Blue: states with a statewide ADU law (Pew, Mercatus). Red: towns with ZIP codes at $500+ per sq ft, sized by population (Realtor.com data via SmarterSquares, asking prices). Olive: homes reporting mold in surveyed metros, empty areas were not sampled (American Housing Survey). Yellow: gateway towns where the top 10% of Airbnbs charge $500+ a night (AirROI estimates).
Top-ranked areas
| Rank | Area | Towns included | $ per sq ft | Top 10% Airbnb rate | Airbnb revenue per listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park City, UT | Park City | $1,029 | $1,285+ | $48,603 |
| 2 | Lake Tahoe, CA and NV | Olympic Valley, Tahoe City, Truckee, Tahoma, Incline Village | $673 to $924 | $705 to $1,060+ | $50,693 |
| 3 | Joshua Tree area, CA | Pioneertown | $779 | $925+ | $62,889 |
| 4 | Woodstock area, VT | Woodstock | $693 | $860+ | $42,316 |
| 5 | Yosemite, CA | Yosemite National Park | $750 | $795+ | $83,959 |
| 6 | Glacier and Flathead Valley, MT | Whitefish, Columbia Falls | $605 to $721 | $570 to $885+ | $48,655 |
| 7 | Eastern Sierra, CA | Mammoth Lakes, June Lake | $518 to $681 | $605 to $730+ | $48,002 |
| 8 | Acadia and Mount Desert Island, ME | Mount Desert, Bar Harbor | $516 to $525 | $725 to $825+ | $57,781 |
| 9 | Zion, UT | Springdale, Virgin | $516 to $565 | $570 to $835+ | $53,520 |
| 10 | Redwood Coast, CA | Trinidad | $552 | $595+ | $66,659 |
| 11 | Central Oregon | Bend | $540 | $565+ | $39,689 |
| 12 | Northern Arizona | Flagstaff | $511 | $510+ | $40,418 |
Areas with high-end Airbnb towns near national parks and ski resorts, a ZIP code at $500 or more per square foot, and a state ADU law that applies at least in part. Ranked by price per square foot and top 10% nightly rate, weighted equally and averaged across each area by Airbnb listings. Revenue is that same average. Prices are asking prices (Realtor.com data via SmarterSquares, 2026). Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to September 2026. Confirm local ADU and short-term rental rules.
Highest-ranked towns
| Rank | Town | Near | $ per sq ft | Top 10% Airbnb rate | Airbnb revenue per listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olympic Valley, CA | Palisades Tahoe | $924 | $1,040+ | $49,315 |
| 2 | Tahoe City, CA | Palisades Tahoe, Homewood | $852 | $910+ | $53,578 |
| 3 | Pioneertown, CA | Joshua Tree | $779 | $925+ | $62,889 |
| 4 | Truckee, CA | Northstar, Palisades Tahoe | $673 | $1,060+ | $50,478 |
| 5 | Tahoma, CA | Homewood | $699 | $990+ | $59,520 |
| 6 | Whitefish, MT | Whitefish Mountain, Glacier | $721 | $885+ | $55,417 |
| 7 | Woodstock, VT | Saskadena Six | $693 | $860+ | $42,316 |
| 8 | Yosemite National Park, CA | Yosemite | $750 | $795+ | $83,959 |
| 9 | Incline Village, NV | Diamond Peak | $825 | $705+ | $43,348 |
| 10 | Mammoth Lakes, CA | Mammoth Mountain | $681 | $730+ | $47,778 |
| 11 | Mount Desert, ME | Acadia | $525 | $825+ | $54,109 |
| 12 | Bar Harbor, ME | Acadia | $516 | $725+ | $59,217 |
| 13 | Columbia Falls, MT | Glacier | $605 | $570+ | $37,101 |
| 14 | Trinidad, CA | Redwood | $552 | $595+ | $66,659 |
| 15 | June Lake, CA | June Mountain | $518 | $605+ | $54,242 |
| 16 | Bend, OR | Mt. Bachelor | $540 | $565+ | $39,689 |
| 17 | Flagstaff, AZ | Grand Canyon, Snowbowl | $511 | $510+ | $40,418 |
High-end Airbnb towns near national parks and ski resorts, with a ZIP code at $500 or more per square foot, in places a state ADU law reaches. Ranked by price per square foot and top 10% nightly rate, weighted equally. Prices are asking prices (Realtor.com data via SmarterSquares, 2026). Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to September 2026. Confirm local ADU and short-term rental rules.