Hartwell, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Hartwell, GA STRs averaged $172/night at 58.3% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 9.6% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Hartwell, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 57%. average monthly revenue is $3,149. average daily rate is $209. the top operator is Evolve with 343 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Atlanta regional market, which includes Hartwell. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Hartwell.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Hartwell sits on the shores of Lake Hartwell, a 55,900-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir straddling the Georgia-South Carolina border, making it one of the top-five most-visited Corps lakes in the country with an estimated 9.6 million annual visitors across both states. The STR market here is large relative to the small city population of 4,638, with approximately 25,239 active listings by bedroom count, reflecting the broad lake-area market that extends well beyond Hartwell’s city limits. Entire-place units dominate at 20,097 listings (80% of supply), with private rooms at 5,115 and shared rooms at 70. The bedroom mix skews toward one-bedrooms (11,566 listings), followed by two-bedrooms (5,175), three-bedrooms (4,846), four-bedrooms (2,311), and five-plus-bedrooms (1,341). Channel distribution shows Airbnb dominance with 15,554 single-channel listings and 8,598 cross-listed on both Airbnb and VRBO, while 1,130 are VRBO-only. In April 2026, market-wide occupancy was 58.25%, ADR was $171.98, and RevPAR reached $100.18. Year-over-year, occupancy edged up 0.38 percentage points, ADR rose 3.06%, and revenue increased a strong 9.64%, the best of the five metrics. The market scored 62.8/100 overall, with revenue growth at 64.2/100 and seasonality at 98.1/100.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51% | $142 | $2,037 |
| Feb | 54% | $139 | $1,913 |
| Mar | 60% | $141 | $2,335 |
| Apr | 56% | $139 | $2,146 |
| May | 59% | $145 | $2,271 |
| Jun | 62% | $151 | $2,446 |
| Jul | 63% | $141 | $2,445 |
| Aug | 58% | $135 | $2,180 |
| Sep | 54% | $137 | $2,014 |
| Oct | 58% | $137 | $2,206 |
| Nov | 55% | $135 | $2,025 |
| Dec | 54% | $141 | $2,110 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Hartwell
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 343 | 7,207 | ★ 4.39 |
| 2 | Minty Living | 198 | 5,240 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Properties By Preston | 123 | 283 | ★ 3.54 |
| 4 | Landing, Inc. | 115 | 114 | ★ 3.88 |
| 5 | FHS PARTNERS | 100 | 4,057 | ★ 4.29 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Hartwell?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 11,566 |
| 2 bed | 5,175 |
| 3 bed | 4,846 |
| 4 bed | 2,311 |
| 5 bed | 1,341 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $239 |
| Luxury | $377 |
| Professionally Managed | $244 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,816 |
| Entire Place | $3,572 |
| House | $3,352 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 61.5% |
| vrbo | 4.5% |
| both | 34% |
Investment Analysis
Hartwell offers investors an accessible entry price relative to revenue potential. The typical home value in the area was $314,119 as of April 2026, with a median list price of $356,333 and 120 properties for sale with a median of 31 days to pending, indicating a reasonably active buyer’s market. At an all-listings average of $2,738/month, annualized gross revenue of approximately $32,852 against a $314,119 typical home value implies a gross yield of roughly 10.5% before operating expenses, taxes, and platform fees. Entire-place listings outperform at $3,083/month, and houses average $3,083-$2,906/month. Luxury-tier ADR reaches $335.73/night, about 95% above the all-listings average of $171.98. Professionally managed listings average $202.93/night, roughly 18% above the market average, suggesting professional operators access higher-quality inventory or better pricing strategies. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies, making non-resident investment straightforward. The 9.64% year-over-year revenue growth is the strongest recent signal in this dataset and reflects both ADR appreciation and stable demand. Hart County’s STR ordinance (effective July 2022) requires a responsible-person designation and a local STR license, but imposes no night caps, which is manageable overhead for investors.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Hartwell)
Booking Insights
Hartwell STRs averaged a booking lead time of 28.1 days in April 2026, suggesting guests plan roughly four weeks ahead. This is a relatively short lead window for a lake-vacation market, which may reflect a mix of impulse weekend bookings and some last-minute availability for regional drive-market visitors from Atlanta (about 90 minutes away) and the broader Southeast. Average length of stay was 4.46 nights, consistent with long-weekend and mid-week getaway patterns. The near-5-night average means fewer turnovers per month than short-stay markets, which reduces cleaning and operational burden. For pricing, the short lead time favors flexible last-minute pricing strategies for gap nights, while core summer weekends should be priced and minimum-stay-gated well in advance given the strong demand signal from the 9.64% year-over-year revenue growth.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in the Hartwell and Lake Hartwell area. Hart County adopted an STR ordinance effective July 29, 2022, aimed at minimizing adverse effects on residential neighborhoods. Under that framework, owners must designate a responsible person age 21 or older who is legally accountable for guest conduct. A short-term rental license exists and is subject to suspension or revocation for violations. Enforcement is tiered over any rolling 12-month period: first violation up to $500 plus a written warning; second up to $750 plus a 30-to-90-day license suspension; third up to $1,000 plus one-year revocation. On taxes, Georgia’s $5-per-night hotel-motel fee applies, and Airbnb and VRBO collect the 4% state accommodations excise on stays of 89 nights or fewer. The City of Hartwell’s local hotel-motel excise tax rate is 8% (unincorporated Hart County is 5%). No owner-occupancy, primary-residence requirement, or annual night cap was found. License fees and renewal cadence were not published in reviewed sources. Investors should confirm current requirements directly with the City of Hartwell business license and planning office and with the Hart County ordinance text. The city’s Code of Ordinances was recodified via Ordinance No. 2024-08 adopted January 6, 2025; no new STR-specific provisions were confirmed in that recodification.
Market Comparison
Hartwell’s 58.3% April occupancy is slightly above the US STR median of approximately 55%, a solid baseline for a lake market in the South. Its $172 ADR is below the US median of roughly $220, appropriate for a market driven by lake cabins rather than premium coastal or urban inventory. The 9.6% year-over-year revenue growth is a strong differentiator, outperforming most comparable leisure markets. Evolve leads operator activity with 343 listings and 7,207 reviews at a 4.39 rating. Minty Living holds 198 listings with a 4.70 rating and 5,240 reviews. Properties By Preston (123 listings, 3.54 rating) and Landing, Inc. (115 listings, 3.88 rating) round out the mid-tier. FHS Partners manages 100 listings with a strong 4.29 rating and 4,057 reviews. The top five operators together account for roughly 879 listings out of approximately 25,239 total, a highly fragmented market where independent operators dominate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hartwell, Georgia
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Hartwell, GA?
What occupancy rate do Hartwell, GA short-term rentals achieve?
Are STRs legal in Hartwell, GA?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Hartwell, GA?
How much can I earn from an STR near Lake Hartwell?
What makes Lake Hartwell a strong STR market?
Who are the top STR property managers near Hartwell, GA?
Analyze Hartwell Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Hartwell.
Free Hartwell STR Calculator →
