Occupancy, ADR, RevPAR and peak month explained in plain English. What the numbers in a short-term rental market report mean for your property.
By the StayLocal team · November 2026 · 4 min read
- Projected revenue is a realistic target, not a ceiling.
- Occupancy and nightly rate only make sense together. RevPAR combines them.
- The monthly curve tells you how to plan your slow season.
A market report is only useful if you know which numbers matter. Here are the five we look at first, using our sample Seattle 2BR report: $73,800 projected annual revenue, 68% occupancy, $291 average nightly rate, June peak.
1. Projected annual revenue
The headline number. It is what comparable listings near your address actually earned over the last 12 months, adjusted for your bedrooms and guest count. Treat it as a realistic target for a well-run listing, not a ceiling.
2. Occupancy
The share of available nights that booked. 68% means about 248 booked nights a year. Higher is not always better. A listing at 90% occupancy is often priced too low.
3. Average daily rate (ADR)
The average price per booked night, $291 in our sample. This is where pricing skill shows. Two identical homes can be $60 apart on ADR because one adjusts daily and one does not.
4. RevPAR
Revenue per available night: occupancy times ADR. It is the single best way to compare two listings, because it rewards the balance between filling nights and charging well. In our sample, RevPAR is roughly $198.
5. Seasonality and peak month
The monthly bars matter more than the total. In Seattle, June through August can earn three to four times what January does. Knowing your slow months tells you when to push longer stays, when to block owner time, and how much cash cushion to plan for. Our guide to winning Seattle's slow season covers what to do with that.
What a market report cannot tell you
- How your photos, reviews and response time compare
- Whether your furnishings match the price point
- How the property performs under a specific manager
That is the gap between the market average and a top listing. In our experience, the gap is usually pricing and guest experience, not the property itself.
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