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Best States for Short-Term Rental Investors

Find a starting point for your short-term rental search. These scores compare living costs and quality of life; local rules and real booking demand still need a closer look.

Leading states in this comparison · Published 2026 methodology

  1. #1 Iowa9.4 / 10
  2. #2 Arkansas9.2 / 10
  3. #3 Oklahoma9.1 / 10
See all 50 states and the scored factors ↓

By Bryan Martin, CPA, Managing Partner and Founder of Taxstra · Last reviewed September 12, 2026.

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The published 50-state ranking

Find a starting point for your short-term rental search. These scores compare living costs and quality of life; local rules and real booking demand still need a closer look.

Higher scores mean a stronger result on the factors this guide measures. They do not guarantee a better fit for your household or investment. Ties stay tied, and missing data is clearly marked.

Taxstra’s published 2026 ranking. One methodology, applied consistently to every state. 90% financial evidence and 10% WalletHub Quality of Life. See the factors and scoring rules.

Pick a state. See how it fits.

Explore grades out of 10, category ranks and the tradeoffs behind them. Each state uses the same published factors and weights.

The map loads when the page opens. All 50 states are available in the selector and table.

1 / 1010 / 10

Gray = unavailable or provisional; no comparable rank. Alaska and Hawaii shown as insets.

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / US Atlas.

Why Illinois scores this way

Illinois ranks #30 of 50, with 5.5 / 10. The category tiles show its strengths and tradeoffs.

A higher category score means a stronger result on that measure. Check the “Good fit for” and “Less suited to” notes against your own priorities.

National Park Service 2024 context: 188,237 recreation visits and $13.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue.

Full state analysis Grading methodology
Taxstra Tax and Accounting Services2026 state guide

Short-term rentals

Illinois

Taxstra’s state comparison

Illinois outline
5.5/ 10

Overall score#30 in the comparison

90% cost and financial score (5.1/10) · 10% quality of life (9.3/10)

How to read this score

Regional spending-basket costs with a 10% quality-of-life share, not STR demand or an all-in acquisition ranking. Apartment-tax examples are separate context. STR assessments, occupancy, nightly rates, lodging taxes, local permission and insurance require local evidence. Hotel jobs and NPS visits are unscored.

Everyday living costs

#33 of 50 · 90% weight
5.1/10

$99,958. What a $100,000 national spending budget would cost here; lower costs score better.

Quality of life

#5 of 50 · WalletHub category · 10% weight
9.3/10

WalletHub: #5 for Quality of Life, #18 overall; this score uses the category.

Homeowner property taxes

#45 of 50 · Not in overall score
5.2/10

$5,399 typical annual homeowner tax bill; check the specific property before budgeting.

Home insurance costs

#20 of 50 · Not in overall score
7.6/10

$1,480 average annual homeowner premium; rental and short-term rental coverage can cost differently.

Good fit for

  • Hosts with a well-supported city or event-specific demand case

Less suited to

  • Treating Illinois’s small NPS total as its entire tourism economy

Illinois: full analysis and evidenceRead the state-specific explanation and supporting sources.

Illinois

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $280,700Monthly gross rent $1,322HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,480

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $9,053 in Chicago, versus $15,023 in its rural sample of Galena. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,038. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition. The source also reports Aurora at $17,724, kept separate rather than replacing the largest-city sample.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.71 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Illinois’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, and NPS visitation is particularly incomplete for measuring Chicago’s travel market. The park series omits much urban business, event and leisure activity.

A city apartment, a college-town event rental and a rural getaway need different booking evidence and operating permissions. Separate peak-event rates from regular nights and confirm the building rules; proximity to a famous destination does not by itself establish a legal whole-unit STR.

National Park Service 2024 context: 188,237 recreation visits and $13.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Illinois retirement-tax details

Cite the state. Include the method.

Use the state, guide title, published methodology and source years when citing a score. State selection changes the card, not the ranking methodology.

Media and interview inquiries · Source data · Taxstra methodology

Property taxes, local rules and due diligenceCheck the property behind the state score, with evidence for your selected state.

Check the property behind the state score

A state comparison helps build a shortlist. The purchase decision needs a named jurisdiction, the correct rental tax classification and an insurance quote for the intended use.

Illinois: the same apartment, two local tax bills

The 2025 comparison holds land and building value at $600,000, plus $30,000 of fixtures. These are the study’s named urban and rural examples, not statewide tax rates, current parcel quotes or taxes on your personal home.

Largest-city sampleChicago
$9,0531.437% of total property value
Rural sampleGalena
$15,0232.385% of total property value

Equal urban/rural benchmark: $12,038. Taxstra gives each of these two bills a 50% share. This avoids letting one city alone represent the comparison; it remains a two-location benchmark, not a statewide average or an STR tax assessment.

The study also reports Aurora: $17,724 (2.813%) because the largest city’s tax system differs from much of the state. These examples remain separate.

Lincoln Institute / Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence: apartment property taxes · Taxes paid 2025; published April 2026; verified 2026-09-12. Appendix tables 5a and 5c, pages 98–99 and 102–103.

Get a rental-use insurance quote

Ask for coverage of the actual rental use, replacement cost, liability, loss of rents, deductibles and relevant flood or wind exposure. The NAIC explains that ordinary homeowners coverage can exclude home-sharing risks. Compare quotes on the same coverage terms; a statewide homeowners premium is not a landlord or STR premium.

NAIC: insurance coverage for home-sharing rentals · Guidance published 2020, checked 2026-09-12. FEMA / NFIP: flood coverage and exclusions identifies NFIP exclusions, including business interruption.

Illinois: research the local STR market

AirDNA Illinois: local occupancy, nightly rates and revenue gives local booking-market context. Match the property type, bedrooms, available nights and measurement period before choosing revenue assumptions. The linked market observations are not a statewide STR occupancy or profitability estimate.

Hotels and STRs serve overlapping visitors but have different economics. No hotel employment statistic proves STR demand, and an existing online listing does not prove that a property has legal permission to operate.

For this state, use the municipality or county planning and licensing office for a written eligibility check. This guide does not present a reviewed local permit rule for the selected market; absence of a local entry does not mean unrestricted use.

A strong state ranking still needs sound property economics

This fixed, hypothetical example shows how revenue becomes cash flow. Its assumptions are authored teaching figures, not observed market results, recommended budgets or estimates for the selected state. Changing the state above changes the sourced local comparisons; this example stays the same.

A $600,000 purchase has 300 nights available, 60% occupancy and a $300 average nightly price. That means 180 booked nights and $54,000 of annual room revenue. Management costs 20% and the booking platform costs 3% of room revenue.

Fixed annual cash-flow example

Room revenue: 300 nights × 60% × $300
$54,000
Management and booking fees: 23% of room revenue
−$12,420
Property tax, insurance and other operating costs
−$15,300
Net operating income, before financing
$26,280
Annual debt service
−$18,000
Annual capital reserve
−$2,000
Cash after debt service and capital reserve
$6,280

The $15,300 operating-cost assumption comprises $6,000 parcel tax, $3,000 rental insurance, $3,600 utilities, $2,400 repairs and $300 permits; HOA fees are $0. These are hypothetical costs, not the apartment tax samples above. Cleaning fees and cleaning costs are excluded.

An illustrative 10% lodging tax adds $5,400 to the guest price and is passed through to the taxing authority, so it does not reduce room revenue in this example. A tax-inclusive nightly price would produce different cash flow. The assumed rate is not a local tax quote.

Before making an offer, verify the parcel’s post-purchase tax assessment, rental-use insurance quote, local eligibility, booking comparables and actual management terms. A favorable state score cannot make an ineligible STR legal or cover an uneconomic purchase.

Before federal, state and local income taxes. Debt principal and capital reserves reduce cash but are not operating expenses in net operating income. Permission remains unconfirmed in this hypothetical example. Educational, not individualized tax advice.

Full ranking table · 50 of 50 statesCompare every state’s rank, housing costs, property taxes and tax treatment.

50 of 50 states

Short-term rentals: economic observations and tax context
RankStateSTR regional-cost screening gradeHome value
ACS 2024		Property-tax bill
ACS 2024 median		Price index
BEA 2024		Individual bonus treatment
1Iowa9.4 / 10$227,300$2,93787.8Iowa follows current federal depreciation, including §168(k) and §168(n), for 2026 to 2027.
2Arkansas9.2 / 10$215,600$1,11386.9Federal bonus depreciation is not adopted; use the Arkansas depreciation computation.
3Oklahoma9.1 / 10$222,100$1,67287.8Oklahoma permits a state 100% expensing election for qualifying property; it is not simple federal bonus conformity.
4Mississippi9.1 / 10$186,500$1,22187.0Mississippi permits a state 100% first-year deduction for qualifying depreciable property; it is not simple federal bonus conformity.
5Louisiana8.9 / 10$223,200$1,18788.2Louisiana offers an optional state 100% expensing deduction for qualifying property; later federal depreciation on the same basis is added back.
6South Dakota8.7 / 10$289,600$2,94088.6South Dakota does not impose a broad individual income tax.
7Alabama8.6 / 10$233,300$89088.8Follows the federal §168(k) and §168(n) deductions for 2026 to 2027.
7Kansas8.6 / 10$238,700$2,98390.1Current Kansas statutes recognize federal §168(k); a direct current official statement on §168(n) was not located.
9North Dakota8.6 / 10$266,100$2,55089.0North Dakota follows the federal deductions through its current federal income starting point.
10Nebraska8.4 / 10$263,100$3,73990.1Nebraska follows the current federal depreciation deduction for 2026 to 2027.
11West Virginia8.3 / 10$170,800$88189.5West Virginia adopted the 2025 federal changes, so §168(k) and §168(n) flow through for 2026 to 2027.
12Missouri8.2 / 10$254,400$2,02190.8Missouri follows current federal depreciation and does not require a bonus addback for current property.
13Kentucky8.1 / 10$226,000$1,61190.2Kentucky does not adopt the current federal bonus provisions; use Kentucky depreciation.
14Ohio7.8 / 10$239,800$2,93792.8For §168(k), generally add back five-sixths and deduct one-fifth of that addback in each of the next five years. Payroll-growth and NOL exceptions can change the result; §168(n) generally follows federal law.
15New Mexico7.7 / 10$279,900$1,77692.2Ordinary §168(k) bonus flows into individual income in 2026. The enacted 2027 depreciation reversal changes the corporate base, not the individual base.
16Tennessee7.7 / 10$332,600$1,48891.9Tennessee does not impose a broad individual income tax.
17Indiana7.4 / 10$243,500$1,79893.3Add back federal bonus depreciation and maintain Indiana basis for later depreciation or disposition.
18Wyoming7.4 / 10$339,500$1,94792.7Wyoming does not impose a broad individual income tax.
19Wisconsin7.3 / 10$294,700$3,68094.1Wisconsin does not adopt federal §168(k) or §168(n); compute Wisconsin depreciation separately.
20North Carolina7.2 / 10$333,000$2,04494.3Add back 85% of the federal accelerated-depreciation amount, then deduct 20% of that addition in each of the next five years.
21South Carolina7.1 / 10$299,500$1,33793.7Use South Carolina depreciation without federal §168(k) or §168(n).
22Montana6.8 / 10$425,400$2,93994.6Montana begins with the current federal income base and has no current bonus-depreciation addback.
23Michigan6.6 / 10$254,200$2,98896.2For individuals and flow-through entities, Michigan retains the pre-OBBBA phaseout: 20% federal bonus in 2026 and 0% in 2027; §168(n) is disallowed.
24Idaho6.5 / 10$446,400$1,91295.5Add back the federal bonus difference in the first year; deduct later Idaho-versus-federal depreciation differences.
25Georgia6.5 / 10$343,300$2,55496.3Use Georgia depreciation without federal §168(k) or §168(n).
26Texas6.4 / 10$313,200$4,10897.1Texas does not impose a broad individual income tax.
27Pennsylvania6.3 / 10$277,600$3,21497.6Pennsylvania personal income tax uses its own depreciation rules rather than the federal bonus amount.
28Maine6.1 / 10$341,900$3,10397.1Add back the federal bonus amount and claim depreciation under Maine’s pro-forma computation.
29Minnesota5.8 / 10$344,600$3,50198.6For §168(k), add back 80% and deduct one-fifth of that addition in each of the next five years. Qualified production property under §168(n) is not added back.
30Illinois5.5 / 10$280,700$5,399100.0Reverse federal §168(k)/§168(n) amounts and compute the Illinois depreciation modification.
31Vermont5.5 / 10$352,800$5,02698.0Vermont disallows §168(k) and §168(n), then permits recovery under the non-bonus depreciation schedule.
32Utah5.4 / 10$545,200$2,64898.9Utah starts with current federal adjusted gross income and does not enumerate a §168(k) or §168(n) reversal.
33Nevada5.2 / 10$455,500$2,143100.0Nevada does not impose a broad individual income tax.
34Arizona5.0 / 10$426,000$1,828100.7Individuals retain the full federal §168(k) bonus amount for eligible new property in 2026; §168(n) is separately added back.
35Virginia4.8 / 10$403,500$2,872101.1Recompute Virginia depreciation as though the federal bonus provisions did not apply.
36Delaware4.8 / 10$371,600$1,75099.8Ordinary eligible 2026 property retains 20% bonus under the pre-OBBBA schedule; the rest follows regular depreciation.
37Colorado4.4 / 10$574,600$2,828103.1Colorado follows the federal deductions for §168(k) bonus and §168(n) qualified production property.
38Florida4.4 / 10$396,900$2,993103.4Florida does not impose a broad individual income tax.
39Oregon4.2 / 10$497,500$3,895103.4Oregon disallows federal bonus depreciation for 2026 to 2027; implementing recovery instructions are pending.
40Rhode Island4.0 / 10$455,700$4,886102.3Compute depreciation and basis as though federal bonus depreciation had not been enacted.
41Connecticut3.9 / 10$396,900$6,573103.6Add back 100% of federal bonus, then deduct 25% of the addition in each of the next four years.
42Alaska3.9 / 10$376,500$3,976102.4Alaska does not impose a broad individual income tax.
43Massachusetts3.5 / 10$607,400$6,080105.8§168(k) remains disallowed. §168(n) is disallowed for 2026 and follows federal law beginning in 2027.
44New Hampshire3.5 / 10$458,800$6,707104.2New Hampshire does not impose a broad individual income tax.
45Maryland3.3 / 10$436,300$4,144105.0Generally decoupled from federal bonus; qualifying manufacturing property may receive different treatment.
46Washington3.0 / 10$602,200$4,729107.0Washington does not impose a broad individual income tax.
47New York2.9 / 10$449,800$6,542107.9Reverse federal §168(k) and §168(n) deductions and claim New York depreciation.
48New Jersey2.4 / 10$496,000$9,358108.8New Jersey does not follow the federal bonus deduction; calculate New Jersey depreciation and basis separately.
49California1.9 / 10$759,500$5,369110.7California does not conform to federal bonus depreciation; compute California depreciation separately.
50Hawaii1.4 / 10$875,900$2,385110.0Hawaii does not allow the federal bonus deduction; compute Hawaii depreciation separately.
What changes the comparisonThe tax, legal and financial tradeoffs behind the ranking.

A promising STR purchase needs permission to operate, a supported booking calendar and room for recurring costs. Taxstra’s fixed cost screen compares a regional spending basket across all 50 states, with a small quality-of-life share. Actual STR demand, lodging taxes, rental insurance and permit rules are researched locally; hotel jobs and park visits receive no demand score.

A tourism signal is not an occupancy forecast

Hotel payroll and National Park Service visits receive no STR-demand points. A hotel employee is not a booked night in a residential rental, and park visitors may camp, make day trips or stay across a state border. The published score is a cost screen. AirDNA’s linked local market pages provide actual STR occupancy and revenue context; their observations are not summed into a statewide estimate.

Local permission is the first underwriting gate

Obtain the applicable zoning text, registration or license requirements, occupancy restrictions, building rules and HOA documents for the exact address. Confirm whether a permit transfers on sale and whether it depends on primary residence or the owner’s presence. A platform listing, seller revenue statement or state tax registration does not establish land-use permission. Arizona’s municipal preemption contains express regulatory exceptions; Hawaii expressly gives counties authority over transient accommodations. Neither is a blanket statewide operating license.

New York City demonstrates why state labels fail

NYC’s official guidance says an ordinary dwelling cannot be rented in its entirety for fewer than 30 days; its hosted-sharing framework permits up to two paying guests, with registration required. Other building categories and exemptions need their own review. Apply that city rule only within its scope. A Catskills cabin and an apartment in Manhattan cannot share one legal-permission assumption simply because both are in New York.

Build the monthly calendar before annualizing revenue

Separate weekdays, weekends, event dates and shoulder months. Compare booked and available nights, account for owner use, and deduct platform costs, management, cleaning gaps, utilities, consumables and replacements consistently. Do not multiply peak holiday rates by 365 or compare one host’s gross booking receipts with another host’s net payout. Ask for statements that reconcile bookings, cancellations, taxes and cash received.

The $1 million STR example has a large operating gap

At $150,000 of bookings and $75,000 of expenses before property tax, insurance and depreciation, the controlled example leaves $75,000 before those remaining costs. A 20% booking decline removes $30,000 of revenue. If that $75,000 expense budget is held fixed for a stress test, only $45,000 remains before taxes and insurance. Actual variable costs may decline, but mortgage payments and many fixed costs will not. This is arithmetic on hypothetical inputs, not a forecast for a state.

Lodging tax needs a channel-by-channel reconciliation

Nevada directs lodging-rate and exemption questions to the city or county. Wisconsin’s lodging guidance describes marketplace collection responsibilities, including municipal room tax. Washington separately describes the classifications reported by lodging businesses. Map each booking channel and tax jurisdiction; identify taxes collected by platforms, returns still required, direct-booking obligations and fees included in the tax base. Do not silently deduct a tax twice when it is charged to the guest and remitted separately.

Short stays alone do not make a loss deductible against wages

IRS Publication 925 excludes an activity from its rental-activity definition when average customer use is seven days or less. That classification does not, by itself, establish material participation, usable basis, at-risk capacity or freedom from other loss limits. Keep a contemporaneous record of the actual operating work and consult the separate eligibility guide before projecting an offset to W-2 income.

Test fallback use before closing

Underwrite a legal longer-term rental alternative, a sale or another permitted use if the STR plan becomes unavailable. The fallback needs its own rent, furnishing, insurance, lease and tax assumptions. A vacation-home purchase should not rely on a fictional 100% occupied calendar or on a deduction the household cannot currently use.

Put the numbers in contextA worked example with explicit assumptions.

Controlled STR example: $150,000 of bookings less $75,000 of operating expenses leaves $75,000 before property tax, insurance, depreciation and financing. If annual bookings fall 20% while those operating expenses remain fixed, that subtotal falls to $45,000. Run the downside case before counting any tax benefit.

Illustration only. These assumptions describe the example, not an expected client result.

Every state, explainedBrowse all 50 state chapters, with detailed analysis and linked evidence.
AlabamaRead state analysis

Alabama

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $233,300Monthly gross rent $1,077HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,906

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $6,417 in Huntsville, versus $5,722 in its rural sample of Monroeville. Their equal-weight benchmark is $6,069.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.78 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

The broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, which describes existing lodging activity even though a specific beach destination may attract visitors. The statewide NPS count does not measure Gulf Coast beach demand. Build the booking case from the actual destination, property type and monthly calendar.

For a coastal candidate, request quotations that disclose wind, flood and transient occupancy. For an inland event-driven candidate, separate exceptional weekend prices from ordinary weekdays; neither profile can be inferred from Alabama’s general cost advantage.

National Park Service 2024 context: 1,390,582 recreation visits and $99.8 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Alabama retirement-tax details
AlaskaRead state analysis

Alaska

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $376,500Monthly gross rent $1,444HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,216

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $8,495 in Anchorage, versus $6,433 in its rural sample of Ketchikan. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,464. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 2.10 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Alaska has a substantial NPS visitor-spending observation, but park spending is not the same as nights sold by an individual host. A visitor can stay on a ship, in a lodge or in several communities during the same trip. Do not divide statewide park visits by a property’s available nights.

The narrower hotel-and-motel series is available for Alaska even though the broad accommodation series is suppressed. Its above-national concentration supports destination research, while transport access, seasonality and cancellation exposure still require local operating records.

National Park Service 2024 context: 3,473,715 recreation visits and $1,733.8 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Source qualification: Depreciation: Section 168(n) production-property treatment and special industries are outside the reviewed ordinary-equipment scenario.

Read the Alaska retirement-tax details
ArizonaRead state analysis

Arizona

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $426,000Monthly gross rent $1,672HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,194

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,040 in Phoenix, versus $4,430 in its rural sample of Safford. Their equal-weight benchmark is $5,735. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.36 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Arizona’s accommodation share provides unscored lodging context, and NPS records a significant park-visit base. Those observations support researching particular gateways; they do not show occupancy for a Sedona, Scottsdale or Flagstaff listing.

Arizona law limits municipalities’ ability to prohibit STRs while expressly permitting specified regulation. Confirm local licensing, contacts, safety and operating requirements and private restrictions. A state preemption headline is not sufficient evidence that the exact house can operate as planned.

National Park Service 2024 context: 11,254,081 recreation visits and $1,430.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Arizona retirement-tax details
ArkansasRead state analysis

Arkansas

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $215,600Monthly gross rent $982HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,870

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $8,572 in Little Rock, versus $5,167 in its rural sample of Pocahontas. Their equal-weight benchmark is $6,869.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.76 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Arkansas’s broad accommodation employment share (unscored) is below the national benchmark, but NPS visitation identifies a different recreation context, including Hot Springs and river destinations. These measures cover different activity and should not be averaged into an alleged booking forecast.

Separate a Hot Springs stay from a remote cabin: access, cleaning travel, water systems and the length of the usable season can change the budget. Stress the months outside the strongest recreation period and obtain the exact local operating requirements.

National Park Service 2024 context: 4,471,452 recreation visits and $301.2 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Arkansas retirement-tax details
CaliforniaRead state analysis

California

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $759,500Monthly gross rent $2,104HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,655

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,480 in Los Angeles, versus $6,683 in its rural sample of Yreka. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,081.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.13 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

California’s large NPS visitation total demonstrates the breadth of park activity, while its broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is near the national benchmark. Neither observation grants a residential operating right. A mountain gateway, desert home and coastal apartment face different local questions.

Before paying a premium for an established listing, verify the license, transferability, zoning, occupancy and private restrictions. Evaluate fire, flood and access at the address and obtain an STR coverage quotation; a statewide insurance average cannot establish insurability for that property.

National Park Service 2024 context: 39,405,195 recreation visits and $3,697.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the California retirement-tax details
ColoradoRead state analysis

Colorado

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $574,600Monthly gross rent $1,822HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,492

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $2,892 in Denver, versus $3,441 in its rural sample of Walsenburg. Their equal-weight benchmark is $3,166.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.41 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Colorado’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is above the national benchmark and NPS records substantial visits. These unscored contextual observations support investigating travel markets, but lodging employees and park visits do not tell you how many nights an individual unit can legally sell.

For a mountain candidate, verify local license availability, transfer rules, owner-use restrictions and association documents before using the seller’s calendar. Separate ski-season, summer and shoulder-month economics, including snow removal and the cost of replacing a missed cleaning crew.

National Park Service 2024 context: 7,227,859 recreation visits and $817.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Colorado retirement-tax details
ConnecticutRead state analysis

Connecticut

Back to comparison ↑
Median home $396,900Monthly gross rent $1,550HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,036

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $10,272 in Bridgeport, versus $8,820 in its rural sample of Litchfield. Their equal-weight benchmark is $9,546. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.51 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Connecticut’s low broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is unscored lodging context. Its small NPS visitation total is especially incomplete as a travel indicator because much visiting activity has no connection to a National Park Service unit.

Build a specific reason for overnight stays around the candidate property, then test weekday and weekend bookings separately. An attractive home within reach of a larger metro area is not sufficient evidence of a legally permitted, profitable whole-home rental.

National Park Service 2024 context: 34,246 recreation visits and $2.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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DelawareRead state analysis

Delaware

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Median home $371,600Monthly gross rent $1,530HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,196

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $11,515 in Wilmington, versus $3,218 in its rural sample of Georgetown. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,366.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: BLS suppresses this state’s 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient. It supplies no demand estimate and does not exclude the state from the published cost comparison. Local STR bookings must be researched separately.

Delaware’s NPS visits are a narrow historic-site measure and do not describe its beach rental market. The BLS accommodation-concentration observation is unavailable here, but that unscored omission does not exclude Delaware from the cost comparison. A coastal town needs its own STR booking evidence.

Separate beach-season receipts from the cost of keeping the property, furnishings and insurance year-round. Confirm local permission and private restrictions, and use actual monthly statements before paying for a seller’s best-season revenue story.

National Park Service 2024 context: 192,220 recreation visits and $13.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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FloridaRead state analysis

Florida

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Median home $396,900Monthly gross rent $1,812HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,779

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $10,396 in Jacksonville, versus $12,505 in its rural sample of Moore Haven. Their equal-weight benchmark is $11,450.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.95 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Florida’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) gives it a stronger activity signal than many states, but that includes hotels and other lodging. NPS visits do not cover the whole theme-park or beach travel market and cannot provide a statewide STR occupancy percentage.

Test each candidate’s permitted use, license continuity, condominium or HOA rules and storm interruption exposure. Ask whether the policy covers the advertised rental activity and the needed loss-of-income risks; gross bookings before management, cleaning and coverage costs are not spendable cash.

National Park Service 2024 context: 13,503,256 recreation visits and $934.8 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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GeorgiaRead state analysis

Georgia

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Median home $343,300Monthly gross rent $1,506HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,828

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $10,162 in Atlanta, versus $10,644 in its rural sample of Fitzgerald. Their equal-weight benchmark is $10,403. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.88 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Georgia’s below-national accommodation share moderates the activity grade despite identifiable city and coastal travel markets. NPS counts add historic and recreation context but do not capture every conference, event or beach stay.

A Savannah, Atlanta or north Georgia property needs its own legal-permission and booking analysis. Build a calendar that distinguishes repeat demand from a few event nights, and confirm the management quote includes the actual drive time and services for that destination.

National Park Service 2024 context: 7,010,226 recreation visits and $445.0 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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HawaiiRead state analysis

Hawaii

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Median home $875,900Monthly gross rent $1,942HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,549

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $2,096 in Honolulu, versus $3,270 in its rural sample of Kauai. Their equal-weight benchmark is $2,683. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 6.03 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Hawaii’s high broad accommodation concentration (unscored) reflects a substantial lodging economy, but it does not establish that an ordinary dwelling is available for STR use. NPS visitor spending adds another travel signal without measuring the competing inventory or a host’s share.

Act 17 clarified county authority over transient accommodations, including phase-out powers. Verify the current county rules and the specific unit’s status, not just an old listing or tax registration. Price the downside if the planned use is unavailable or changes during ownership.

National Park Service 2024 context: 4,618,839 recreation visits and $910.9 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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IdahoRead state analysis

Idaho

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Median home $446,400Monthly gross rent $1,384HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,135

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $5,408 in Boise, versus $4,587 in its rural sample of Saint Anthony. Their equal-weight benchmark is $4,997.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.13 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Idaho’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is close to the national level, and its NPS total captures only a limited part of the state’s outdoor travel. A small NPS number does not establish weak lake, ski or state-park demand.

Use the destination’s actual booking mix and monthly operating constraints. Lake access, winter road service, cleaning availability and property rules can distinguish two otherwise similar listings; the statewide general-price index cannot supply those costs.

National Park Service 2024 context: 795,625 recreation visits and $46.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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IllinoisRead state analysis

Illinois

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Median home $280,700Monthly gross rent $1,322HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,480

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $9,053 in Chicago, versus $15,023 in its rural sample of Galena. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,038. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition. The source also reports Aurora at $17,724, kept separate rather than replacing the largest-city sample.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.71 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Illinois’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, and NPS visitation is particularly incomplete for measuring Chicago’s travel market. The park series omits much urban business, event and leisure activity.

A city apartment, a college-town event rental and a rural getaway need different booking evidence and operating permissions. Separate peak-event rates from regular nights and confirm the building rules; proximity to a famous destination does not by itself establish a legal whole-unit STR.

National Park Service 2024 context: 188,237 recreation visits and $13.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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IndianaRead state analysis

Indiana

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Median home $243,500Monthly gross rent $1,104HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,259

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $13,825 in Indianapolis, versus $11,556 in its rural sample of North Vernon. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,690.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.56 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Indiana’s below-national accommodation share restrains the statewide activity score. NPS visitation includes a meaningful recreation signal, but an Indianapolis event stay and a northern Indiana lake trip are different booking businesses.

Inspect the actual calendar around event dates and build ordinary-week occupancy separately. Obtain local permission and a manager’s complete service quote before treating a few high-rate nights as enough to cover the annual mortgage and furnishing cycle.

National Park Service 2024 context: 3,001,734 recreation visits and $161.9 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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IowaRead state analysis

Iowa

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Median home $227,300Monthly gross rent $981HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,342

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $10,768 in Des Moines, versus $9,209 in its rural sample of Hampton. Their equal-weight benchmark is $9,988.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.72 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Iowa’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is near but below the national benchmark. Its NPS count captures a small slice of travel and should not be used to dismiss convention, event or other local overnight demand.

Build the booking thesis around the actual destination and competition. A property aimed at occasional events needs a credible ordinary-week or longer-term fallback, with operating permission and furnishing costs checked for each use.

National Park Service 2024 context: 210,006 recreation visits and $15.2 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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KansasRead state analysis

Kansas

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Median home $238,700Monthly gross rent $1,079HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,733

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,870 in Wichita, versus $13,633 in its rural sample of Iola. Their equal-weight benchmark is $10,751.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.61 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Kansas’s relatively low accommodation job concentration limits its activity grade. NPS visits are also a narrow measure here, because the series does not capture the full range of city events, family trips or business stays.

Demand should be proved at the location rather than assumed from a low purchase price. Separate an event-focused furnished rental from an annual lease fallback and verify that both uses are permitted before comparing their projected receipts.

National Park Service 2024 context: 110,282 recreation visits and $6.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Source qualification: Depreciation: Confirm Kansas treatment of IRC §168(n) from a current Department of Revenue instruction or enacted statute before describing Kansas as fully conforming.

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KentuckyRead state analysis

Kentucky

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Median home $226,000Monthly gross rent $998HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,525

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $6,456 in Louisville, versus $6,804 in its rural sample of Morehead. Their equal-weight benchmark is $6,630. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.74 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Kentucky’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, while the NPS series captures recreation and historic-site visits. Neither statistic measures the booking premium at a particular event or the year-round demand for a cabin.

Build a local calendar with ordinary weekdays, weekends and special dates separated. A purchase supported only by a few premium nights needs a conservative annual-lease fallback and verified permission for each intended use.

National Park Service 2024 context: 2,037,341 recreation visits and $127.8 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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LouisianaRead state analysis

Louisiana

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Median home $223,200Monthly gross rent $1,064HO-3 premium, 2023 $3,027

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,962 in New Orleans, versus $5,788 in its rural sample of Natchitoches. Their equal-weight benchmark is $6,875. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.95 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Louisiana’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is above the national benchmark, but its NPS count is a poor proxy for the whole visitor economy. It excludes much of the event, music and city travel that an STR business might target.

For a New Orleans candidate, obtain the exact current local operating authorization and transfer rules before assigning value to prior bookings. For other destinations, validate their own monthly demand and insurance; one city’s receipts cannot be carried across the state.

National Park Service 2024 context: 270,126 recreation visits and $19.0 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MaineRead state analysis

Maine

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Median home $341,900Monthly gross rent $1,210HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,150

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,547 in Portland, versus $10,445 in its rural sample of Rockland. Their equal-weight benchmark is $8,996. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.34 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Maine’s above-national broad accommodation concentration (unscored) and substantial NPS visitor spending support research into specific travel destinations. The park figure is concentrated enough that it must not be used as a statewide occupancy forecast or a reason to ignore competition.

For an Acadia-area candidate, build separate peak and shoulder-season calendars and confirm the local license and operating conditions. For inland destinations, use their own comparables and access costs; a coastal booking story does not transfer to every Maine cabin.

National Park Service 2024 context: 4,010,342 recreation visits and $542.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MarylandRead state analysis

Maryland

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Median home $436,300Monthly gross rent $1,721HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,578

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $14,685 in Baltimore, versus $10,555 in its rural sample of Denton. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,620. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.67 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Maryland’s broad accommodation employment share (unscored) is below the national benchmark, while NPS visitation captures historic, parkway and coastal activity. That statewide count does not reveal whether travelers need a paid overnight stay near the subject property.

Model a shore vacation rental separately from an urban event or business stay. Verify local operating permission, parking and private building restrictions, then compare monthly net receipts after management and cleaning rather than nightly asking prices.

National Park Service 2024 context: 6,563,785 recreation visits and $255.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Source qualification: Depreciation: Apply the Maryland manufacturing exception only after confirming the taxpayer and property meet the state definition; do not map federal §168(n) eligibility directly to the Maryland exception.

Read the Maryland retirement-tax details
MassachusettsRead state analysis

Massachusetts

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Median home $607,400Monthly gross rent $1,848HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,134

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $6,392 in Boston, versus $9,798 in its rural sample of Adams. Their equal-weight benchmark is $8,095. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.83 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Massachusetts has substantial NPS visitation, including historic-site activity, but its broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark. Neither observation distinguishes paid overnight stays from day trips or identifies the demand for a particular home.

A Boston-area unit and a coastal seasonal property need different legal-use and monthly-revenue reviews. Obtain current local permission and building rules, then test what remains after cleaning, management, carrying costs and months with weaker bookings.

National Park Service 2024 context: 8,836,572 recreation visits and $950.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MichiganRead state analysis

Michigan

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Median home $254,200Monthly gross rent $1,168HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,110

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $23,310 in Detroit, versus $15,626 in its rural sample of Manistique. Their equal-weight benchmark is $19,468. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.70 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Michigan’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, even though the NPS series records Great Lakes recreation activity. A statewide employment share does not settle the demand for one shoreline or northern Michigan destination.

Separate summer, winter and shoulder months and verify local permission and association terms. A lakefront asking price may reflect personal enjoyment as well as income potential; use actual booking and cost records before deciding how much of that premium the rental can support.

National Park Service 2024 context: 2,923,630 recreation visits and $301.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MinnesotaRead state analysis

Minnesota

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Median home $344,600Monthly gross rent $1,291HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,988

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $10,411 in Minneapolis, versus $9,388 in its rural sample of Glencoe. Their equal-weight benchmark is $9,899.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.79 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Minnesota’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark. NPS visitation captures a limited recreation component, not the full lake, city and family-travel market. A small or moderate park count is not an occupancy estimate.

For a lake property, verify water and septic capacity, access, local short-stay permission and year-round service. For a Twin Cities unit, use its own event and weekday comparables. The acquisition and furnishing budget must survive the months that do not resemble the strongest season.

National Park Service 2024 context: 1,077,541 recreation visits and $69.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MississippiRead state analysis

Mississippi

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Median home $186,500Monthly gross rent $990HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,029

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $18,326 in Jackson, versus $13,001 in its rural sample of Philadelphia. Their equal-weight benchmark is $15,663.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.77 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Mississippi’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is meaningfully above the national benchmark. Its large NPS visit count includes parkway and other park activity, which can involve travelers passing through rather than staying near the subject property.

Require destination-level evidence for paid nights and distinguish coastal, city and road-trip markets. Check exact operating permission, storm-related coverage where relevant and the realistic backup use before assigning investment value to the statewide tourism signal.

National Park Service 2024 context: 8,800,187 recreation visits and $605.2 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MissouriRead state analysis

Missouri

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Median home $254,400Monthly gross rent $1,067HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,589

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $9,563 in Kansas City, versus $4,599 in its rural sample of Boonville. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,081. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.88 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Missouri’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, while NPS records meaningful visits to parks and historic sites. The series does not capture all paid travel associated with a lake destination, entertainment venue or city event.

Underwrite a Branson-area, Lake of the Ozarks or urban candidate from its own monthly records. Confirm the legal use and private rules, then separate waterfront or amenity premiums from the rent the property can actually collect after operating costs.

National Park Service 2024 context: 4,396,444 recreation visits and $287.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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MontanaRead state analysis

Montana

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Median home $425,400Monthly gross rent $1,177HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,768

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $3,146 in Billings, versus $4,352 in its rural sample of Glasgow. Their equal-weight benchmark is $3,749. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 2.75 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Montana’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is well above the national benchmark, and NPS visitor spending is substantial. These are strong reasons to investigate specific gateways, but they also describe an existing lodging industry rather than unfilled demand for new listings.

For a Glacier- or Yellowstone-oriented property, verify seasonal access, local permission and turnover capacity. Build the months outside the best visitor season explicitly; park visitors may camp, stay in lodges or pass through without renting your property.

National Park Service 2024 context: 5,931,591 recreation visits and $838.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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NebraskaRead state analysis

Nebraska

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Median home $263,100Monthly gross rent $1,102HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,142

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $11,663 in Omaha, versus $12,357 in its rural sample of Sidney. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,010. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.71 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Nebraska’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, and its NPS series captures limited historic and recreation activity. That is not a complete measure of city events, sports or business travel.

A candidate needs local evidence of repeated paid stays. Build the ordinary-week calendar separately from special dates and assess whether a legal annual-lease alternative supports the acquisition if the furnished model falls short.

National Park Service 2024 context: 330,027 recreation visits and $24.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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NevadaRead state analysis

Nevada

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Median home $455,500Monthly gross rent $1,709HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,013

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $6,973 in Las Vegas, versus $7,697 in its rural sample of Fallon. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,335. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.97 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Nevada’s broad accommodation workforce is dominated by a hotel mix that is a poor match for an ordinary home rental. Its broad accommodation quotient is 8.57, but the narrower hotel-and-motel series excluding casino hotels is 0.97. Neither hotel measure enters the cost score or establishes permission, occupancy or excess demand.

Nevada’s tax department directs lodging-rate and exemption questions to the city or county. Verify the actual operating license, zoning and private restrictions as separate questions. As checked September 12, 2026, Clark County’s licensing page says its STR application period is closed and a valid license is required in unincorporated Clark County. Confirm the exact jurisdiction and current eligibility before paying for projected revenue.

National Park Service 2024 context: 5,022,202 recreation visits and $327.3 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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New HampshireRead state analysis

New Hampshire

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Median home $458,800Monthly gross rent $1,558HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,300

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $8,306 in Manchester, versus $10,859 in its rural sample of Lancaster. Their equal-weight benchmark is $9,582.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.86 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

New Hampshire’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is near the national benchmark, while its NPS visit count is very small. The NPS series excludes much mountain, lake and other recreation activity, so it cannot rank the state’s entire visitor economy.

For a ski or lake candidate, compare summer, winter and shoulder months, legal permission and management access. The actual owner-use plan should also be identified before relying on a calendar that assumes every desirable date is available to guests.

National Park Service 2024 context: 26,685 recreation visits and $1.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Source qualification: Depreciation: Confirm New Hampshire Business Profits Tax treatment of IRC §168(n) from 2026 legislation or Department of Revenue Administration instructions.

Read the New Hampshire retirement-tax details
New JerseyRead state analysis

New Jersey

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Median home $496,000Monthly gross rent $1,800HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,551

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $11,462 in Newark, versus $13,954 in its rural sample of Maurice River Twp. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,708. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.54 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

New Jersey’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark despite identifiable shore and metro travel markets. NPS visitation provides a different recreation measure and does not tell an owner how many paid nights can be captured.

For a shore property, separate the strongest summer period from the costs of year-round ownership. Confirm local permission, occupancy, parking and private restrictions, and price coverage for the advertised rental use before buying the seller’s revenue narrative.

National Park Service 2024 context: 5,212,763 recreation visits and $198.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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New MexicoRead state analysis

New Mexico

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Median home $279,900Monthly gross rent $1,117HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,490

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $9,212 in Albuquerque, versus $6,069 in its rural sample of Santa Rosa. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,640.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.46 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

New Mexico’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is above the national benchmark, and the NPS series records park and historic-site travel. Those observations do not identify the monthly demand for a Santa Fe, Taos or southern New Mexico listing.

Verify the destination’s legal operating requirements and how the property performs outside its strongest event or recreation periods. Price water systems, access and local turnover service where relevant; a below-national general-price index cannot supply those address-specific figures.

National Park Service 2024 context: 2,375,358 recreation visits and $189.8 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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New YorkRead state analysis

New York

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Median home $449,800Monthly gross rent $1,634HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,801

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $15,672 in New York City, versus $16,040 in its rural sample of Warsaw. Their equal-weight benchmark is $15,856. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition. The source also reports Buffalo at $7,373, kept separate rather than replacing the largest-city sample.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.80 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

New York’s large NPS visitation number does not make every residential unit an STR opportunity. In New York City, official guidance for ordinary dwellings requires hosted sharing with up to two paying guests and registration, and does not permit an entire ordinary dwelling to be rented for fewer than 30 days.

Apply that rule within its stated scope. For an upstate or Catskills property, research the actual locality, permit and private restrictions separately; the state’s travel footprint cannot determine legal use or profitable occupancy.

National Park Service 2024 context: 18,741,050 recreation visits and $876.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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North CarolinaRead state analysis

North Carolina

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Median home $333,000Monthly gross rent $1,338HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,852

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $4,315 in Charlotte, versus $5,208 in its rural sample of Edenton. Their equal-weight benchmark is $4,761.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.84 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

North Carolina’s NPS visit and spending observations are substantial, but its accommodation employment concentration is below the national benchmark. The two measures cover different activity; parkway traffic, paid lodging and an individual host’s occupancy should not be conflated.

Build separate mountain, coastal and city booking cases. Verify current local permission, access and property coverage at the address, then reconcile management, owner-use dates and periods when the property may be unavailable. A statewide visitor count cannot supply that calendar.

National Park Service 2024 context: 18,796,186 recreation visits and $2,280.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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North DakotaRead state analysis

North Dakota

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Median home $266,100Monthly gross rent $980HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,414

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $8,250 in Fargo, versus $9,585 in its rural sample of Devils Lake. Their equal-weight benchmark is $8,917.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: BLS suppresses this state’s 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient. It supplies no demand estimate and does not exclude the state from the published cost comparison. Local STR bookings must be researched separately.

North Dakota’s BLS accommodation-concentration observation is unavailable, but it carries no weight in the published regional-cost ranking. NPS visits provide Theodore Roosevelt and other park context; neither series supplies an STR revenue estimate.

A park-gateway candidate and a city furnished rental need different booking reasons and service plans. Obtain monthly booking evidence, actual permissions and a longer-term fallback before assessing the investment.

National Park Service 2024 context: 755,846 recreation visits and $57.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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OhioRead state analysis

Ohio

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Median home $239,800Monthly gross rent $1,090HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,116

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $14,327 in Columbus, versus $10,526 in its rural sample of Bryan. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,426.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.57 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Ohio has a relatively low accommodation job concentration in this dataset. NPS visitation is an additional recreation and historic-site observation, not a count of all city, sports, business or lake-related overnight trips.

Make the paid-stay thesis specific: an urban event unit and a recreation cabin require different calendars, permissions and management. A low entry price helps only if recurring net bookings or a legal annual-lease fallback support the ongoing costs.

National Park Service 2024 context: 3,244,285 recreation visits and $169.9 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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OklahomaRead state analysis

Oklahoma

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Median home $222,100Monthly gross rent $1,044HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,486

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $8,618 in Oklahoma City, versus $6,106 in its rural sample of Mangum. Their equal-weight benchmark is $7,362. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.72 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Oklahoma’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark. NPS visits identify a limited recreation component but do not measure all lake, city or business-travel demand.

For a cabin or resort-area purchase, verify the local use rules, water or wastewater capacity and cleaning access. For an urban furnished property, obtain repeat booking evidence beyond a few events. In either case, the state’s low general costs cannot establish occupancy.

National Park Service 2024 context: 1,682,867 recreation visits and $32.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Source qualification: Depreciation: Confirm Oklahoma treatment of IRC §168(n) and the current state election mechanics from 2026 return instructions before describing the state as fully conforming.

Read the Oklahoma retirement-tax details
OregonRead state analysis

Oregon

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Median home $497,500Monthly gross rent $1,597HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,003

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $16,451 in Portland, versus $7,316 in its rural sample of Tillamook. Their equal-weight benchmark is $11,883.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.14 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Oregon’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is approximately the national benchmark. Its NPS count is only one slice of visitor activity and does not cover every coastal, wine-country or outdoor trip.

Verify the specific local permit, transferability and private restrictions before valuing the prior host’s bookings. Price the actual access, coverage and cleaning service, then separate peak dates from year-round carrying costs; a destination’s popularity does not establish the subject property’s net margin.

National Park Service 2024 context: 988,605 recreation visits and $91.4 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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PennsylvaniaRead state analysis

Pennsylvania

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Median home $277,600Monthly gross rent $1,252HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,217

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,599 in Philadelphia, versus $9,472 in its rural sample of Ridgway. Their equal-weight benchmark is $8,535.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.76 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Pennsylvania’s NPS visitation is substantial, but its broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark. Historic-site visits may include day trips and cannot be converted directly into paid nights.

Build separate city, Poconos and other recreation-market calendars, and verify the exact municipality and private restrictions. Compare gross bookings with management, cleaning, utilities and replacements on a consistent basis before deciding that a furnished model beats a legal annual lease.

National Park Service 2024 context: 7,972,917 recreation visits and $425.1 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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Rhode IslandRead state analysis

Rhode Island

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Median home $455,700Monthly gross rent $1,418HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,396

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $13,991 in Providence, versus $8,113 in its rural sample of Hopkinton. Their equal-weight benchmark is $11,052. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: BLS suppresses this state’s 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient. It supplies no demand estimate and does not exclude the state from the published cost comparison. Local STR bookings must be researched separately.

Rhode Island’s accommodation-concentration observation is unavailable, and its NPS visits cover only a small slice of travel. These unscored observations neither exclude the state from the cost ranking nor establish weak coastal or city tourism.

Use actual Newport-area, Providence or other destination booking records and current local operating permission. Separate the peak season from year-round carrying costs; the published regional-cost grade does not fill that property-level demand question.

National Park Service 2024 context: 43,242 recreation visits and $3.0 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Rhode Island retirement-tax details
South CarolinaRead state analysis

South Carolina

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Median home $299,500Monthly gross rent $1,272HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,753

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $11,154 in Charleston, versus $18,674 in its rural sample of Mullins. Their equal-weight benchmark is $14,914. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.28 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

South Carolina’s above-national broad accommodation concentration (unscored) supports destination research, while the NPS series does not capture all coastal vacation demand. A large lodging industry still does not identify the legal or financial opportunity at an individual address.

For a beach or historic-district candidate, obtain current local permission and private rules and verify the rental property-tax treatment. Separate high-season receipts from annual coverage, association costs and the booking months outside the strongest travel period.

National Park Service 2024 context: 1,120,740 recreation visits and $73.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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South DakotaRead state analysis

South Dakota

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Median home $289,600Monthly gross rent $999HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,614

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $9,513 in Sioux Falls, versus $12,772 in its rural sample of Vermillion. Their equal-weight benchmark is $11,142.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.27 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

South Dakota’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is above the national benchmark and NPS visitation provides Black Hills and Badlands travel context. Neither measure reveals how many visitors need the type of lodging your property offers.

Build a calendar that distinguishes recurring seasonal demand from a few exceptional event dates. Verify permission, occupancy, parking and the manager’s actual service costs, then test the economics if the strongest event produces less revenue than expected.

National Park Service 2024 context: 3,850,934 recreation visits and $524.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the South Dakota retirement-tax details
TennesseeRead state analysis

Tennessee

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Median home $332,600Monthly gross rent $1,284HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,649

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $7,007 in Nashville, versus $5,072 in its rural sample of Savannah. Their equal-weight benchmark is $6,039.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.09 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Tennessee’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is near but below the national benchmark, while NPS visitor spending is substantial. These signals reflect different activity and do not establish occupancy for a Nashville unit or a Smokies-area cabin.

Verify the candidate’s current local permission, transfer rules and private restrictions before pricing prior bookings. For a cabin, inspect access and management capacity; for an urban property, test weekday as well as weekend demand. Strong destination branding cannot replace actual monthly results.

National Park Service 2024 context: 12,571,305 recreation visits and $1,744.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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TexasRead state analysis

Texas

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Median home $313,200Monthly gross rent $1,475HO-3 premium, 2023 $2,864

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $12,832 in Houston, versus $13,138 in its rural sample of Fort Stockton. Their equal-weight benchmark is $12,985. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.90 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Texas’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark and its NPS series covers only part of the visitor economy. Neither measure captures all city events, business stays, coastal trips or Hill Country weekends.

Make the destination thesis specific and confirm local use, private restrictions and complete rental coverage. A festival-heavy calendar, a coastal rental and a business-stay property have different interruption and seasonality assumptions that cannot be combined into one Texas occupancy rate.

National Park Service 2024 context: 5,366,208 recreation visits and $380.5 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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UtahRead state analysis

Utah

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Median home $545,200Monthly gross rent $1,593HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,107

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $2,861 in Salt Lake City, versus $3,107 in its rural sample of Richfield. Their equal-weight benchmark is $2,984. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 1.28 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Utah’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is above the national benchmark and its NPS visitation and spending are large. That supports investigating specific gateways, but park visitors also camp, use hotels and move between destinations.

For a Moab, southern Utah or ski-area property, verify the exact short-stay permission and private rules before assigning value to its location. Test seasonal bookings against utilities, turnover service, access and year-round ownership costs; an impressive visitor total cannot supply a property’s occupied nights.

National Park Service 2024 context: 15,821,580 recreation visits and $2,024.2 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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VermontRead state analysis

Vermont

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Median home $352,800Monthly gross rent $1,319HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,215

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $14,461 in Burlington, versus $9,266 in its rural sample of Hartford. Their equal-weight benchmark is $11,863.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 3.09 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Vermont’s broad accommodation observation is suppressed, but the separate hotel-and-motel context series is available and above the national concentration. Its small NPS count does not capture the state’s full ski, foliage and rural travel activity.

Use destination-level booking records and verify local permission, owner use and management access. Separate peak travel periods from ordinary weeks and price winter service; neither a small park count nor hotel employment tells you whether a specific cabin is profitable.

National Park Service 2024 context: 81,713 recreation visits and $5.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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VirginiaRead state analysis

Virginia

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Median home $403,500Monthly gross rent $1,646HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,537

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $4,368 in Virginia Beach, versus $4,635 in its rural sample of Wise. Their equal-weight benchmark is $4,501.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.95 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Virginia records substantial NPS visitation and spending, but its broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark. Parkways, historic sites and urban attractions can include day trips; the count does not establish paid guest nights near a particular house.

A beach rental, Shenandoah-area property and Northern Virginia unit need different calendars and permissions. Verify the legal use and actual management access, then separate peak dates from the normal-year cost of ownership and furnishing replacement.

National Park Service 2024 context: 21,362,318 recreation visits and $1,474.6 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

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WashingtonRead state analysis

Washington

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Median home $602,200Monthly gross rent $1,824HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,232

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $5,371 in Seattle, versus $5,049 in its rural sample of Okanogan. Their equal-weight benchmark is $5,210. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.86 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Washington’s NPS visits capture substantial park activity, while its broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark. Those measures neither establish Seattle residential permission nor forecast the bookings for a mountain or island property.

DOR identifies separate tax classifications for lodging businesses. Reconcile those obligations with the municipality, platform collections and direct bookings, and obtain current permission for the exact property. A general real-estate rental tax rule must not be substituted for the transient operation.

National Park Service 2024 context: 9,036,038 recreation visits and $677.7 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Washington retirement-tax details
West VirginiaRead state analysis

West Virginia

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Median home $170,800Monthly gross rent $883HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,179

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $11,484 in Charleston, versus $5,543 in its rural sample of Elkins. Their equal-weight benchmark is $8,513.50. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.89 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

West Virginia’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is above the national benchmark and NPS visitation supports research into specific recreation destinations. A New River Gorge-area booking thesis still needs property-level evidence rather than an allocation of statewide park visits.

Check road access, water or wastewater systems, legal short-stay permission and the cleaning team’s service area. Price the usable season and fallback use explicitly; low acquisition costs alone do not create a successful remote hospitality business.

National Park Service 2024 context: 2,580,211 recreation visits and $139.0 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the West Virginia retirement-tax details
WisconsinRead state analysis

Wisconsin

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Median home $294,700Monthly gross rent $1,142HO-3 premium, 2023 $923

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $12,929 in Milwaukee, versus $10,443 in its rural sample of Rice Lake. Their equal-weight benchmark is $11,686. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 0.91 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Wisconsin’s broad accommodation concentration (unscored) is below the national benchmark, and its NPS series does not measure the full lake, resort, sports and city travel market. Use the destination’s own booked-night and rate evidence.

Wisconsin Publication 219 describes marketplace tax responsibilities, including municipal room tax when applicable. Reconcile platform and direct bookings with the actual municipality, and verify lodging permission separately. A tax collected by a platform does not establish compliance with every operating requirement.

National Park Service 2024 context: 733,828 recreation visits and $74.9 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Wisconsin retirement-tax details
WyomingRead state analysis

Wyoming

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Median home $339,500Monthly gross rent $998HO-3 premium, 2023 $1,853

For the same $600,000 apartment and $30,000 fixtures, the Lincoln Institute / MCFE study reports a 2025 tax bill of $3,940 in Cheyenne, versus $4,552 in its rural sample of Worland. Their equal-weight benchmark is $4,246. These are two local rental-building examples, not a statewide rate or an assessment for transient lodging. Check reassessment and classifications before applying either result to an acquisition.

Unscored lodging context: the 2025 private hotel-and-motel employment quotient, excluding casino hotels, is 3.86 versus a national benchmark of 1.00. Neither hotel employment nor National Park Service visits enters the cost score. Local STR demand needs its own booking evidence.

Wyoming has substantial NPS visitation and visitor spending. Its narrower hotel-and-motel concentration is available and above the national benchmark, although the broad accommodation series is suppressed. None of those observations establishes demand for a specific Yellowstone or Grand Teton gateway property.

Confirm the exact destination, legal permission, seasonal access and management capacity. Park visitors may stay inside the park, in another state or in other lodging types; they are not an inventory of bookable nights for an individual Wyoming home.

National Park Service 2024 context: 8,120,299 recreation visits and $1,216.3 million in estimated visitor spending. These are park-related visits and spending, not unique tourists, all tourism, STR guest nights or property revenue. NPS 2024 state visitor data

Read the Wyoming retirement-tax details
Taxstra methodologyScoring factors, weights, research profiles and limitations.

How Taxstra grades each state out of 10

We score every state using the same rules. Costs and financial factors make up 90% of the overall score, and WalletHub’s Quality of Life category makes up 10%. Each category tile shows how much it counts. Tiles marked “Not in overall score” offer extra context without changing the ranking.

What counts toward the score

  • Everyday living costs: 100% of the financial share

What does a score out of 10 mean?

For financial categories, 10 is the strongest result in the comparison and 1 is the weakest. Lower costs generally score better; higher pay scores better. A 7.9 is a comparison tool, not a promise about your finances.

Why can scores and ranks look different?

Cards show one decimal place, while rankings use two. Two states can both display 7.9 and still have slightly different ranks. States with the same ranking value share a rank.

Which WalletHub ranking do we use?

We use WalletHub’s Quality of Life category, not its overall ranking. For example, Illinois is fifth for Quality of Life and eighteenth overall in the cited study. Those are two different measures.

What if information is missing?

We leave it missing instead of guessing. If a required factor is unavailable, we label the score provisional and do not give it an overall rank.

Technical formulas and source definitions

Regional spending-basket costs with a 10% quality-of-life share, not STR demand or an all-in acquisition ranking. Apartment-tax examples are separate context. STR assessments, occupancy, nightly rates, lodging taxes, local permission and insurance require local evidence. Hotel jobs and NPS visits are unscored.

Financial categories: actual measurement spread
The most favorable observed value receives 10 and the least favorable receives 1. Intermediate grades are scaled linearly between them: 1 + 9 × the favorable share of the observed range. Lower costs score higher; higher pay scores higher. If every observation is identical, each receives 5.5. These relative grades do not have a universal pass/fail cutoff. Extreme observations can widen the range and compress other grades. We do not narrow a genuine gap just to produce a tighter leaderboard; a change to a source population must have a documented measurement reason. The STR grade is a regional spending-cost screen. Hotel employment is excluded from its score because hotel jobs do not measure residential STR demand; actual occupancy and booking revenue require local property research.
Malpractice and rental taxes: defined samples
The physician index weights CMS county malpractice-cost observations by their malpractice RVUs within each state. It uses the underlying 2026 update, based on 2023 premiums and RVUs, before Medicare payment adjustments. State-specific specialty mix, missing insurer types and CMS imputation limit its use as a quote comparison. Apartment-tax comparisons hold building and fixture values constant and average the study’s named urban and rural municipalities equally. Including both reduces dependence on one city; it still does not represent all localities. They are neither statewide tax rates nor single-family STR bills.
Quality of life: the source category, not the overall WalletHub rank
We use the quality-of-life category of WalletHub’s 2026 state study, published August 10, 2026. Taxstra converts its rank to a grade using 1 + 9 × (50 − rank) / 49. The publisher’s category includes amenities, mobility, leisure, weather and environmental conditions. WalletHub’s overall ranking also includes affordability, economy, education and health, and safety. We use its narrower quality-of-life category as an amenities and daily-life input; our financial factors already measure costs separately. For example, Illinois is #5 in that category and #18 overall in WalletHub. Taxstra’s own guide ranking is a third, separately calculated result. Differences in these rank-based grades are not measured differences in happiness.
Overall grade and rank
Multiply each unrounded component grade by its published weight, add the results, then display one decimal place. Round the composite to two decimals for ranking and retain genuine ties at that precision. Cards display one decimal for readability; two cards displaying 7.9 can therefore have different positions. The table tooltip and downloadable dataset include the ranking value. For example, financial 6.0 and quality of life 9.0 produce 6.6 at 80% financial / 20% quality-of-life weights. Direct tax and deduction comparisons rank their displayed dollar outcomes and show a separate normalized category grade.
Incomplete evidence
Unavailable category data receives no grade. When a weighted component is missing, the remaining components are reweighted and the card labels the result provisional, shows evidence coverage and excludes it from the overall rank. The presence of a numeric provisional grade is not evidence that the missing category was measured.
What a grade does not claim
These are screening grades, not completed all-factor tax or legal rankings. The named tax benchmarks and CMS malpractice-cost index are included only where the displayed weights say so. Full-return taxes, individual insurance quotes and legal-policy judgments remain separate. A high amenities grade does not mean that everyone prefers the state. Family ties, local neighborhoods, climate preferences and a particular job can outweigh statewide observations.

For investment guides, livability describes market context; it does not forecast rent growth or returns and does not assume that the investor lives in the property’s state. In guides about tax bills, the tax calculations stay separate from lifestyle grades.

Research examples and calculation assumptions

Taxstra's research profiles

A useful comparison holds the household and property constant. These are the exact starting profiles for the tax research; a scenario is not a completed tax estimate unless its result is explicitly shown.

Physician employment
$500,000 in wages, one earner, no dependents, no elective retirement contributions. Married filing jointly and single results are separate. The score’s separate tax sensitivity uses $500,000 of state taxable wage income with state AGI equal to that base; it is not a gross-to-taxable return calculation. Compensation observations use the BLS occupation specified beside the result and exclude self-employment.
Contracting and business ownership
$500,000 of profit before owner compensation. An S-corp example tests a $250,000 owner wage; that is a sensitivity assumption, not a reasonable-compensation opinion. The separate employee-payroll example is five employees at $100,000 each. Employee wages already included in operating expenses are never deducted twice.
Retirement
Both spouses are 67, married filing jointly, receiving $120,000 from traditional retirement accounts, $60,000 in private pensions, $60,000 in Social Security, $30,000 in ordinary investment income and $30,000 in long-term capital gains. Each spouse receives half. Total cash income is $300,000; taxable income depends on the income category and applicable rules. Full-year residents. Qualified traditional distributions; employer-funded defined-benefit pension; 401(k) entirely employee elective deferrals with no employer contributions; IRA entirely self-funded with no exempt pension rollover; Pennsylvania-eligible retirement distributions after retirement. Exclusions are applied to qualifying plan income first where several income categories are eligible. No federal or state tax bill is estimated.
Property acquisition
A debt-free $1 million purchase, with $200,000 allocated to land. The long-term rental example assumes $90,000 of rent and $30,000 of expenses before property tax, insurance and depreciation. The STR example assumes $150,000 of bookings and $75,000 of expenses on the same basis. These are research starting profiles, not market forecasts. The standardized scored apartment example is different: $600,000 land and building plus $30,000 fixtures, with the same values across named municipalities. The STR worked example uses a separately labeled fixed property scenario. It does not change the statewide ranking or represent forecast bookings.
Depreciation
A sensitivity considers an additional $100,000 deduction that the taxpayer can currently use. An addback can defer a state benefit even when federal expensing is available. A current deduction, a future recovery and a permanent tax reduction are different results.
State and local scope
Property location and owner residence are separate inputs. There is no assumed “average” local income tax. A combined state/local result needs a named locality and its resident or nonresident rules. Figures explicitly labeled state-only exclude local tax.

How to reproduce a comparison

  1. Choose the named measure and its source year.
  2. Apply the formula displayed beside the map to the source observation for each state.
  3. Round money to whole dollars, ratios to two decimal places and grades to one decimal place. Rank in the direction stated by the measure: the tax-penalty guide places the largest burden first, while its tax-cost grade still rewards a lower bill. Changing display order does not change a state’s rank.
  4. Give equal ranking values the same competition rank (composites use two decimals; cards show one). After a tie, skip the occupied positions.
  5. Leave suppressed or unavailable observations unranked. Retain the state in the table and describe the gap.

A price-adjusted wage, a homeowner tax bill and a lodging-employment concentration answer different questions. The balanced view explicitly combines the guide’s named financial factors with livability at the displayed weights. Other categories provide context. A favorable legal policy is not treated as a measured dollar saving. Material modeling assumptions require review before a full financial ranking is released.

The financial profiles are a $500,000 W-2 household, a business with $500,000 profit before owner compensation, a five-person $500,000 payroll, and a married age-67 household with $300,000 of mixed retirement and investment income. Investor examples assume the purchase location is separate from the owner’s residence.

These scenarios define the research questions. Unless a completed calculation is explicitly shown, a profile is not an estimated return. Tax sensitivities use separately supplied state-taxable wage or ordinary-business bases, exclude local tax and do not replace full-return calculations. We do not calculate with unverified secondary-source schedules.

Published survey estimates have sampling error. We preserve available Census margins of error and BLS relative errors in the source data. Small apparent differences should not be treated as certainty. A comprehensive state decision still requires the actual locality, household, property, employer and coverage terms.

Sources and measurement datesOriginal datasets, primary authority, verification dates and downloadable research.

Download the published 50-state dataset (CSV) · Dataset definitions and coverage

Economic observations were retrieved September 12, 2026. Measurement years differ because the agencies publish on different schedules. Existing retirement rules retain their August 4, 2026 review date; existing PTET and depreciation research retain August 30, 2026. Unresolved entries remain identified.

The Census property-tax figure is a median dollar bill on owner-occupied homes, not a tax rate on rentals. BLS physician wages exclude self-employment. NAIC premiums describe owner-occupied HO-3 policies. CMS healthcare spending includes several payers and all ages. BLS accommodation employment includes hotels and other lodging; it is not STR revenue.

State-specific primary-authority links appear with each state. A source listed for one tax category does not verify a different category.

Common questions

Why did Nevada’s STR score change?

Hotel employment was removed from the score because it measures another lodging business. Nevada’s large casino and resort industry does not establish bookings for a residential rental. All states now follow the same published cost factors; no state receives a discretionary bump to produce a preferred winner.

Is the highest accommodation job concentration the best STR state?

No. Lodging employment is unscored background context. It cannot establish residential occupancy, nightly rates, local permission or profitability. Use the destination’s own booking records and permitted comparable properties.

What do the NPS visit numbers mean?

They count recreation visits associated with National Park Service units, not unique tourists or STR guest nights. Spending is the NPS model’s state-level estimate for that activity. Theme parks, many beaches, business trips and state parks fall outside this series.

Does a state tax ID mean my short-term rental is legal?

No. Tax administration and land-use permission address different questions. Check the city or county, property type, license, occupancy limits and private restrictions.

Does Airbnb collect every tax I owe?

Do not assume universal coverage. Reconcile the platform’s current collection agreement, locality, booking channel and tax return requirements. Direct bookings may need a different collection process.

Does seven-day average use automatically create a W-2 deduction?

No. It addresses one passive-activity classification rule. Material participation and applicable basis, at-risk and other loss limits still require review.

Can I use the state homeowners premium for an STR budget?

No. Disclose transient use and obtain appropriate property, liability and interruption coverage quotes. A historical owner-occupied premium is not a substitute.

Why can a major tourist state score poorly on livability?

The two measures describe different things. Quality of life concerns living in a state; a vacation destination’s revenue depends on legal supply, rates, occupancy and operating costs. The cost ranking does not convert either measure into expected bookings.

Does a strong lifestyle score mean an STR will perform well?

No. Guest demand depends on the destination, season, property and competition. The quality-of-life component can help identify places to research, but it does not measure nightly rates, booked nights or regulatory permission.

Can I rely on a statewide STR ranking before buying?

Use it only for a first shortlist. Check the exact address, permit rules, zoning, association restrictions, insurance quote and comparable rental performance before committing to a purchase.

What is the difference between tourism concentration and occupancy?

Accommodation employment concentration measures how prominent lodging jobs are in a state’s economy. Occupancy measures booked nights for a lodging property or market. The former is not a substitute for the latter.

Should personal vacation use affect my investment decision?

Yes. Separate what the property is worth to you personally from its projected business performance. Account for the nights you intend to use it and review the resulting tax treatment with your adviser.

Why can the WalletHub rank differ from the rank on this card?

The card identifies WalletHub’s Quality of Life category rank. The linked study also has a separate Overall Rank column that incorporates affordability, economy, education and health, and safety. Illinois is #5 in Quality of Life but #18 overall in the 2026 WalletHub study. Taxstra’s headline rank combines the named financial factors with that quality-of-life category using our published weights; it is not WalletHub’s overall ranking.

Can readers customize the published ranking?

No. Each guide uses one fixed methodology and the same assumptions for every state. State search, map selection, shared links and embedded cards all use that published ranking. Separate financial examples explain the assumptions without changing the leaderboard.

How does Taxstra include livability in the ranking?

Composite guides combine their named financial factors with WalletHub’s Quality of Life category at fixed, guide-specific weights: 80% financial and 20% quality of life for physician and retirement composites; 90% financial and 10% quality of life for business and property composites. Direct tax, PTET and depreciation comparisons do not include quality of life in their ranking. Everyone sees the same ranking; choosing a state changes the displayed card, not the methodology. The score is a comparison tool, not an estimate of happiness or a completed tax return.

What does the livability measure include?

We use WalletHub’s 2026 quality-of-life category, which considers amenities, mobility, environmental conditions and leisure. Its methodology is linked in the sources. This category does not fully capture family ties, personal climate preferences, a particular school district or an individual neighborhood.

Does a score of 8.0 mean a state is 80% better?

No. The 1–10 grades describe relative results within the comparison. A score of 8.0 is neither a percentage tax saving nor a probability that you will enjoy living there. Review the underlying measures, fixed weights and limitations before making a shortlist.

Why can two states share a rank?

Taxstra ranks composite scores rounded to two decimals while cards display one decimal. Equal ranking values share the same competition rank. Direct dollar comparisons rank whole-dollar outcomes. Missing observations remain unranked when the selected calculation needs them; they are not replaced with zero.

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