Ellsworth, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Ellsworth, ME STRs averaged $224/night at 57.0% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peak months reaching $5,887 in average monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Ellsworth, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 57%. average monthly revenue is $2,535. average daily rate is $224. the top operator is Vacasa with 107 listings. market score is 87/100 (grade A).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Ellsworth is the county seat of Hancock County and the largest city in Downeast Maine, positioned roughly 15 minutes from Mount Desert Island and 30 minutes from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Known as the Gateway to Acadia, Ellsworth functions as the primary commercial hub for the Acadia region, capturing lodging, dining, and retail spending from the approximately 3.88 million recreational visitors who came to Acadia in 2023.
In April 2026 (the latest data month), the market averaged 57.0% occupancy and a $223.92 average daily rate, yielding $127.58 in revenue per available rental day. Average monthly revenue per listing was $2,535. April is a pre-season shoulder month — the market’s summer peak is substantially higher, with August averaging $5,887 in monthly revenue and July $5,578.
Year over year in April 2026, occupancy grew 4.4 percentage points and ADR rose 6.1%, while monthly revenue was essentially flat at -0.6% versus April 2025. Full-year comparison shows stronger performance: the 2025 annual average of $4,199 per month exceeded the 2024 average of $4,097.
Entire-place listings account for 4,402 units versus 285 private rooms. The bedroom mix is relatively balanced: 1-bedroom (1,427), 2-bedroom (1,290), 3-bedroom (1,134), 4-bedroom (509), and 5-bedroom (321). Channel distribution shows Airbnb-only at 1,873, VRBO-only at 727, and 2,087 appearing on both — VRBO’s share is notably higher than in most comparable markets, reflecting Ellsworth’s appeal to vacation-week renters who favor that platform. The market’s composite score is 86.5 out of 100, with revenue growth (90.7), rental demand (87.8), and investability (87.8) all in the top tier.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43% | $189 | $2,248 |
| Feb | 53% | $188 | $2,257 |
| Mar | 56% | $185 | $2,477 |
| Apr | 60% | $199 | $2,454 |
| May | 63% | $223 | $2,572 |
| Jun | 74% | $278 | $4,355 |
| Jul | 79% | $282 | $5,578 |
| Aug | 81% | $283 | $5,887 |
| Sep | 64% | $256 | $4,359 |
| Oct | 63% | $245 | $4,064 |
| Nov | 39% | $197 | $2,313 |
| Dec | 48% | $190 | $2,359 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Ellsworth
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 107 | 3,542 | ★ 4.45 |
| 2 | Salt Air Properties LLC | 97 | 1,781 | ★ 4.74 |
| 3 | Evolve | 80 | 3,173 | ★ 4.73 |
| 4 | Maebeth Property Management | 77 | 4,988 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Tides To Pines | 53 | 1,102 | ★ 4.34 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ellsworth?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,427 |
| 2 bed | 1,290 |
| 3 bed | 1,134 |
| 4 bed | 509 |
| 5 bed | 321 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $229 |
| Luxury | $354 |
| Professionally Managed | $233 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,096 |
| Entire Place | $2,632 |
| House | $2,791 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 40% |
| vrbo | 15.5% |
| both | 44.5% |
Investment Analysis
Ellsworth presents a strong investment case anchored by captive Acadia-driven demand. At a typical home value of $355,243 (Zillow, April 2026) and average monthly revenue of $2,535 in the shoulder month of April, the implied gross annualized yield at that base rate is approximately 8.6% ($2,535 x 12 = $30,420 / $355,243). Using the 2025 full-year average of $4,199 per month, annualized gross revenue of $50,388 implies a yield of approximately 14.2% at the typical home value — a ceiling figure before costs, but a meaningful signal of peak-season earning power.
Housing market data shows a median list price of $424,167, above the typical home value of $355,243, with only 39 active listings in the market. Limited inventory combined with strong demand creates upward price pressure for buyers.
Property type shapes revenue significantly. Houses average $2,791 per month, entire-place listings $2,632, and apartments $2,096. The 33% gap between houses and apartments reflects the premium for detached whole-home properties that can accommodate extended Acadia vacation groups.
At the ADR tier level, luxury listings average $354.01 per night versus the market-wide $223.92. Professionally managed properties average $232.97 per night, only a $9.05 premium (4%) above market average — much smaller than in comparable markets, suggesting self-managed operators are pricing competitively and professional management adds limited rate lift here.
The multi-year revenue trend is strongly positive: from $2,441 per month in 2017 to $4,199 in 2025, a gain of 72% over eight years. Revenue growth score of 90.7 and rental demand score of 87.8 are both top-quartile figures.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Ellsworth guests book further in advance than any other market in this batch, averaging 51.7 days — nearly 7.5 weeks ahead of arrival. That lead time reflects the Acadia-driven travel pattern: visitors planning summer trips to the park (especially July and August, when lodging is scarce across the region) book well in advance.
Average length of stay is 3.75 nights, slightly below a full week and consistent with long-weekend Acadia visits. A 3.75-night average at 57.0% occupancy in April implies roughly 4 to 5 turnovers per listing per month.
The 52-day lead time creates a substantial pricing window. Operators can price peak-season months (June through September) at their target rates 8 to 12 weeks in advance and hold firm, since last-minute demand from Acadia visitors who could not find accommodations in Bar Harbor will fill remaining gaps. Aggressive early discounting in peak months is unnecessary and leaves revenue on the table.
For winter months (November through February), the lead time shrinks and pricing flexibility increases. Setting a competitive baseline rate and allowing last-minute adjustments downward inside 2 weeks is more appropriate in the off-season when regional travel is less constrained by limited inventory.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
As of mid-2026, Ellsworth has no local short-term rental ordinance in force. No STR permit, registration, night cap, or owner-occupancy requirement currently applies. A temporary pandemic-era STR ordinance from 2020 has since expired, leaving operations subject only to state-level requirements.
At the state level, operators must register with Maine Revenue Services and collect and remit Maine’s 9% lodging (sales) tax on the rental price including cleaning fees and guest fees. A narrow exemption exists for a sole proprietor renting a single unit for fewer than 15 days per year.
Enforcement is rated minimal. No permit cost is documented because none is currently required.
However, the permissive environment is actively under review and should be treated as likely temporary. Code Enforcement Officer Robert Grant was drafting a mandatory STR registration ordinance expected before City Council in May or June 2026. The proposed ordinance would mandate registration, charge a fee covering software and inspection costs, require hotel and motel-style safety inspections, and set penalties for non-registration. The city requested approximately $40,000 for OpenGov software in the FY2027 budget to support the program. Separately, Ellsworth is rewriting its full Unified Ordinance (Chapter 56) partly to comply with Maine’s 2025 housing and zoning laws (LD 1829, LD 997, LD 427) due by July 1, 2026.
Investors should monitor 2026 City Council actions closely. The regulations, if adopted, will materially change the operational requirements for STR operators in Ellsworth.
Market Comparison
Against national US STR benchmarks of approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR, Ellsworth outperforms on both metrics: 57.0% occupancy and $223.92 ADR in April 2026, which is a pre-season shoulder month. At full summer peak, the market runs at 78-81% occupancy and $280+ ADR — well above national averages.
The 2025 full-year annual average of $4,199 per month is among the higher figures for a market of Ellsworth’s size, driven entirely by the compressed summer season. Revenue growth score of 90.7 and rental demand score of 87.8 place the market in the top tier nationally.
Professional management is active at a scale appropriate to the market size. Vacasa leads with 107 listings and 3,542 reviews at a 4.45 average rating. Salt Air Properties LLC operates 97 listings with 1,781 reviews at a 4.74 rating. Evolve holds 80 listings with 3,173 reviews at a 4.73 rating. Maebeth Property Management operates 77 listings with 4,988 reviews and a 4.86 rating — the highest review volume per listing in the top 5. Tides To Pines rounds out the top 5 with 53 listings (4.34 rating).
Notably, the professionally managed ADR ($232.97) is only 4% above the market-wide average ($223.92), suggesting the Ellsworth market’s self-managed operators are already pricing competitively. The market’s regulation score of 63.4 reflects the current permissive environment, though this is likely to tighten as the city advances its registration ordinance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ellsworth, Maine
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