Bayfield, Wisconsin Short-Term Rental Market
Bayfield, WI STRs averaged $190/night at 40.1% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 91.9 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Bayfield, Wisconsin is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 60%. average monthly revenue is $4,359. average daily rate is $293. the top operator is Evolve with 553 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Wisconsin Area regional market, which includes Bayfield. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bayfield.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bayfield is a small Lake Superior harbor town of roughly 584 residents, positioned as the mainland gateway to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which recorded approximately 247,167 visits in 2023. The short-term rental market is heavily seasonal, drawing outdoor-recreation travelers, kayakers, sailors, and regional Midwest leisure visitors in summer and fall, along with sea-cave and ice-cave seekers in winter when conditions permit.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $190 and occupancy of 40.1%, with RevPAR of $76. April falls in the shoulder period between ice season and peak summer; the 2025 annual average occupancy was 46.3% and ADR was $235. Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy increased 1.6%, ADR increased 6.7%, and revenue grew 0.3%, indicating that the ADR gain was largely offset by volume timing.
Entire-place listings dominate the supply at 14,056 units (94.6% of total), with 792 private-room and 4 shared-room listings. By bedroom count, two-bedroom properties are the most common at 4,277 listings, followed by three-bedroom (4,069), one-bedroom (2,983), four-bedroom (2,156), and five-bedroom-plus (1,339). Channel distribution shows dual-platform operation is prevalent: 7,059 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 5,664 on Airbnb only, and 2,129 on VRBO only. The higher VRBO share relative to other markets reflects the vacation-property character of the Apostle Islands region.
The overall market score is 80.0 out of 100, with investability at 91.9 and revenue growth at 91.9, both among the highest scores in the data set. Rental demand scores 57.8 and seasonality 56.8, reflecting the market’s concentrated summer-fall demand window.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $192 | $1,942 |
| Feb | 41% | $199 | $1,945 |
| Mar | 35% | $172 | $1,827 |
| Apr | 41% | $168 | $1,753 |
| May | 50% | $203 | $2,138 |
| Jun | 62% | $252 | $3,708 |
| Jul | 70% | $254 | $4,555 |
| Aug | 62% | $250 | $4,229 |
| Sep | 47% | $220 | $2,811 |
| Oct | 43% | $196 | $2,422 |
| Nov | 38% | $176 | $1,921 |
| Dec | 41% | $190 | $1,983 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bayfield
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 553 | 19,950 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 421 | 11,122 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Hiller Vacation Homes | 95 | 1,825 | ★ 4.46 |
| 4 | Northwoods Property Managment | 63 | 445 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Wild Eagle Lodge | 59 | 18 | ★ 4.50 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bayfield?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,983 |
| 2 bed | 4,277 |
| 3 bed | 4,069 |
| 4 bed | 2,156 |
| 5 bed | 1,339 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $301 |
| Luxury | $522 |
| Professionally Managed | $339 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,773 |
| Entire Place | $4,495 |
| House | $4,715 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 38.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 47.5% |
Investment Analysis
April 2026 average monthly revenue was $1,967 across all Bayfield STR listings, a shoulder-month figure. House listings averaged $2,097 per month and entire-place listings $2,034, while apartment listings averaged $1,426. Annualizing the April figure produces approximately $23,604 in gross annual revenue, though peak summer months (July averages $4,555 in monthly revenue) contribute substantially above that pace.
By ADR tier, professionally managed listings averaged $207 per night versus the all-listing average of $190, an 8.9% premium. Luxury-tier listings reached $425 ADR, reflecting the upper end of the Apostle Islands-adjacent inventory market.
Housing value data for Bayfield is not available in the current snapshot, so a precise gross yield cannot be calculated. The exceptionally high investability score of 91.9 and revenue growth score of 91.9 reflect the market’s strong upward trajectory: annual average ADR has risen from $178 in 2017 to $235 in 2025, and average monthly revenue has grown from $1,898 in 2017 to $3,015 in 2025. Revenue has grown in each year except for slight dips in 2022 and 2023. Investors should weigh these growth trends against the market’s pronounced seasonality: July averages nearly 2.5 times the revenue of the March trough month ($4,555 vs. $1,827), which affects financing and cash-flow planning.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Bayfield guests book an average of 47.3 days in advance, the longest lead time among the five markets processed in this batch. The average length of stay is 3.94 nights, close to 4 nights, reflecting a mix of long-weekend and early-week stays typical of Midwest lake-country destinations.
The 47-day lead time means peak summer and Apple Festival availability should be opened 60 to 90 days or more before the target dates to capture the highest-value early bookings. Last-minute bookings are less common in highly seasonal destination markets like Bayfield, so pricing strategy should front-load availability and rate-setting rather than relying on last-minute fill.
At 3.94 nights average stay, operators manage moderate turnover, roughly 7-8 guest stays per month during peak season. For a market with significant off-season periods, maintaining calendar flexibility and allowing 3-to-4-night minimum stays during peak periods is consistent with the booking patterns the data reflects.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in the City of Bayfield and require a Short-Term Rental License issued annually by the city Zoning Administrator. Licenses run a July 1 through June 30 annual term and must be renewed each year. The city fee amount is not published online; operators should contact Bayfield City Hall at 715-779-5712 for current fee information.
Before a license is issued or renewed, the owner must submit a completed Bayfield Fire Department fire inspection report and a Bayfield County Health Department inspection report, both dated within the prior year. Rentals are limited to one renter per any seven-consecutive-day period and may not generate vehicular traffic, noise, fumes, glare, or vibration beyond what is normal for the residential neighborhood. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on annual rental nights.
All STRs within the City of Bayfield are subject to an 8% room tax on gross lodging receipts. Wisconsin state law also requires a Tourist Rooming House license through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), administered locally by the Bayfield County Health Department; the state license fee is approximately $929 for a single unit.
Properties located in unincorporated Bayfield County (outside the city limits, the City of Washburn, and the Town of Pilsen) operate under a separate county STR ordinance that requires a one-time $500 county permit and compliance with potable-water and plumbing standards, per Bayfield County Ordinance Sec. 13-1-35 updated July 30, 2024. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Bayfield’s April 2026 occupancy of 40.1% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is a shoulder month in this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 46.3% is also below the national median, reflecting Bayfield’s compressed demand window. However, the 2025 annual average ADR of $235 is above the US STR median of approximately $220, consistent with the Apostle Islands destination premium.
The market’s revenue growth score of 91.9 and investability score of 91.9 are standout metrics, indicating that Bayfield has delivered consistent revenue improvement over time despite its seasonal concentration.
Among property managers, Evolve leads with 553 listings and a 4.74 average rating across 19,950 reviews. Vacasa is second with 421 listings and a 4.62 rating across 11,122 reviews. Hiller Vacation Homes manages 95 listings with a 4.46 rating. Northwoods Property Management operates 63 listings at a 4.71 rating. Wild Eagle Lodge holds 59 listings with an early-stage review base of 18 reviews at a 4.50 rating. The top 5 operators collectively manage 1,191 listings. Evolve and Vacasa together represent the dominant professionally managed presence in the market, consistent with the Northwoods Wisconsin vacation-rental landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bayfield, Wisconsin
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