Bethany Beach, Delaware Short-Term Rental Market
The Sussex County, Delaware STR market posted a $372 ADR, 42.6% occupancy and $4,269 revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Bethany Beach, Delaware is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is 43%. average monthly revenue in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is $4,269. average daily rate in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is $372. the top operator in the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area is Vacasa with 2,692 listings. market score is 49/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Delaware/Maryland Beaches regional market, which includes Bethany Beach. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bethany Beach.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bethany Beach is a small Delaware beach town with a population of 1,388. The performance figures on this page describe the Sussex County, Delaware STR market, a region that includes Bethany Beach and nearby towns, so they reflect the region rather than Bethany Beach alone. Bedroom, channel, listing type and top operator data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Bethany Beach, so this profile omits it.
In September 2026 the Sussex County, Delaware STR market recorded an average daily rate of $372 and occupancy of 42.6%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $4,269, which works out to about $159 of revenue per available night. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 12.5%, ADR rose 5.2%, and revenue rose 11.9%. Most of that revenue gain came from more booked nights rather than from rate alone.
September is a shoulder month. The seasonal reference for September is 44.5% occupancy at a $291 ADR, so the September 2026 reading of 42.6% occupancy at a $372 ADR shows rates well above the usual September level while occupancy sits slightly below it.
Year to date, 2026 averages 48.2% occupancy, a $337 ADR and $4,287 in monthly revenue across nine months. Full year 2025 averaged 43.6% occupancy, a $319 ADR and $3,781 in monthly revenue. Since 2017 the regional ADR has climbed from $218 to $337, while occupancy peaked at 52.8% in 2021 and held at 43.6% in both 2024 and 2025.
Demand comes from the Delaware and Maryland beach corridor, which draws roughly 7.1 million annual visitors to Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach alone (a 2023 figure). Visitors arrive mainly from the Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Baltimore metros and the wider Northeast. Second-home owners account for a large share of STR demand, and shoulder-season demand has grown in recent years.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 25% |
| Feb | 35% |
| Mar | 39% |
| Apr | 39% |
| May | 46% |
| Jun | 70% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 77% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 26% |
| Nov | 25% |
| Dec | 31% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bethany Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Delaware/Maryland Beaches market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Delaware/Maryland Beaches market as a whole, which includes Bethany Beach, so these counts are not Bethany Beach-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 2,692 | 62,701 | ★ 4.37 |
| 2 | Coastal Resort Rentals | 357 | 1,649 | ★ 4.39 |
| 3 | Shoreline Properties | 349 | 1,835 | ★ 4.28 |
| 4 | Central Reservations | 328 | 4,812 | ★ 4.53 |
| 5 | VacayHome Connect | 314 | 594 | ★ 4.07 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bethany Beach?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bethany Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 17.3% |
| vrbo | 27.3% |
| both | 55.4% |
Home Value Trends (Bethany Beach)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bethany Beach are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Bethany Beach — how far ahead guests book and how to price around it — is available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in Bethany Beach, and a license is required. The town requires an Annual Residential Rental License, which runs from June 1 to May 31 and costs $100 per year. Each Delaware beach town runs its own program, so confirm current requirements with the town before listing a property.
There is no cap on nights rented per year in any Delaware beach town. No owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement applies in Bethany Beach or in the other Delaware beach towns of Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and Lewes.
Taxes stack. Bethany Beach charges a 7% local rental tax. All Delaware STRs also became subject to a 4.5% state lodging tax on January 1, 2025 under HB168, which applies to stays of 31 nights or fewer and is collected by booking platforms or directly by owners. Together these produce an occupancy tax burden of 11.5%.
Enforcement severity in the corridor is rated moderate. The regulatory regime across the Delaware beach towns is broadly consistent, but details such as inspection rules, local contact requirements and occupancy limits differ from town to town. Investors should verify the current license, tax registration and any occupancy limits directly with Bethany Beach before closing on a purchase.
Market Comparison
The Sussex County, Delaware STR market shows a high rate and lower occupancy pattern. Occupancy in September 2026 was 42.6% and ADR was $372.
Seasonality explains much of the pattern. The summer peak of 78.8% occupancy in July contrasts with winter months at 25.0% to 34.6%, which pull the annual picture down. The 2026 year to date reading is 48.2% occupancy at a $337 ADR.
Revenue per available night was about $159 in September 2026. The market also shows momentum, with revenue up 11.9% year over year, driven by a 12.5% gain in occupancy and a 5.2% gain in ADR.
Top operator data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Bethany Beach, so this profile omits it. Investors comparing Bethany Beach with other beach markets should weigh the premium rates and strong summer against the short season and the entry cost, with a typical home value of $934,339.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bethany Beach, Delaware
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