York City short-term rental market has shifted in measurable ways. Occupancy among active listings is down 9.3 points, while the median daily rate is up 31.5 percent.
When New York City Airbnbs perform best
Occupancy in New York City peaks in September at 64% and bottoms out in February at 39%, a 25-point swing across the year. Price the peak, defend the shoulder months with minimum-stay rules, and budget the trough as empty.
| Month | Occupancy | Median nightly rate |
|---|---|---|
| January | 40% | — |
| February | 39% | — |
| March | 42% | — |
| April | 44% | — |
| May | 44% | — |
| June | 48% | — |
| July | 51% | — |
| August | 51% | — |
| September | 64% | — |
| October | 61% | — |
| November | 49% | — |
| December | 47% | — |
Looking ahead, 53% of the next 30 nights are already booked across the market, 50% of the next 60 and 48% of the next 90 (as of 2026-10-18).
How New York City compares to United States
Benchmarked against 34 other United States markets we track, New York City's metrics tell a clear story.
What kind of Airbnbs are in New York City?
Of the 10,670 active operating listings, 52.9% are entire homes (vs private rooms), and 45.3% are operated by Airbnb Superhosts.
Top neighborhoods in New York City
The 224 neighborhoods we track range from established tourist hotspots to emerging investment zones. Here are the 10 strongest by median annual revenue per listing, led by Civic Center at £97,573 a year.
| Neighborhood | Listings | Occupancy | Annual revenue | RevPAR | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civic Center | 1 | 63% | £97,573 | £267 | +15.3 pts YoY |
| Financial District | 200 | 35.1% | £68,256 | £187 | +0 pts YoY |
| Gerritsen Beach | 1 | 69.9% | £68,090 | £187 | +26.7 pts YoY |
| Castleton Corners | 2 | 43.2% | £59,831 | £164 | -26.7 pts YoY |
| Theater District | 152 | 42.2% | £53,111 | £146 | -7.1 pts YoY |
| DUMBO | 11 | 32.9% | £51,874 | £142 | -37 pts YoY |
| Tribeca | 27 | 38.6% | £47,227 | £129 | +8.9 pts YoY |
| East Morrisania | 1 | 69.9% | £45,729 | £125 | +0 pts YoY |
| Riverdale | 1 | 69.9% | £44,319 | £121 | +0 pts YoY |
| Fort Hamilton | 77 | 69.9% | £41,700 | £114 | +0 pts YoY |
Frequently asked questions
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