Corolla, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Corolla, NC STRs averaged $221/night at 56.2% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peak revenues of $5,884/month and a 98.4/100 revenue growth score.
Quick Answer: Corolla, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 56%. average monthly revenue is $3,263. average daily rate is $221. the top operator is Village Realty with 347 listings. market score is 56/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Corolla, North Carolina is a northern Outer Banks beach destination in unincorporated Currituck County, known for its large oceanfront and soundfront vacation rental homes, wild Banker horses, and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. As of April 2026, the market had approximately 9,454 active listings. Entire-place rentals account for 8,543 (90.4%), with 910 private rooms and 1 shared room. The average daily rate in April 2026 was $221, RevPAR was $124, and average monthly revenue per listing was $3,263. April 2026 occupancy was 56.2%, a strong spring reading ahead of the summer peak. Year-over-year, occupancy is down 6.5 percentage points, ADR is up 5.9%, and revenue is up 3.9%. The bedroom mix is notably large: 5-bedroom and larger (1,769 listings), 2-bedroom (2,362), 1-bedroom (2,358), 3-bedroom (1,623), and 4-bedroom (1,326). The high share of 5-bedroom properties reflects the Outer Banks market’s group and multi-generational vacation format. Airbnb-only listings number 3,733, VRBO-only 1,529, and 4,192 are listed on both. The overall market score is 55.7, with a revenue growth score of 98.4, one of the highest in this dataset. The lower total score reflects pronounced seasonality (45.9) and softer off-season rental demand.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $145 | $1,718 |
| Feb | 52% | $144 | $1,756 |
| Mar | 58% | $164 | $2,275 |
| Apr | 57% | $194 | $2,703 |
| May | 58% | $241 | $3,296 |
| Jun | 71% | $328 | $5,559 |
| Jul | 72% | $324 | $5,884 |
| Aug | 71% | $314 | $5,647 |
| Sep | 51% | $231 | $3,148 |
| Oct | 46% | $183 | $2,310 |
| Nov | 46% | $171 | $2,022 |
| Dec | 44% | $166 | $2,020 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Corolla
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Village Realty | 347 | 1,946 | ★ 4.38 |
| 2 | Sojourn | 260 | 3,731 | ★ 4.50 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 244 | 8,294 | ★ 4.29 |
| 4 | Brindley Beach Vacation & Sales | 234 | 617 | ★ 4.11 |
| 5 | Christian Taylor Vacations | 200 | 1,555 | ★ 4.58 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Corolla?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,358 |
| 2 bed | 2,362 |
| 3 bed | 1,623 |
| 4 bed | 1,326 |
| 5 bed | 1,769 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $243 |
| Luxury | $468 |
| Professionally Managed | $277 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,651 |
| Entire Place | $3,492 |
| House | $3,727 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 39.5% |
| vrbo | 16.2% |
| both | 44.3% |
Investment Analysis
At $3,263 average monthly revenue for April 2026, a Corolla STR produces an annualized gross revenue of approximately $39,200 based on April. The 2025 full-year average of $3,829/month implies an annualized gross of approximately $45,900, more representative of annual income potential. The Zillow typical home value of $898,047 and median list price of $906,167 are closely aligned, with a 0.942 sale-to-list ratio and a 43-day median time to pending indicating an active but measured market. Using the 2025 full-year average revenue, annualized gross yield on the median list price is approximately 5.1%. The luxury tier averages $468/night versus the $221 market ADR, a 112% premium, one of the largest luxury-to-market spreads in this batch. Professionally managed properties average $277/night, a 25.1% premium over the market ADR. House-type listings average $3,727/month and entire-place listings average $3,492/month. The apartment segment averages $2,651/month. Revenue growth has been strong: the 2021 annual average was $3,393/month and 2025 reached $3,829/month, a 12.8% gain over four years, earning the 98.4/100 revenue growth score.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time in Corolla is 38 days, and the average length of stay is 4.92 nights. The 38-day lead time is moderate for a beach market, though peak summer weeks on the Outer Banks are known to book months in advance. The 4.92-night average stay is among the longest in this batch, consistent with the Saturday-to-Saturday weekly rental format that dominates Corolla’s summer inventory. Weekly rentals significantly reduce cleaning frequency and increase gross revenue per booking. Operators who lock summer weeks on a weekly basis from January onward and allow shorter stays in the shoulder months can optimize both revenue and operational efficiency. The 38-day average is influenced by the substantial off-season booking window where guests plan shorter spontaneous trips.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Corolla, in unincorporated Currituck County, operates under one of the most host-friendly STR frameworks on the East Coast. North Carolina General Statute 160D-1207 (enacted 2019, reinforced by the 2022 Court of Appeals ruling in Schroeder v. City of Wilmington) preempts local governments from requiring STR-specific permits or rental registration. No Currituck County STR permit is required and there is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Operators must register with the Currituck County Tax Department to collect and remit the 6% county occupancy tax on gross receipts, filed monthly by the 20th. North Carolina state sales tax of 6.75% also applies. Stays under 15 days per calendar year or stays of 90 or more consecutive days to the same guest are exempt from the occupancy tax. There is no county-imposed cap on maximum nights per year. Enforcement is complaint-based through standard zoning, noise, and nuisance ordinances. Practical restrictions come primarily from HOA covenants in individual Corolla subdivisions, which can restrict or prohibit STRs independent of county rules. Properties in the 4×4 area north of the paved road require beach driving permits administered through the county and rental managers.
Market Comparison
Corolla’s April 2026 ADR of $221 is approximately equal to the US STR median of approximately $220, but the market’s summer ADR of $324 in July places it well above national norms during peak season. Occupancy at 56.2% in April is above the US median of approximately 55%. The overall market score of 55.7 reflects the severe seasonal concentration: a seasonality score of 45.9 indicates the highest seasonal swing of any market in this batch. The revenue growth score of 98.4 is exceptional. The market is led by established Outer Banks regional operators. Village Realty leads with 347 listings and 1,946 reviews at a 4.38 rating. Sojourn holds 260 listings with 3,731 reviews at a 4.50 rating. Vacasa manages 244 listings with 8,294 reviews at a 4.29 rating. Brindley Beach Vacation and Sales has 234 listings at a 4.11 rating. Christian Taylor Vacations rounds out the top five with 200 listings at a 4.58 rating. The top 5 operators control 1,285 listings, approximately 13.6% of the 9,454-listing market.
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