Kingston, NY (September 22, 2025) – Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher today released a new report highlighting the rapid growth of short-term rentals (STRs) and their increasing pressure on the county’s housing market.
In the ten years since 2015, the number of STRs in Ulster County has increased by 220%, rising from 942 to 2,013. As of May 2025, STRs account for 3.28% of the county’s total housing stock, exceeding the 2% cap recommended by the Ulster County Housing Smart Communities Initiative. Several towns have even higher concentrations, with Shandaken at the top where nearly 10% of all housing units are used as STRs.
The report also shows that 98% of STR listings are entire units rather than single rooms, and 36% of owners use mailing addresses outside of Ulster County. New York City is the most common location for these owners. Studio and one-bedroom units are the most impacted with 7% of the total studio/one-bedroom inventory being offered as short-term rentals.
