Hiawassee, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Hiawassee's North Georgia Mountains STR market hit $297 ADR, 45.7% occupancy and $3,745 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Hiawassee, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North GA Mtns market area is 46%. average monthly revenue in the North GA Mtns market area is $3,745. average daily rate in the North GA Mtns market area is $297. the top operator in the North GA Mtns market area is Evolve with 470 listings. market score is 88/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the North GA Mtns regional market, which includes Hiawassee. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Hiawassee.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Hiawassee is the seat of Towns County, anchored on Lake Chatuge, and has a population of 1,002. The performance figures on this page describe the North Georgia Mountains STR market, a region that includes Hiawassee and nearby mountain towns. In September 2026 the North Georgia Mountains STR market averaged an ADR of $297 and occupancy of 45.7%, with average monthly revenue of $3,745 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 15.0%, ADR rose 2.5% and revenue rose 16.1%, so most of the gain came from more booked nights rather than higher rates. The year to date is softer. January through September 2026 shows 43.9% occupancy, a $286 ADR and $3,576 in monthly revenue, against 46.8%, $284 and $3,810 for full-year 2025. The strongest year in the series was 2021, when monthly revenue reached $4,263, and occupancy peaked at 61.7% in 2020. Demand comes from outdoor recreation and events. Lake Chatuge is a 7,000-acre TVA reservoir with 132 miles of shoreline, and the Georgia Mountain Fair draws roughly 100,000 attendees each summer. Hamilton Gardens peaks in April and May, and Brasstown Bald and Appalachian Trail access bring hikers and leaf-peepers. Atlanta is about two hours south, which makes this a regional drive-market destination. Bedroom, booking channel and listing-type counts, along with top operator names, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Hiawassee, so this profile omits them.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 33% |
| Feb | 39% |
| Mar | 48% |
| Apr | 44% |
| May | 45% |
| Jun | 57% |
| Jul | 63% |
| Aug | 47% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 51% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Hiawassee 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 Hiawassee, so these counts are not Hiawassee-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 470 | 28,108 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 457 | 32,402 | ★ 4.58 |
| 3 | Escape To Blue Ridge | 371 | 4,391 | ★ 4.78 |
| 4 | Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals | 292 | 5,288 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Georgia CFY | 187 | 4,592 | ★ 4.57 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Hiawassee?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Hiawassee 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 (Hiawassee)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Hiawassee 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 Hiawassee — 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 Hiawassee, and the rules are light. Georgia has no statewide STR licensing, so regulation is local. Operators inside city limits need a City of Hiawassee business license, also called an occupation tax certificate. The application asks directly whether the business is a VRBO, Airbnb or rental property. The license costs $100 and renews annually, due December 31, with late fees after January 1. No maximum nights per year applies, and neither owner occupancy nor primary residence is required. Hiawassee levies an 8% hotel and motel excise tax on stays of 30 days or less. Georgia also charges a $5 per night state hotel-motel fee, plus standard state and local sales tax. Operators should confirm whether the city or county collects directly or whether platforms remit. Towns County has no zoning in its unincorporated areas, so land-use limits there are essentially absent. Inside the city, no STR-specific overlay or density rule was found. Deed covenants, HOA rules and lake-community rules may still apply. Enforcement is rated minimal and appears complaint-driven. No formal STR ordinance was identified as of mid-2026, though the 2025 license form now flags rental properties. Buyers should verify the rules for their exact address with City Hall at (706) 896-2202.
Market Comparison
The North Georgia Mountains STR market earns more on seasonal peaks and rate than on steady volume. September 2026 occupancy was 45.7% at a $297 ADR. Peak months lift occupancy, with July at 63.1% and October at 61.4%, while January at 33.0% sits well below the annual pattern. The 2026 year-to-date ADR of $286 is above the $284 recorded for full-year 2025, but year-to-date occupancy of 43.9% is lower than the 46.8% recorded for 2025. Year-over-year occupancy growth of 15.0% in September is a positive sign for demand. The market score data places overall investability at 91.8 out of 100, with regulation scoring 72.3 and seasonality 75.8. Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Hiawassee, so this profile omits them. Buyers should compare their own property against nearby lake and mountain comparables instead of relying on regional averages.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiawassee, Georgia
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