Top 13 Airbnb Markets in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s tourism economy spans historic battlefields, rolling Amish farmlands, booming college towns, and rugged mountain escapes. From the Poconos to Pittsburgh, the Keystone State provides a wide spectrum of short-term rental (STR) opportunities for investors of every size and strategy. Using AirDNA’s proprietary data, we ranked the state’s best-performing markets and submarkets by overall Market Score to help you identify where the numbers point to the greatest potential.

What Is AirDNA’s Market Score?

Market Score is a proprietary metric that ranks how attractive a location is for short-term rental investment. Each score is calculated based on the following five metrics:

• Investability
• Rental Demand
• Revenue Growth
• Seasonality
• Regulation

Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating stronger overall market health. In addition to an overall Market Score, each of the five metrics gets its own score on the same scale within the AirDNA app. This level of granularity is useful for Airbnb stakeholders interested in a particular aspect of market behavior.

Understanding Markets vs. Submarkets

This list includes a mix of the largest markets and submarkets, which are defined as:

• Markets refer to well-defined, often larger geographic areas like cities or metro regions.
• Submarkets are more granular locations, such as smaller towns, neighborhoods, or lake & mountain communities within those larger regions.

Including both allows investors to spot opportunities that may be overlooked when focusing solely on large-scale market data. A market with a mediocre score might contain submarkets with excellent performance.

Airbnb Market Overview in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s STR landscape is as diverse as its geography. Iconic destinations like the Pocono Mountains and Gettysburg draw millions of leisure travelers, while economic hubs such as Pittsburgh, Lancaster, and York host a blend of business, healthcare, and family travel. The state benefits from four-season tourism—think ski trips, fall foliage, summertime lakes, and year-round heritage attractions—creating steady demand across multiple traveler segments. Investors can find both high-yield rural retreats and dependable urban bookings, all within a generally landlord-friendly regulatory environment compared with neighboring states.

Top 13 Airbnb Markets in Pennsylvania (Ranked by Market Score)

13. Gettysburg

Market Score: 50.70

Average Annual Revenue: $37,364

America’s most famous Civil War battlefield remains a tourism powerhouse, attracting history buffs and school groups year-round. While competition is moderate, unique historic homes and well-themed listings can command premium nightly rates, especially during reenactment events.

12. Erie

Market Score: 57.07

Average Annual Revenue: $27,584

Perched on Lake Erie, this lakeside city offers sandy Presque Isle beaches in summer and snow-sport tourism in winter. Affordable housing prices and improving downtown amenities make Erie a value-driven play for year-round bookings.

11. Allentown

Market Score: 60.22

Average Annual Revenue: $20,761

Part of the rapidly growing Lehigh Valley, Allentown benefits from proximity to Philadelphia and New York City. Business travel, nearby ski resorts, and revitalized downtown entertainment districts help smooth occupancy across seasons.

10. Pocono Mountains

Market Score: 61.05

Average Annual Revenue: $47,551

The Poconos remain Pennsylvania’s quintessential vacation-home region, known for year-round outdoor activities—from skiing and tubing to lake fun and foliage tours. High ADRs offset stronger competition, rewarding well-amenitized cabins and large-group properties.

9. Huntingdon

Market Score: 63.28

Average Annual Revenue: $31,571

Home to Raystown Lake and Juniata College, Huntingdon delivers steady weekend warrior traffic for boating, fishing, and collegiate events. Lower property costs combined with niche outdoor demand translate into attractive cash-on-cash returns.

8. Chambersburg

Market Score: 80.31

Average Annual Revenue: $24,836

Situated along the busy I-81 corridor, Chambersburg attracts a mix of logistics, government, and heritage tourism. Limited STR saturation means quality listings can capture outsized share, especially for road-trippers seeking alternatives to highway hotels.

7. Coudersport

Market Score: 82.00

Average Annual Revenue: $29,577

Stargazers flock to Cherry Springs State Park—one of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi—putting Coudersport on the map for astro-tourism. Rustic cabins and secluded cottages with clear-view decks perform particularly well.

6. Mechanicsburg / Carlisle

Market Score: 82.52

Average Annual Revenue: $28,907

Anchored by major distribution centers, Dickinson College, and the U.S. Army War College, this submarket blends business and leisure demand. Its strategic location near Harrisburg boosts mid-week bookings and keeps occupancy steady.

5. Confluence

Market Score: 83.61

Average Annual Revenue: $39,493

Nestled where the Youghiogheny and Casselman Rivers meet, Confluence is a gateway to Ohiopyle State Park and the GAP trail. Adventure seekers and cyclists fuel high nightly rates for well-equipped cabins and riverfront retreats.

4. Harrisburg / Hershey

Market Score: 87.51

Average Annual Revenue: $33,700

Pennsylvania’s capital region combines government travel with family fun at Hersheypark and Giant Center events. Diverse demand channels translate into balanced seasonality and attractive multi-bedroom property performance.

3. Pittsburgh

Market Score: 90.11

Average Annual Revenue: $28,972

The Steel City has reinvented itself as a hub for tech, healthcare, and education. Year-round conventions, pro sports, and university calendars anchor occupancy, while quirky neighborhoods like Lawrenceville fetch premium ADRs.

2. Lancaster

Market Score: 93.76

Average Annual Revenue: $39,082

Beyond its Amish countryside appeal, Lancaster boasts a vibrant downtown food scene and steady business from manufacturing and healthcare. High occupancy, moderate ADRs, and supportive local regulations make it a well-balanced STR market.

1. York

Market Score: 96.95

Average Annual Revenue: $29,863

York tops the list thanks to its blend of affordable housing, growing craft-food scene, and strategic placement between Baltimore, Harrisburg, and Lancaster. Low competition and strong weekend demand from regional events create an investor-friendly environment with room for appreciation.

Should You Invest in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania offers a compelling mix of four-season tourism, economic diversity, and generally favorable STR regulations. Coastal alternatives like New Jersey face stricter rules and higher entry costs, nudging many Mid-Atlantic investors toward the Keystone State instead.

If premium nightly rates and strong second-home demand are your goals, the Pocono Mountains and Coudersport’s dark-sky territory may fit the bill. Investors prioritizing year-round stability should consider York, Lancaster, or Pittsburgh, where business and hospital travel fill gaps between leisure peaks. Meanwhile, niche adventure hubs such as Confluence and Huntingdon reward operators who can cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

With strategic location, reasonable property prices, and diversified demand drivers, Pennsylvania stands out as a balanced, opportunity-rich state for short-term rental investment.