Freeport, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Freeport, ME STRs averaged $201/night at 48.8% occupancy in April 2026 near L.L. Bean.
Quick Answer: Freeport, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Maine Midcoast market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the Maine Midcoast market area is $4,204. average daily rate in the Maine Midcoast market area is $312. the top operator in the Maine Midcoast market area is Vacasa with 284 listings. market score is 52/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Maine Midcoast regional market, which includes Freeport. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Freeport.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Freeport, Maine is a well-established coastal New England STR market anchored by the L.L. Bean flagship campus, which draws approximately 3 million visitors annually. The town’s 200-plus outlet stores and proximity to Casco Bay coastal attractions create a year-round demand base that mixes summer vacationers, fall leaf-peepers, and holiday-season shoppers. In April 2026, listings averaged $200.67 per night with an overall occupancy rate of 48.8% and a RevPAR of $97.86. Year-over-year: occupancy improved 3.60 percentage points and ADR rose 5.76%, while average monthly revenue declined slightly at -0.78% compared to April 2025.
The inventory is compact relative to larger resort markets. Of approximately 4,492 listings tracked, 4,234 are entire-place rentals, 257 are private rooms, and 1 is a shared room. The bedroom distribution is balanced: 1,416 one-bedroom listings, 1,210 two-bedroom, 1,103 three-bedroom, 472 four-bedroom, and 288 five-or-more-bedroom listings. Notably, dual-channel listings dominate: 2,079 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 1,763 on Airbnb only and 650 on VRBO only, suggesting operators here rely more heavily on multi-channel distribution than typical.
The composite StaySTRA score is 51.62, the lowest in this batch, partly reflecting Maine’s active STR regulation landscape and the town-wide 300-registration cap. The revenue growth score of 77.55 and investability score of 70.12 are the standout positive sub-scores.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37% | $182 | $1,972 |
| Feb | 50% | $184 | $2,002 |
| Mar | 47% | $178 | $2,114 |
| Apr | 51% | $186 | $2,085 |
| May | 55% | $215 | $2,225 |
| Jun | 66% | $256 | $3,524 |
| Jul | 76% | $261 | $4,855 |
| Aug | 78% | $264 | $5,164 |
| Sep | 55% | $232 | $3,400 |
| Oct | 52% | $212 | $2,879 |
| Nov | 38% | $185 | $2,033 |
| Dec | 47% | $192 | $2,247 |
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 Freeport, so these counts are not Freeport-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 284 | 10,040 | ★ 4.60 |
| 2 | Tides To Pines | 215 | 4,496 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Evolve | 61 | 2,496 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Your Island Connection | 51 | 1,079 | ★ 4.77 |
| 5 | On The Water | 49 | 23 | ★ 4.71 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Freeport?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,416 |
| 2 bed | 1,210 |
| 3 bed | 1,103 |
| 4 bed | 472 |
| 5 bed | 288 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $319 |
| Luxury | $526 |
| Professionally Managed | $400 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,123 |
| Entire Place | $4,339 |
| House | $4,552 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 39.2% |
| vrbo | 14.5% |
| both | 46.3% |
Investment Analysis
Freeport, ME combines a well-known brand-anchor (L.L. Bean) with a regulatory constraint: the town caps total STR registrations at 300 and requires a $100 annual registration fee under Chapter 61 (adopted April 2021). This cap creates a finite inventory ceiling that, if fully subscribed, protects registered operators from competition from new entrants but also limits the addressable investor pool.
Housing price data from our Zillow feed is not currently available for this area, so a gross yield calculation cannot be performed. Southern Maine coastal properties typically carry significant premiums, and investors should source current valuations independently.
At the April 2026 average of $2,208 per month, annualized revenue projects to approximately $26,496 at that pace. Peak months are far more productive: August averages $5,146 in monthly revenue and July averages $4,845. Houses outperform the all-listing average at $2,381.05 per month versus $2,280.55 for entire-place listings broadly and $1,726.45 for apartments.
ADR premiums by tier: luxury listings averaged $360.98 per night in April, 80% above the all-listing average of $200.67. Professionally managed properties averaged $277.78 per night, 38% above the market average. The 2025 annual average revenue was approximately $3,407 per month, up from $3,250 in 2024 and $3,325 in 2023, suggesting an upward revenue trajectory after a post-pandemic plateau.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
In April 2026, Freeport’s average booking lead time was 45.13 days, the longest in this batch, and the average length of stay was 3.88 nights. The 45-day lead time reflects New England travel patterns: visitors plan Freeport trips, particularly summer coastal stays and fall foliage getaways, well in advance, knowing the compact market has limited availability during peak periods.
The nearly four-night average stay is consistent with combining L.L. Bean shopping and outdoor activities over a long weekend or extended visit. The combination of long lead times and extended stays suggests operators who price early with slight premiums and enforce minimum-stay policies of three to four nights will capture the core demand profile effectively, while protecting against last-minute discounting pressure.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Freeport adopted its Short-Term Residential Rental Registration Ordinance (Chapter 61) on April 27, 2021. Any residential property rented for fewer than 28 consecutive days must obtain a registration number and certificate from the Town Clerk. Hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfast inns are exempt. The registration fee is $100, renewed annually. Renewals can be filed online; first-time applications must be submitted directly to the Town Clerk and require a copy of the property deed.
The ordinance caps total town-wide registrations at 300. Operational requirements include: gatherings limited to no more than 16 people at the rental; a designated 24/7 emergency contact reachable within approximately 60 minutes; and a certificate of insurance with at least $1 million in aggregate coverage for rental use. Noise, trash, parking, and safety rules also apply.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Non-resident investors may register up to the cap. Maine imposes a statewide 9% lodging tax on short-term rentals; there is no separate county or local lodging tax, so 9% is the total occupancy tax. Airbnb and VRBO generally collect this. Enforcement is administered by the Town Clerk; non-compliance risks loss of registration. The registration fee remained $100 as of the March 2026 fee schedule update. Buyers should verify cap availability with the Town Clerk before purchasing, as the 300-unit ceiling may be or become fully subscribed.
Market Comparison
Freeport April 2026 occupancy of 48.8% is below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, but this reflects the shoulder season, August occupancy of 77.6% far exceeds national norms. The all-listing ADR of $200.67 is close to the national median of roughly $220, reflecting a premium coastal New England market.
Among property managers, Vacasa leads with 284 listings and 10,040 reviews at a 4.604 rating. Tides To Pines, a regional New England operator, holds 215 listings with 4,496 reviews at a 4.541 rating, notably close to Vacasa in scale, indicating strong regional competition. Evolve manages 61 listings at 4.762. Your Island Connection operates 51 listings at 4.765, and On The Water holds 49 listings at 4.711. The Vacasa-and-Tides-To-Pines duopoly (499 combined listings out of approximately 4,492 total) accounts for roughly 11% of total listings, with the balance distributed among independent operators, giving the market a more fragmented character than the national-operator-dominated Whidbey Island market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freeport, Maine
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