Center Barnstead, New Hampshire Short-Term Rental Market
NH Lakes Region STRs averaged $268/night at 33.6% occupancy in April 2026 across 2,638 active listings.
Quick Answer: Center Barnstead, New Hampshire is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 34%. average monthly revenue is $2,180. average daily rate is $268. the top operator is Vacasa with 96 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The New Hampshire Lakes Region short-term rental market is anchored by lake and outdoor recreation demand, with 2,638 active listings as of the latest snapshot. The market is overwhelmingly entire-place focused: 2,563 listings (97.2%) are whole-property rentals, with 74 private rooms and just 1 shared room rounding out the mix. Bedroom distribution skews toward mid-size properties: 3-bedroom listings lead at 774, followed by 2-bedrooms (617), 1-bedrooms (541), 4-bedrooms (446), and 5-bedrooms (258). Channel distribution shows 1,319 listings active on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 869 Airbnb-only and 450 VRBO-only properties.
In April 2026, the most recent month of data, average daily rate reached $267.52 and occupancy stood at 33.6%, producing a RevPAR of $89.86 and average monthly revenue of $2,180 per listing. On a year-over-year basis, ADR rose 4.3% while occupancy declined 6.8%, resulting in modest revenue growth of 1.96% compared to April 2025. The market total score is 45.55 out of 100, with investability (71.76) and regulation (70.51) as the strongest sub-scores and seasonality (48.70) and rental demand (48.09) as softer areas. Revenue growth scores 70.29, signaling a positive multi-year ADR trajectory even as occupancy normalizes from pandemic-era peaks.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34% | $266 | $2,475 |
| Feb | 44% | $276 | $2,823 |
| Mar | 29% | $237 | $2,259 |
| Apr | 38% | $231 | $2,182 |
| May | 47% | $277 | $2,202 |
| Jun | 59% | $332 | $4,022 |
| Jul | 72% | $345 | $6,086 |
| Aug | 70% | $347 | $6,063 |
| Sep | 38% | $298 | $3,186 |
| Oct | 42% | $263 | $2,959 |
| Nov | 30% | $238 | $2,230 |
| Dec | 43% | $272 | $2,513 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Center Barnstead
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 96 | 2,962 | ★ 4.51 |
| 2 | Break Away | 91 | 500 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Evolve | 83 | 3,142 | ★ 4.69 |
| 4 | At The Lake Vacation Rentals | 66 | 667 | ★ 4.62 |
| 5 | Vacanza | 31 | 768 | ★ 4.54 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Center Barnstead?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 541 |
| 2 bed | 617 |
| 3 bed | 774 |
| 4 bed | 446 |
| 5 bed | 258 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $271 |
| Luxury | $678 |
| Professionally Managed | $181 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,213 |
| Entire Place | $2,213 |
| House | $2,613 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 32.9% |
| vrbo | 17.1% |
| both | 50% |
Investment Analysis
The NH Lakes Region investment case rests on strong seasonal demand peaks rather than year-round consistency. Average monthly revenue in April 2026 was $2,180, but July and August each deliver over $6,000 per listing on average, creating a compressed high-season window that drives annual returns.
Tier differentiation is significant. The all-listings ADR of $267.52 compares to $271.05 for entire-home properties and $678.08 for luxury-tier listings, indicating a roughly 2.5x premium for top-end product. Professionally managed properties, however, average only $180.68 in ADR, suggesting the professionally managed category in this market skews toward smaller or budget-positioned inventory rather than premium stock.
Housing price data for this specific sub-market is not published in the current data snapshot, so a precise gross yield calculation is not available. Investors should obtain local comparable sales data to model returns against entry cost. The revenue growth score of 70.29 and ADR compound growth from $228 (2017) to $321 (2025 annual average) indicate steady rate appreciation. Annual average revenue has ranged from approximately $2,403 (2017) to a peak of $3,891 (2021), settling at $3,661 in 2025 as the market rebalances post-pandemic. The regulation score of 70.51 reflects a relatively permissive environment, though Barnstead requires Planning Board site plan approval.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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In April 2026, the average booking lead time for NH Lakes Region STRs was 43.94 days, meaning guests typically booked roughly 6 weeks in advance. This is a moderate lead time suggesting guests plan ahead but are not making reservations months out. For operators, this points to a pricing strategy that holds rate through about 6 weeks out before considering any discounting for unsold inventory.
Average length of stay is 3.51 nights, slightly above a 3-night weekend minimum. This indicates a mix of weekend getaways and slightly extended mid-week stays, consistent with a lake recreation market. A 3.5-night average means operators typically see 8-9 guest rotations per month at full occupancy, informing cleaning and turnover cost modeling. For summer peak weeks, setting a 3-night minimum is supported by this average and may help maximize July-August revenue without leaving gaps.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in the NH Lakes Region (Town of Barnstead), but operators must obtain Planning Board approval through a site plan review process that includes a fire and safety code review. Formal STR regulations were adopted in 2024, building on language first added to the zoning ordinance in 2022.
Operational requirements include parking limited to one vehicle per sleeping area, clearly posted emergency contact information near the front door (Barnstead Fire Department number and 911 notice), house numbers visible from the road (minimum 4 inches), and compliance with the town noise ordinance. The Planning Board may revoke permits for repeated or substantial violations.
At the state level, New Hampshire assesses a Meals and Rooms Tax of 8.5% on the total reservation price including cleaning fees. Operators must hold a NH Meals and Rooms Tax License from the Department of Revenue Administration. Major platforms including Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit this tax on behalf of hosts in New Hampshire. No additional local lodging tax is assessed by Belknap County or the Town of Barnstead beyond the state rate.
Specific permit fees, renewal periods, and owner-occupancy requirements were not confirmed in publicly available documents as of May 2026. Investors should contact the Barnstead Planning Board directly at 108 South Barnstead Road, Center Barnstead, NH 03225. Enforcement severity is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
The NH Lakes Region’s April 2026 occupancy of 33.6% is below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, which is expected given April is a shoulder month in a summer-oriented market. The annual 2025 average occupancy of 43.06% is also below the national median, reflecting the strongly seasonal demand profile. The $267.52 April ADR is above the approximate U.S. STR median ADR of $220, indicating above-average nightly pricing.
The professional management segment is fragmented. Vacasa leads with 96 listings, followed closely by Break Away (91 listings, 4.695 avg rating), Evolve (83 listings, 4.685 avg rating), At The Lake Vacation Rentals (66 listings, 4.616 avg rating), and Vacanza (31 listings, 4.537 avg rating). The top 5 operators together account for 367 listings, representing approximately 13.9% of the 2,638-listing market. Break Away and Evolve carry the highest guest ratings among the top operators. The market remains largely independently managed, with significant room for professional operators to grow share.
Frequently Asked Questions About Center Barnstead, New Hampshire
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