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 is 54%. average monthly revenue is $4,483. average daily rate is $309. the top operator 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 Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33% | $239 | $2,415 |
| Feb | 39% | $239 | $2,389 |
| Mar | 48% | $240 | $3,216 |
| Apr | 44% | $235 | $2,869 |
| May | 45% | $242 | $2,792 |
| Jun | 58% | $263 | $3,919 |
| Jul | 64% | $257 | $4,473 |
| Aug | 47% | $237 | $3,149 |
| Sep | 47% | $243 | $3,087 |
| Oct | 61% | $262 | $4,476 |
| Nov | 55% | $262 | $3,973 |
| Dec | 51% | $264 | $3,937 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Clayton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,527 |
| 2 bed | 2,458 |
| 3 bed | 3,296 |
| 4 bed | 1,779 |
| 5 bed | 918 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $310 |
| Luxury | $492 |
| Professionally Managed | $342 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,572 |
| Entire Place | $4,511 |
| House | $4,650 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 20.2% |
| vrbo | 9% |
| both | 70.8% |
Investment Analysis
Clayton GA / Blue Ridge is a high-ADR cabin market with a distinctive investment profile. Average daily rate of $263.75 in April 2026 exceeds the national STR median of approximately $220, even in what is typically the market’s softest month. April occupancy of 40.57% is below the market’s historical peak and below the national median, but revenue per listing of $3,098 in April still exceeds many higher-occupancy but lower-ADR markets.
Annualized at the April 2026 monthly revenue of $3,098, gross revenue per listing is approximately $37,178 per year. The October and July historical averages each exceed $4,470, suggesting annualized revenue at peak-period rates could reach $50,000 or more for well-positioned properties. No housing snapshot data is available for this market, preventing a yield calculation against acquisition cost.
Tier differentiation by ADR is moderate: entire-home listings average $264.48 vs. $263.75 all-listings, indicating the market is already nearly 100% entire-place, so little tier separation at the listing-type level. Professionally managed listings average $284.30, a $20 premium. Luxury tier reaches $397.19, a 1.5x multiple over the market average.
The annual revenue series peaked in 2021 at $4,263 monthly average and corrected through 2023 ($3,447). Recovery is steady: 2024 averaged $3,673 and 2025 averaged $3,809 monthly, each above the long-run pre-2020 level of roughly $2,500.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time is 42.56 days, approximately six weeks in advance. This is among the longer booking windows in this batch of markets, consistent with a destination that requires travel planning and typically involves group cabin bookings where coordination across multiple guests extends the planning horizon.
The average length of stay is 3.33 nights, the shortest in this five-market batch. For a cabin market where most listings are 2+ bedrooms, a sub-3.5 night stay average suggests significant weekend-trip concentration: 2-night Friday-Sunday stays alongside 3-4 night extended trips average out near the 3.3-night mark. A 42-day lead time paired with a 3.33-night stay means operators have roughly six weeks to fill each booking window but are filling it in small increments. Dynamic pricing that holds rates firm until 4-5 weeks out and offers modest mid-week discounts to extend stays past the 3-night weekend anchor is a well-suited strategy for this booking pattern.
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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