Camden, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Camden, ME STRs averaged $201/night at 48.8% occupancy in April 2026, supported by Midcoast Maine's windjammer, hiking, and arts tourism.
Quick Answer: Camden, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 49%. average monthly revenue is $2,208. average daily rate is $201. the top operator is Vacasa with 284 listings. market score is 52/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Camden is one of Maine’s most recognized coastal destinations, a small harbor town of about 5,200 residents on Penobscot Bay that draws an estimated 2.5 million visitors annually to the broader Maine Midcoast region. Anchored by Camden Hills State Park, the windjammer fleet operating from Camden Harbor, and proximity to the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, the market draws outdoor recreation travelers, sailing enthusiasts, and arts and heritage visitors primarily from New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
In April 2026, Camden STRs posted an average daily rate of $201 and occupancy of 48.8%, generating a RevPAR of $98 and average monthly revenue of $2,208 per listing. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 3.6 percentage points and ADR grew 5.8%, though average revenue edged down 0.8%.
The market supports approximately 4,489 active listings. One-bedroom units are the largest segment at about 1,416 listings, followed by two-bedroom at 1,210, three-bedroom at 1,103, four-bedroom at 472, and five-plus-bedroom at 288. Entire-place rentals account for roughly 4,234 listings (94% of supply), with 257 private rooms. Platform distribution shows strong dual-channel presence: about 2,079 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,763 list Airbnb-only, and 650 list VRBO-only.
The market’s total score of 51.6 reflects the pronounced seasonality of a northern New England coastal destination. Its revenue-growth score of 77.6 and investability score of 70.1 indicate positive long-term trends within a market that requires active seasonal management.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37% | $181 | $1,970 |
| Feb | 50% | $184 | $1,999 |
| Mar | 47% | $177 | $2,098 |
| Apr | 51% | $185 | $2,084 |
| May | 55% | $210 | $2,178 |
| Jun | 67% | $249 | $3,439 |
| Jul | 76% | $261 | $4,845 |
| Aug | 78% | $263 | $5,146 |
| Sep | 55% | $232 | $3,394 |
| Oct | 52% | $212 | $2,874 |
| Nov | 38% | $184 | $2,029 |
| Dec | 47% | $191 | $2,236 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Camden
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 284 | 10,040 | ★ 4.60 |
| 2 | Tides To Pines | 215 | 4,496 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Evolve | 61 | 2,496 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Your Island Connection | 51 | 1,079 | ★ 4.77 |
| 5 | On The Water | 49 | 23 | ★ 4.71 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Camden?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,416 |
| 2 bed | 1,210 |
| 3 bed | 1,103 |
| 4 bed | 472 |
| 5 bed | 288 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $206 |
| Luxury | $361 |
| Professionally Managed | $278 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,726 |
| Entire Place | $2,281 |
| House | $2,381 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 39.2% |
| vrbo | 14.5% |
| both | 46.3% |
Investment Analysis
Camden’s investment case rests on a strong visitor draw, a well-established STR demand base, and a housing market that, while expensive, provides some yield context. The typical home value in the area was $672,507 as of the April 2026 snapshot, with a median list price of $1,006,667 across only 24 active for-sale listings, indicating an exceptionally tight inventory market.
At the April 2026 average monthly revenue of $2,208, an STR grosses approximately $26,500 on an annualized basis. Against the typical home value of $672,507, that represents an approximate gross yield of 3.9% (computed as $26,495 / $672,507). Against the median list price of $1,006,667, the gross yield falls to approximately 2.6%. These are pre-expense yields; net yields after insurance, taxes, management fees, and maintenance will be lower. Investors should treat these as ceiling figures.
Professionally managed listings commanded an ADR of $278 in April 2026 versus $201 for the all-listings average, a premium of $77 per night (38% above baseline). Luxury-tier listings averaged $361 per night. Houses averaged $2,381 in monthly revenue compared to entire-place listings at $2,281 and apartments at $1,726.
The 2025 annual average monthly revenue of $3,407 is the highest on record in this dataset. The trajectory from $3,250 in 2024 to $3,407 in 2025 shows continued recovery after the 2022 peak of $3,297. Investors who can acquire well-positioned properties near Camden Harbor or with water views and price into the professionally managed tier have the clearest path to outperforming the market average.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Camden guests book an average of 45 days in advance and stay approximately 3.9 nights per booking. The 45-day lead time is typical of a planned leisure destination where guests research coastal Maine itineraries in advance, often combining Camden with Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, or Portland within a longer New England trip.
The 3.9-night average length of stay is consistent with long-weekend and abbreviated week trips from the New England and Mid-Atlantic drive market. It suggests operators should optimize for Thursday or Friday check-ins and Monday or Tuesday checkouts, which are the most common windows for this type of stay.
For pricing strategy, the moderate lead time supports maintaining published rates 45-plus days out without deep early-bird discounting. Inside 14 days, modest last-minute rate reductions can fill gaps in shoulder months without disrupting the summer pricing structure. With nearly 40% of Maine visitors reportedly having made 10 or more prior trips to the state, Camden benefits from a repeat visitor base who book from familiarity, which supports consistent lead times throughout the season.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Camden enacted a comprehensive STR licensing ordinance (Chapter 215) effective January 1, 2025, following voter approval in June 2024. The ordinance requires annual licenses for all STRs, with three tiers: Residential (owner-occupied, primary residence at least 6 months per year) at $350 per year; Seasonal (properties with water service only) at $500 per year; and Commercial (non-owner-occupied) at $1,000 per year. A $100 surcharge applies to properties on septic systems. Life safety inspections are required at least every three years. Only the property owner of record may apply; permits are not transferable. Owner-occupancy is not required citywide; the Commercial category explicitly accommodates investor-owned STRs.
Rockland, which forms part of the broader Midcoast market, has required STR permits since 2018 under Chapter 19, Section 19-309 of its city code at $500 per unit annually. Rockland caps non-owner-occupied (STR-2) permits at 45 citywide. In July 2024, the Rockland City Council voted 3-2 to reject a proposed phase-out of STR-2 permits, keeping the 45-unit cap in place.
Belfast’s STR registration ordinance took effect May 3, 2024, capping non-hosted STRs at 1% of total dwelling units citywide, limiting each operator to 5 units, and restricting non-hosted rentals to no more than 50% of units in any multi-family building.
Rockport proposed a registration requirement tabled by the Select Board in 2024 with no active ordinance as of mid-2024.
The applicable state lodging tax in Maine is 9% on short-term rentals. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit this tax automatically for most transactions.
Market Comparison
At 48.8% occupancy and $201 ADR in April 2026, Camden sits below the U.S. national STR median occupancy of approximately 55% and below the national median ADR of approximately $220. Both gaps reflect the northern New England seasonal profile: the April snapshot captures one of the weaker months before the summer peak drives occupancy to 76-78% in July and August.
Vacasa leads the Camden-area management market with 284 listings and 10,040 reviews at a 4.60 average rating, representing the largest operator by a meaningful margin. Tides To Pines holds second position with 215 listings and a 4.54 rating, followed by Evolve with 61 listings at a 4.76 rating. Your Island Connection manages 51 listings at a 4.77 rating, and On The Water rounds out the top five with 49 listings.
The top 5 operators collectively hold approximately 660 listings out of roughly 4,489 total, or about 15% of supply. This is a relatively low concentration for a coastal Maine market, indicating that self-managed properties make up the majority of supply. The tight for-sale inventory of only 24 active listings at an April 2026 snapshot reflects the competitive acquisition environment; buyers typically pay median list prices well above $1 million for coastal Maine properties. The market’s total score of 51.6 reflects seasonal limits, while the revenue-growth score of 77.6 points to continued improvement in per-property performance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Camden, Maine
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