Clayton, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Clayton, GA area STRs averaged $264/night at 40.6% occupancy in April 2026, with October and July each generating over $4,470 in peak monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Clayton, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North GA Mtns market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the North GA Mtns market area is $4,483. average daily rate in the North GA Mtns market area is $309. the top operator in the North GA Mtns market area is Evolve with 473 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the North GA Mtns regional market, which includes Clayton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Clayton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Clayton, GA area encompasses the North Georgia Mountains STR market, covering Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Towns, White, and Lumpkin counties, with Blue Ridge as the primary cabin destination. The market spans approximately 9,978 active listings as of the latest snapshot. In April 2026, average daily rate was $263.75, occupancy was 40.57%, and RevPAR reached $107.02. Year-over-year performance through April 2026 showed steady growth across all three metrics: occupancy up 2.04%, ADR up 2.93%, and revenue up 2.87%.
The listing mix reflects the cabin character of this market. Entire-place listings account for 9,861 of 9,978 total (98.8%), with only 121 private rooms and 1 shared room. Unlike most STR markets, the most common bedroom size is 3 bedrooms (3,296 listings), followed by 2 bedrooms (2,458), 4 bedrooms (1,779), 1 bedrooms (1,527), and 5 bedrooms (918). Cross-platform listing is exceptionally high: 7,068 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO simultaneously, with only 2,020 Airbnb-exclusive and 895 VRBO-exclusive listings. This high dual-listing ratio indicates operators actively pursuing visibility across both platforms.
The region draws approximately 3 million annual visitors, anchored by Helen (3 million documented annually to its 2.11-square-mile core) and the Blue Ridge area. The market scores 87.72 overall, with investability at 91.81 and a regulation score of 72.24.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 33% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 48% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 45% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 47% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Clayton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North GA Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North GA Mtns market as a whole, which includes Clayton, so these counts are not Clayton-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 473 | 28,174 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 461 | 32,602 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Escape To Blue Ridge | 373 | 4,433 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals | 297 | 5,298 | ★ 4.72 |
| 5 | Georgia CFY | 186 | 4,599 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Clayton?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Clayton 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 | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Home Value Trends (Clayton)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Clayton 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 Clayton — 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
The North Georgia Mountains market operates under a multi-jurisdictional permit framework. STRs are broadly permitted with no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirements and no annual night caps across the reviewed counties.
Fannin County (unincorporated): Annual Accommodation Excise Tax Certificate required. As of August 2025, the fee is $225 with a $25 late-renewal penalty; all certificates expire December 31. Lodging tax is 6% of gross receipts. Operators must post an Info Sheet on-site with 911 address, 24/7 local contact reachable on-site within 2 hours, nearest hospital, and maximum occupancy.
City of Blue Ridge: A separate STVR Certificate ($150 initial) plus an Occupation Tax Certificate ($100) are required. STVRs are permitted only in C-1, CBD, and R-3 zones; prohibited in R-1 and R-2 residential zones. City lodging tax is 8%. Violations carry fines starting at $250 per day.
Gilmer County (effective July 1, 2025, full enforcement January 1, 2026): Chapter 45 STR Host License required. New license fee is $225; renewal is $300. Applications are online through the GovOS/Neumo platform.
Union, Towns, White, and Lumpkin counties each have their own hotel-motel tax and registration frameworks. Lumpkin County raised its hotel-motel excise tax from 5% to 8% effective August 1, 2023. White County updated its STR Host License requirements effective January 31, 2024. The profile-level permit cost of $175 represents an average across jurisdictions; actual costs range from $150 to $300 depending on location.
Market Comparison
Clayton GA’s all-listings ADR of $263.75 exceeds the national STR median of approximately $220 by about 20%, while its 40.57% occupancy in April 2026 is below the national median of 55%. This is the characteristic profile of a premium cabin destination: higher per-night rates offset lower fill to deliver above-median monthly revenue.
Revenue comparison is favorable. The $3,098 April 2026 monthly average places this market above most mid-occupancy markets with lower ADRs. The historical October and July peaks at $4,474 and $4,471 are comparable to performance in well-known Southeast mountain destinations.
The operator landscape is heavily professionalized. The top-5 operators collectively manage 1,790 listings, or approximately 17.9% of the 9,978-listing market — far higher concentration than the Tennessee or New York markets in this batch. Evolve leads with 473 listings and 28,174 reviews (4.76 rating). Vacasa is a near tie at 461 listings and 32,602 reviews (4.58 rating). Escape To Blue Ridge, a regional specialist, holds third with 373 listings and 4,433 reviews at a 4.78 rating. Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals ranks fourth with 297 listings (4.72 rating). The higher operator concentration means independent listings compete against a larger share of managed properties with professional photography, revenue management, and guest services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clayton, Georgia
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