Boothbay Harbor, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
The Maine Midcoast STR market averaged $313 ADR, 53.6% occupancy and $4,497 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Boothbay Harbor, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Maine Midcoast market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the Maine Midcoast market area is $4,497. average daily rate in the Maine Midcoast market area is $313. the top operator in the Maine Midcoast market area is Vacasa with 265 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Maine Midcoast regional market, which includes Boothbay Harbor. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Boothbay Harbor.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Boothbay Harbor sits on the Maine coast in Lincoln County and has a permanent population of 2,085. Performance figures on this page describe the Maine Midcoast STR market, a region that includes Boothbay Harbor, so they reflect the wider region rather than the town alone. In September 2026 the Maine Midcoast STR market recorded an average daily rate of $313 and occupancy of 53.6%, producing average monthly revenue of $4,497. Compared with September 2025, occupancy rose 2.1%, ADR rose 6.9% and revenue rose 6.2%. Entire-home listings averaged $320 per night, and luxury listings reached $507. Bedroom counts, channel and listing-type mix, and top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Boothbay Harbor, so this profile omits them. Demand in the town is strongly seasonal. The resident base of roughly 2,000 expands about tenfold from late June through August, driven by whale watching, sailing, sea kayaking and harbor cruises. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens draws more than 300,000 visitors a year, and its Gardens Aglow holiday event adds a second attendance peak in November and December. Visitors skew toward adults from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, with a meaningful share from Canada. Over the longer run, average monthly revenue rose from $2,084 in 2019 to $3,469 in 2025, while occupancy eased from a 2021 high of 63.6% to 52.7% in 2025. The first nine months of 2026 are running at 55.3% occupancy, a $266 ADR and $3,725 in monthly revenue, ahead of 2025 on all three measures. Summing the twelve seasonal months gives an annual revenue estimate of $34,997.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 37% |
| Feb | 50% |
| Mar | 47% |
| Apr | 51% |
| May | 55% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 76% |
| Aug | 77% |
| Sep | 55% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 38% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Boothbay Harbor are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Maine Midcoast market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Maine Midcoast market as a whole, which includes Boothbay Harbor, so these counts are not Boothbay Harbor-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 265 | 8,460 | ★ 4.61 |
| 2 | Tides To Pines | 189 | 3,158 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | Evolve | 61 | 2,488 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Your Island Connection | 51 | 1,073 | ★ 4.77 |
| 5 | On The Water | 49 | 23 | ★ 4.71 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Boothbay Harbor?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Boothbay Harbor 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 | 41.2% |
| vrbo | 14.4% |
| both | 44.4% |
Home Value Trends (Boothbay Harbor)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Boothbay Harbor 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 Boothbay Harbor — 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
Boothbay Harbor has no adopted short-term rental ordinance as of mid-2025. The town’s Land Use Code, last updated May 4, 2024, does not specifically regulate STRs, so rentals operate without a local permit, registration requirement or zoning restriction. There is no cap on nights per year, and neither owner occupancy nor primary residence is required. The one mandatory compliance layer is Maine’s 9% lodging tax, which applies to rentals of fewer than 28 consecutive days. Operators register with Maine Revenue Services for a Retailer’s Certificate and collect and remit the tax. Lincoln County does not add a separate STR permit or tax. Enforcement is rated minimal, and the code enforcement officer has noted the town lacks the data infrastructure to track STRs without a registry. Change may be coming. The selectboard and planning board held workshops in late 2024 on zoning and housing ordinance changes that include STRs. The selectboard proposed a registration program with annual fees of $100 for properties rented six or more months per year and $195 for those rented less than six months, but it had not gone to a town meeting vote as of available reporting. An STR task force is reportedly exploring a licensing framework for possible adoption in 2026. The Maine Legislature killed a 2024 bill that would have let municipalities add a 1% local lodging tax surcharge. Confirm current status with the town before purchasing.
Market Comparison
The Maine Midcoast STR market recorded 53.6% occupancy and a $313 ADR in September 2026, which works out to about $168 of revenue per available night. The comparison changes by season, with August occupancy of 77.2% against 36.9% in January. Year-over-year growth is also healthy, with ADR up 6.9% and revenue up 6.2%. Lodging tax is 9% at the state level, and there is no local permit fee today, which is lighter than many US destinations. Population is only 2,085, so the market depends on visitors rather than local demand. Top operators are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Boothbay Harbor, so they are not listed here. Investors comparing this region with inland markets should weigh the strong summer rates against a short, concentrated high season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boothbay Harbor, Maine
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