Kennebunk, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Kennebunk, ME STRs averaged $290/night at 44.5% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks exceeding 79%.
Quick Answer: Kennebunk, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 64%. average monthly revenue is $5,761. average daily rate is $432. the top operator is Vacasa with 152 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Maine Beaches regional market, which includes Kennebunk. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Kennebunk.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Kennebunk is a southern Maine coastal town of approximately 11,820 residents, part of the Kennebunks resort region that has drawn summer visitors from Boston and the Northeast since the 19th century. The STR market is concentrated around the town’s beaches (Gooch’s, Mother’s, and Middle Beach), proximity to Dock Square in Kennebunkport, and the broader coastal leisure economy.
As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $290, occupancy of 44.5%, and RevPAR of $129. April is a shoulder month for this market, with occupancy climbing sharply through June before peaking in July and August.
The active listing base totals approximately 4,615 units. Entire-place listings account for 4,425 of those (95.9% of supply), with 189 private-room and 1 shared-room listing. The bedroom mix is relatively balanced: 2-bedroom listings lead at 1,373, followed by 1-bedroom (1,130), 3-bedroom (1,031), 4-bedroom (656), and 5-bedroom (419). On the channel side, 1,403 listings appear exclusively on Airbnb, 871 on VRBO only, and 2,341 on both platforms.
Year-over-year, April 2026 showed occupancy down 8.6 percentage points and revenue down 8.2%, offset partially by a 4.7% ADR increase. The decline reflects normalization from elevated post-pandemic occupancy levels: the 2021-2023 peak years averaged 60.2%, 56.7%, and 54.4% occupancy respectively. The revenue-growth score of 79.2 out of 100 suggests favorable long-term fundamentals despite near-term softness.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35% | $239 | $2,450 |
| Feb | 49% | $240 | $2,560 |
| Mar | 46% | $234 | $2,671 |
| Apr | 50% | $254 | $2,663 |
| May | 52% | $286 | $2,724 |
| Jun | 66% | $345 | $4,515 |
| Jul | 79% | $363 | $6,800 |
| Aug | 80% | $366 | $7,067 |
| Sep | 48% | $304 | $3,867 |
| Oct | 46% | $267 | $3,215 |
| Nov | 37% | $260 | $2,644 |
| Dec | 42% | $277 | $2,869 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kennebunk
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 Kennebunk?
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 | $441 |
| Luxury | $680 |
| Professionally Managed | $513 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,963 |
| Entire Place | $5,917 |
| House | $6,663 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 30.4% |
| vrbo | 18.9% |
| both | 50.7% |
Investment Analysis
Kennebunk STRs generated average monthly revenue of $2,681 in April 2026, implying annualized gross revenue of approximately $32,170 at current run rates. Houses average $3,089 per month, entire-place listings $2,769, and apartments $1,699. The spread between houses and apartments of $1,390 per month underscores the premium that standalone coastal properties command.
The typical home value in Kennebunk stands at $622,913 (April 2026 Zillow data), with a median list price of $756,333. At the April 2026 revenue run rate, annualized gross revenue of $32,170 divided by the typical home value of $622,913 implies a gross yield of approximately 5.2%. For-sale inventory is limited at 62 properties, and the median days to pending is 58 days.
Rate tier analysis shows a meaningful professional-management premium: the all-listings ADR of $290 rises to $315 for professionally managed properties and $423 for luxury-tier listings. Professional management adds a $25/night premium (roughly 8.6%) over the market average. Luxury listings carry a $133/night premium (45.9% above the average).
Year-over-year revenue fell 8.2% in April 2026 versus April 2025, reflecting an 8.6-point occupancy decline partially offset by 4.7% ADR growth. The 2025 full-year average revenue of $4,564/month represents the highest annual average in the historical series, with 2024 at $4,339 and 2023 at $4,449, suggesting the annual trend remains positive even as individual months fluctuate.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Kennebunk STRs show an average booking lead time of 53 days as of April 2026, meaning guests reserve approximately seven and a half weeks in advance. This is notably longer than most drive-to leisure markets, reflecting the deliberate planning typical of Northeast beach vacations where peak summer availability is limited.
Average length of stay sits at 3.32 nights, consistent with long-weekend and short-week beach trips. At 3.32 nights and the current occupancy rate, units turn over roughly 4 to 5 times per month in shoulder months and more frequently in high summer.
The 53-day lead time has direct pricing implications. Summer peak inventory (July and August) should be priced and minimum-stay requirements should be set at least 60 to 90 days in advance. Because guests are planning ahead, last-minute discounting is less effective for premium summer dates in this market than it is for urban or drive-to markets with shorter booking windows. Operators who hold prices firm on July and August inventory through April and May, then release last-minute openings at a modest discount only in late June, align with the actual booking behavior this lead-time data reflects.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are legal in Kennebunk under a registration-and-inspection ordinance effective January 1, 2025. A short-term rental is defined as any dwelling unit or accessory dwelling unit rented for fewer than 15 consecutive days. Each unit must be registered separately with the Town Clerk’s Office at 1 Summer Street.
The registration fee is $250 for a new application and $150 for annual renewal. Registrations expire and must be renewed by January 1 each year. Registration is non-transferable: any change in ownership, or in the members, managers, or officers of an owning entity, requires a new registration.
Before a registration is approved, Kennebunk Fire Rescue conducts a mandatory life-safety and fire-code inspection. Registration is denied until any deficiencies are corrected. The ordinance does not cap rental nights per year and does not require owner-occupancy or primary residence.
On taxes, Maine imposes a statewide 9% lodging tax on short-term rental stays. There is no separate local Kennebunk lodging tax. Note that under Maine law a sole proprietor managing a single unit for stays under 15 days may be exempt from collecting the state tax, while platform-handled or property-manager-handled rentals collect the 9%. Investors should confirm their specific tax obligations with Maine Revenue Services.
Kennebunk adopted this ordinance in 2024-2025 primarily to address fire-code and life-safety concerns as the STR market grew. Enforcement severity is rated moderate. Investors should verify current ordinance text and fee schedules with the Town Clerk before operating.
Market Comparison
Kennebunk’s April 2026 ADR of $290 is above the approximate U.S. STR median of $220, consistent with the market’s reputation as an established coastal resort destination with limited housing supply and strong seasonal demand from affluent Northeast travelers. Peak-month ADR of $363-$366 in July and August represents a 65-66% premium over the national median.
Occupancy at 44.5% in April trails the U.S. median of approximately 55%, but peak summer months reach 78-80%, well above national benchmarks for seasonal beach markets. The significant YoY occupancy decline of 8.6 percentage points in April 2026 aligns with broad post-pandemic normalization trends seen across New England coastal markets from 2023 onward.
The professional management segment is modest relative to market size. Vacasa leads with 152 listings and 7,411 reviews at a 4.49 average rating. Evolve follows with 86 listings and 2,952 reviews at 4.69. Salt and Shine Vacation Rentals holds 60 listings at 4.88, Coastline Vacation Rentals operates 55 listings at 4.80, and Grand Welcome rounds out the top five with 51 listings at 4.89. Together the top five manage approximately 404 listings against a total base of roughly 4,615 units, meaning over 91% of inventory is independently operated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kennebunk, Maine
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