Berlin, Maryland Short-Term Rental Market
Berlin, MD STRs averaged $269/night at 35.3% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks reaching 79% occupancy.
Quick Answer: Berlin, Maryland is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 35%. average monthly revenue is $2,084. average daily rate is $269. the top operator is Vacasa with 2,346 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Berlin, Maryland sits on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in Worcester County, positioned between Ocean City and Assateague Island National Seashore. The short-term rental market here is predominantly driven by coastal tourism, with strong summer demand and a pronounced off-season slowdown.
As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $269 and an occupancy rate of 35.3%, with RevPAR at $94.77. Year-over-year comparisons show occupancy declined 12.5 percentage points while ADR rose 9.2%, resulting in a net revenue decline of 9.4% from April 2025. The April data reflects the shoulder season entering from winter, not peak performance.
The market is almost entirely whole-unit rentals. Of approximately 15,100 listing-months tracked in the dimensions data, entire-place listings account for roughly 14,952 (99%), with private rooms at 154 and shared rooms at just 1. This signals that guests expect full home access, and operators running partial-unit listings will find limited demand.
Bedroom mix skews toward mid-size properties: 2-bedroom (4,712 listing-months) and 3-bedroom (4,397) together represent the majority of supply. Larger properties with 4 bedrooms (2,232) and 5 bedrooms (1,628) also have a meaningful presence. Single-bedroom listings (2,126) are the smallest segment.
By platform, VRBO accounts for 3,920 single-platform listings versus 2,610 Airbnb-only, with 8,577 listed on both channels. The heavy dual-channel presence reflects operators actively maximizing exposure across platforms, which is characteristic of professionally managed coastal inventory.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25% | $272 | $2,023 |
| Feb | 35% | $256 | $2,004 |
| Mar | 40% | $249 | $2,030 |
| Apr | 39% | $262 | $2,334 |
| May | 47% | $304 | $2,768 |
| Jun | 70% | $349 | $5,336 |
| Jul | 79% | $345 | $6,758 |
| Aug | 78% | $342 | $6,733 |
| Sep | 45% | $282 | $3,338 |
| Oct | 26% | $249 | $2,040 |
| Nov | 25% | $256 | $1,898 |
| Dec | 31% | $277 | $2,111 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Berlin
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 2,346 | 60,626 | ★ 4.36 |
| 2 | Coastal Resort Rentals | 355 | 1,646 | ★ 4.39 |
| 3 | Shoreline Properties | 349 | 1,861 | ★ 4.28 |
| 4 | Central Reservations | 328 | 4,890 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | VacayHome Connect | 312 | 593 | ★ 4.18 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Berlin?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,126 |
| 2 bed | 4,712 |
| 3 bed | 4,397 |
| 4 bed | 2,232 |
| 5 bed | 1,628 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $271 |
| Luxury | $391 |
| Professionally Managed | $287 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,784 |
| Entire Place | $2,098 |
| House | $2,685 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 17.3% |
| vrbo | 25.9% |
| both | 56.8% |
Investment Analysis
Berlin’s investment case rests on its location premium, strong summer income concentration, and a revenue growth score of 91.54 out of 100 in the market scoring data, which captures multi-year trend momentum even as the most recent month showed softness.
The average STR in April 2026 generated $2,084 in revenue, with houses averaging $2,685 and entire-place listings averaging $2,098. Annualizing the April average produces approximately $25,010 per year, though April is a shoulder month; the summer months (June through August) average roughly $6,276 per month by historical seasonal norms, making full-year performance substantially higher than the annualized April figure suggests.
At a typical home value of $439,328, a gross STR yield based on April monthly revenue annualized is approximately 5.7%. This understates potential returns given the strong seasonal peak. Operators focused on summer concentration can expect significantly higher gross revenue in peak months.
Luxury-tier properties command an ADR of $391, compared to $269 for the overall market average, a 45% premium. Professionally managed properties average $287/night, a 7% premium over the market overall. These gaps suggest meaningful upside for operators investing in higher-quality units or professional management.
The median sale price was $426,350 as of April 2026, with the typical home value at $439,328 and the median list price at $536,633. The sale-to-list ratio of 0.794 indicates buyers are generally closing below list price. Median days to pending is 19, which is relatively fast for a coastal market.
The investability score of 69.59 out of 100 reflects the combination of permissive zoning (once licensing requirements are met) and the strong revenue growth trajectory seen in multi-year data.
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 (Berlin)
Booking Insights
Berlin STR guests book an average of 52 days in advance as of April 2026. This lead time reflects a market where guests are planning ahead but not locking in stays many months out, consistent with a coastal destination where summer availability drives urgency in spring.
A 52-day average lead time gives operators a roughly 7-week pricing window to adjust rates before most bookings close. In practice, this means setting strong summer pricing by late March and April, before the peak booking period for July and August arrivals begins in earnest.
Average length of stay is 3.4 nights. This is shorter than many rural STR markets and reflects the weekend-and-long-weekend nature of Berlin’s visitor base, drawing primarily from Mid-Atlantic metro areas (Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia) where 3 to 4-night getaways are common. Shorter stays mean higher turnover and cleaning frequency, which operators should factor into operating cost estimates and minimum-stay policies.
Operators setting a 3-night minimum (Friday to Monday) are well-aligned with the typical stay pattern. For shoulder and winter months, dropping minimum stays to 2 nights can improve occupancy without significantly disrupting operations.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Berlin legalized short-term rentals under Ordinance 2022-02, effective July 1, 2022. All operators must hold a town-issued Short-Term Rental License before listing on any platform.
The initial license application costs $350 and includes an inspection. Annual renewal is $200. Licenses run on Berlin’s fiscal year calendar and are non-transferable between owners.
Owner-occupancy rules apply in residential zones R-1 and R-2: the property must be the operator’s principal residence for at least 180 days per year, documented by Maryland Homestead Tax Credit designation. This requirement does not apply in commercial zones B-1 through B-3, where investment properties can operate without the owner-residency constraint.
STRs are permitted in residential zones R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4, and in commercial zones B-1, B-2, and B-3. Each guest stay must be under 28 consecutive nights. There is no stated annual cap on total nights rented per year. Operators must designate a responsible agent available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, who lives within 30 miles of Berlin.
Events, parties, weddings, and large gatherings are explicitly prohibited on licensed STR properties. On-site signage is not permitted. One additional off-street parking space is required per rented bedroom beyond the base zoning requirement.
Tax obligations: Worcester County raised its room tax from 5% to 6% effective January 1, 2026. Maryland’s state sales tax adds another 6%, for a combined 12% guest tax burden. Unlicensed operation carries a $600 recurring fine per 30-day period. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The Berlin market ADR of $269 in April 2026 is above the US STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the coastal location premium. Occupancy at 35.3% in April is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, though April is a genuine off-season month for this market; summer occupancy (July historical average: 79.0%) substantially exceeds national norms.
The revenue growth score of 91.54 out of 100 indicates that Berlin has outpaced most comparable markets on multi-year revenue trend, even as the most recent month reflects seasonal softness. The total market score of 48.70 reflects the tension between strong revenue growth potential and high seasonality risk.
Vacasa dominates local professional management with 2,346 listings and 60,626 reviews (average rating 4.36). No other operator comes close in scale. Coastal Resort Rentals (355 listings, 4.39 rating) and Shoreline Properties (349 listings, 4.28 rating) are the next largest operators, followed by Central Reservations (328 listings, 4.53 rating) and VacayHome Connect (312 listings, 4.18 rating).
Central Reservations has the highest average guest rating at 4.53 despite being fourth in listing volume, suggesting a quality focus. Vacasa’s scale advantage is significant: its 2,346 listings represent a substantial share of the dual-channel inventory (8,577 dual-listed), indicating that institutional management is well-established in this coastal market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Berlin, Maryland
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Berlin, MD?
What occupancy rates can Berlin, MD STR operators expect?
Do I need a license to operate an Airbnb or VRBO in Berlin, MD?
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Berlin, MD?
Which property type earns the most revenue in Berlin, MD?
Who are the largest STR property managers in Berlin, MD?
How far in advance do guests book Berlin, MD STRs?
Analyze Berlin Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Berlin.
Free Berlin STR Calculator →
