Ocean City, MD
Maryland's top beach STR market
Ocean City is Maryland's premier beach destination, drawing 8 million visitors annually. The barrier island runs 10 miles of Atlantic coast with a dense STR market anchored by summer tourism. Strong cap rates, walkable boardwalk access, and a well-established rental management ecosystem make it one of the most accessible STR entry markets on the East Coast.
41 active listings in Ocean City are analyzed and ranked right now
Scored 1-10 against real Airbnb comps. See which properties rank highest and why.
Estimated Annual Performance
* Estimates based on market averages. Individual property performance varies. Always run a full underwriting analysis.
Why Investors Choose Ocean City
Ocean City STR investing, answered
Is Ocean City, MD a good short-term rental market?
Ocean City is a Mid-Atlantic STR market averaging a 2.8% cap rate, 30% annual occupancy, and $369/night across STR-viable listings, based on 41 active listings. Ocean City is Maryland's premier beach destination, drawing 8 million visitors annually. The barrier island runs 10 miles of Atlantic coast with a dense STR market anchored by summer tourism. Strong cap rates, walkable boardwalk access, and a well-established rental management ecosystem make it one of the most accessible STR entry markets on the East Coast.
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Ocean City?
STR-viable properties in Ocean City average about 30% occupancy across the year. Peak season is Memorial Day - Labor Day. Occupancy here reflects availability-adjusted booking performance, not raw calendar occupancy, so it represents what a full-time operated rental can realistically achieve.
How much do short-term rentals earn in Ocean City?
At $369/night and 30% occupancy, a typical Ocean City STR grosses roughly $40,271 per year before expenses, leaving an estimated $24,163 in net operating income against a $1.8M average price, an implied 1.4% cap rate. Individual results depend on property, amenities, and management.
What types of properties work best for STR in Ocean City?
The strongest-performing STR property types in Ocean City are Condo, Townhouse, Single Family. 8M+ annual visitors. Matching the local guest profile and the amenities that drive bookings in this market matters more than raw square footage.
What is the median STR-viable home price in Ocean City?
STR-viable listings in Ocean City average around $1.8M. Primary STR ZIP codes include 21842, 21843. Combined with the market's 2.8% average cap rate, that price level sets the return baseline you'd underwrite against.
Market averages, not guarantees. Cap rates, occupancy, and nightly rates are market-wide averages based on active STR listings and historical data. Individual property performance depends on location, amenities, management, and listing quality. Always run a full underwriting analysis before purchasing.Stats sourced from 41 active listings · last updated Sep 1, 2026
Run a live analysis in Ocean City
Search active MLS listings in Ocean City and instantly see cap rates, cash flow projections, and STR comp-backed nightly rates - all in one underwriting report.