Wells, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Wells, ME STRs averaged $290/night at 44.5% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks above 79% along seven miles of beach.
Quick Answer: Wells, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 45%. average monthly revenue is $2,681. average daily rate is $290. the top operator is Vacasa with 152 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Wells is a coastal southern Maine resort town in York County with a year-round population of approximately 11,314 that expands dramatically during summer beach season. The market runs along seven miles of sandy beaches, including Wells Beach and Moody Beach, positioned for visitors from the Boston metro area and northern New England. As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $290 and occupancy of 44.5%, producing a RevPAR of $129.
The market holds approximately 4,615 active listings, with entire-place rentals at 4,425 (95.9%), private rooms at 189, and one shared room. Bedroom distribution is relatively balanced: 2-bedroom units lead with 1,373 listings, followed by 1-bedroom (1,130), 3-bedroom (1,031), 4-bedroom (656), and 5-bedroom-plus (419). Channel distribution shows 2,341 listings on both Airbnb and Vrbo, 1,403 exclusively on Airbnb, and 871 exclusively on Vrbo.
Year-over-year trends in April 2026 were mixed: occupancy fell 8.6% and revenue dropped 8.2%, though ADR rose 4.7%. This occupancy contraction is consistent with supply growth outpacing demand in the post-pandemic coastal Maine normalization period. The revenue growth score of 79.2 remains strong, reflecting the market’s underlying demand fundamentals over the multi-year trend.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $239 | $2,451 |
| Feb | 49% | $240 | $2,559 |
| Mar | 46% | $234 | $2,673 |
| Apr | 50% | $254 | $2,662 |
| May | 52% | $277 | $2,642 |
| Jun | 66% | $334 | $4,359 |
| Jul | 79% | $363 | $6,811 |
| Aug | 80% | $366 | $7,075 |
| Sep | 48% | $304 | $3,872 |
| Oct | 46% | $267 | $3,220 |
| Nov | 37% | $260 | $2,647 |
| Dec | 42% | $277 | $2,870 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wells
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 152 | 7,411 | ★ 4.49 |
| 2 | Evolve | 86 | 2,952 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | Salt & Shine Vacation Rentals | 60 | 980 | ★ 4.88 |
| 4 | Coastline Vacation Rentals | 55 | 1,133 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 51 | 777 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Wells?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,130 |
| 2 bed | 1,373 |
| 3 bed | 1,031 |
| 4 bed | 656 |
| 5 bed | 419 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $301 |
| Luxury | $423 |
| Professionally Managed | $315 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,699 |
| Entire Place | $2,769 |
| House | $3,089 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 30.4% |
| vrbo | 18.9% |
| both | 50.7% |
Investment Analysis
Wells is a mid-to-high entry cost coastal Maine market, with a typical home value of $583,942 and a median list price of $647,800 as of April 2026. For-sale inventory is more available than many coastal markets at 94 active listings, and median days to pending of 32 indicates a moderately competitive buyer market. At the average monthly revenue of $2,681, annualized gross revenue projects to approximately $32,172, implying a gross yield of roughly 5.5% against the typical home value.
Tier differentiation is moderate: entire-home listings average $301/night versus the all-listings ADR of $290. Luxury-tier properties average $423/night, a 46% premium. Professionally managed listings average $315/night, a 9% premium over market. House listings outperform at $3,089/month versus $2,769 for entire-place rentals broadly and $1,699 for apartments.
The investability score of 67.9 and revenue growth score of 79.2 are solid for a coastal New England market, though the April 2026 occupancy decline of 8.6% warrants attention. The strong seasonal peaks (July 78.8%, August 79.7%) provide high-revenue anchors for hosts who price aggressively in the summer window. The permit requirement is a manageable compliance hurdle, with annual licenses issued by the Town of Wells.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Wells guests book an average of 52.6 days in advance, nearly eight weeks out. This longer lead time reflects the competitive summer beach rental market, where July and August weeks are booked months ahead by returning guests and Boston-area travelers. Operators should lock in peak summer pricing by April at the latest and consider deposit-required reservations to reduce last-minute cancellations.
Average length of stay is 3.3 nights, indicating a mix of long-weekend beach trips and some week-long stays. The traditional weekly cottage rental model (Saturday to Saturday) persists in Wells, but platform data suggests shorter stays are increasingly prevalent. A 3-night minimum policy balances capturing both weekend and extended-stay demand. Operators offering flexible mid-week availability in June and September can increase occupancy in those shoulder months, which average 48 to 66% occupancy.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Wells permits short-term rentals town-wide subject to an annual Short-Term Rental License issued by the Town. The ordinance defines an STR as the rental of any dwelling unit or portion thereof for fewer than 30 days to transient guests. Commercial lodging facilities are excluded.
New license applications are reviewed monthly by the Board of Selectmen; renewals are processed each April. Applications go through a third-party online portal. Operators must post the license conspicuously on-site and comply with length-of-stay, guest-count, parking, and posting requirements. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
A new Code Enforcement fee schedule took effect February 5, 2025. Specific license fee amounts are not published online and must be confirmed at application through the Code Enforcement Office (207-646-5187) or the third-party portal. The Town pursues violations through a notice-and-cure process, with court action available for persistent non-compliance. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Maine state lodging tax is 9% and applies to all short-term rentals statewide. Wells does not levy an additional local occupancy tax. Airbnb and Vrbo typically collect and remit Maine’s lodging tax on behalf of hosts. Operators using other booking channels must register with Maine Revenue Services and remit the tax directly.
Market Comparison
Wells’ 44.5% April 2026 occupancy is below the U.S. STR annual median of approximately 55%, consistent with a pre-peak spring read in a strongly seasonal beach market. The $290 ADR substantially exceeds the national median of approximately $220, reflecting the premium that southern Maine coastal rentals command from the Boston and New England markets.
Year-over-year in April 2026, Wells saw occupancy contract 8.6% and revenue fall 8.2%, with only ADR growing at 4.7%. This rate-resilient, occupancy-contracting pattern is common in markets where supply grew faster than demand post-2021. The 2025 full-year average of 51.6% occupancy and $342 ADR represents the strongest rate year in the historical series.
Among property managers, Vacasa leads with 152 listings and 7,411 reviews (4.49 rating). Evolve follows with 86 listings and a 4.69 rating. Salt and Shine Vacation Rentals holds 60 listings with a strong 4.88 rating. Coastline Vacation Rentals (55 listings, 4.80 rating) and Grand Welcome (51 listings, 4.89 rating) round out the top five. The combined top-5 count of 404 listings represents approximately 8.8% of the 4,615 total market listings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wells, Maine
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