South Florida’s short-term-rental story is no longer just Miami Beach. The stronger investor candidates right now are spread from Palm Beach County to the Keys, where a mix of occupancy, nightly rate, revenue growth and a tighter supply picture is lifting market fundamentals.

This ranking uses AirDNA’s July 5, 2026 market snapshots, which cover Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com listings and reflect completed data through June. Its Market Score is a useful screen—not a promise of returns—because it combines demand, seasonality, revenue growth, investability and regulation. A specific address, condo association and local ordinance can change the answer completely.

1. West Palm Beach

Why it leads: West Palm Beach has the highest score in this group, at 92 out of 100. AirDNA reports 58% occupancy, a $354 average daily rate and $45,900 in typical trailing-12-month revenue. Revenue rose 26.1% year over year while active listings fell 12.1%.

Investor read: The combination of rising occupancy, growing revenue and shrinking supply is the clearest momentum signal in the ranking. The caveat is seasonality: its score of 56 suggests meaningful peak-and-trough swings, so annual cash-flow assumptions should not rely on high-season pricing.

2. Delray Beach

Why it is hot: Delray Beach posts a 90 Market Score and the highest occupancy of the five at 62%. Average daily rate is $365, typical annual revenue is $40,100, and RevPAR—revenue per available night—rose 16.1% year over year.

Investor read: It is the demand-led choice: occupancy increased 8% and supply declined 8.1%. That makes it compelling for an operator able to match the local guest mix, but a smaller market with about 1,209 active listings offers less room for a generic, copy-the-comps strategy.

3. Key West

Why it is different: Key West is the premium-revenue option. It has an 85 Market Score, 60% occupancy and a $617 average daily rate. Typical revenue is $79,500, the highest in this list, with revenue up 10.8% and active listings down 15.7%.

Investor read: The numbers are strong, but so is the entry cost and the rulebook. Monroe County says vacation rentals in allowed locations generally need an annual special vacation-rental permit, in addition to other business-tax requirements. Underwrite permits, zoning and insurance before assuming the market average applies.

4. Boca Raton

Why it makes the cut: Boca Raton’s 81 Market Score is powered by growth: typical revenue rose 29.1%, occupancy rose 10%, and supply fell 12.2%. Occupancy is 59%, though its $259 average daily rate and $26,100 typical revenue are lower than the three markets above.

Investor read: It looks more like a steady-demand, price-sensitive play than a luxury-rate story. The 72 seasonality score is the best of this group, a potential advantage for investors who value a smoother booking calendar.

5. Pompano Beach

Why it remains competitive: Pompano Beach earns a 78 Market Score, with 56% occupancy, $252 average daily rate and $26,900 in typical annual revenue. Revenue rose 7.1% and inventory declined 7.5% year over year.

Investor read: Demand improved, but RevPAR slipped 2.1% as average daily rate fell 3%. That is a reminder to model a conservative pricing path rather than assuming occupancy gains automatically become profit gains.

The diligence that matters most

Florida requires a lodging license before a vacation rental operates, and cities and counties can layer on their own registration, zoning, tax, safety and association requirements. Miami-Dade, for example, requires state licensing and tax registration for covered vacation rentals; local rules differ across the region.

For investors, “hot” should mean more than a score. Build a property-specific comp set, verify that short stays are allowed by the municipality and HOA, price insurance and hurricane exposure, and test the deal against lower occupancy and nightly-rate scenarios. The market data is a starting point; disciplined underwriting is the investment thesis.

Data note: Market-level averages are not projections for an individual property and are before host expenses. Figures are AirDNA’s trailing-12-month market estimates, refreshed July 5, 2026.