Lincolnville, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Lincolnville, ME STRs posted 48.8% occupancy and $201/night ADR in April 2026 across approximately 4,492 active listings on Penobscot Bay.
Quick Answer: Lincolnville, 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 Lincolnville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lincolnville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Lincolnville, Maine short-term rental market comprised approximately 4,492 active listings as of April 2026, centered on this small midcoast town of roughly 2,449 permanent residents on the western shore of Penobscot Bay between Camden and Belfast. The market is overwhelmingly entire-place focused, with 4,234 entire-place listings (94.3% of tracked listings), 257 private rooms, and 1 shared room. One-bedroom units lead with 1,416 listings, followed by two-bedroom (1,210), three-bedroom (1,103), four-bedroom (472), and five-plus bedroom (288) units.
Channel distribution shows meaningful VRBO participation for a midcoast Maine market. Among channel-tracked listings, 1,763 are Airbnb-only, 2,079 appear on both platforms, and 650 are VRBO-only. The dual-listing rate of 46.3% reflects the coastal and rural destination character where VRBO captures a significant segment of vacation rental demand.
April 2026 metrics reflect shoulder-season conditions: occupancy was 48.8% and the average daily rate was $200.67, generating a RevPAR of $97.86. Year-over-year in April, occupancy rose 3.60% and ADR rose 5.76%, while revenue was essentially flat at -0.78%. The 2025 full-year average is the more representative benchmark: $250 ADR at 52.6% occupancy producing approximately $3,407 in average monthly revenue per active listing.
Market scores are moderate. The total score is 51.6 out of 100, with investability at 70.1, revenue growth at 77.6, rental demand at 58.8, and regulation at 63.2. Seasonality scores 54.7, consistent with a market that concentrates a substantial share of annual revenue into two to three summer months.
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 Lincolnville, so these counts are not Lincolnville-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 Lincolnville?
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
Lincolnville offers an accessible and minimally regulated entry point for midcoast Maine STR investors. The 2025 full-year average monthly revenue of $3,407 (annualized to $40,884) is the practical underwriting baseline. Housing snapshot data was not available in this data pull, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided. Investors should apply the $40,884 annual figure to current Waldo County and Knox County land-adjacent sale prices to evaluate return potential.
ADR tiers in this market show a significant split between professional management and self-managed listings. Professionally managed properties averaged $277.78 per night in April 2026, a premium of roughly $72 above the entire-home average of $205.71 and $77 above the all-listings average of $200.67. The luxury tier averaged $360.98 per night. This pronounced premium for professionally managed listings suggests that the top operators (Vacasa, Tides To Pines) are selectively managing higher-quality or larger properties that command above-market rates.
Revenue by property type in April 2026: house listings averaged $2,381 per month, entire-place listings averaged $2,281, and apartment listings averaged $1,726. House-category properties outperformed the broader entire-place average by $100 per month.
Revenue growth over the historical data series shows a strong 2020-2021 pandemic-driven surge from $2,192/month in 2017 to $3,325 in 2022-2023, followed by a modest plateau. The 2025 annual average of $3,407 slightly exceeded 2023 levels, suggesting the market has stabilized after the post-pandemic correction. Revenue growth scores 77.6, reflecting the long-run appreciation pattern.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Lincolnville, ME guests book an average of 45.1 days in advance, with stays averaging 3.9 nights. The 45-day lead window is consistent with a coastal New England destination where visitors plan summer and fall trips four to six weeks out.
For operators, a 45-day booking window means rate adjustments made approximately 50 to 60 days before arrival will capture most demand. Summer peak bookings for July and August tend to flow in during May and June, making late April and May pricing decisions particularly important for peak-season revenue optimization.
The 3.9-night average length of stay reflects a mix of extended weekend trips (Friday through Monday or Tuesday) and short-week stays typical of New England coastal destinations. This stay pattern means operators see moderate turnover rather than true week-long blocks. Setting a 3-night minimum during peak summer months reduces excessive turnover while capturing the dominant demand segment. A 2-night minimum during shoulder months (May, September, October) can help fill otherwise empty days without sacrificing revenue.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lincolnville, Maine is one of the more permissive municipalities for short-term rental operators in midcoast Maine. The town has no dedicated STR ordinance, no local registration or permit requirement, no annual night cap, and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate. As of June 2026, the town’s Land Use Ordinance does not list short-term rentals as a separately regulated or prohibited use. Enforcement is assessed as minimal.
Obligations are primarily at the state level. Maine treats rentals of fewer than 28 consecutive days as taxable lodging and imposes a 9% state lodging (sales) tax on rental amounts, including cleaning and guest fees. Operators must register with Maine Revenue Services to collect and remit this tax. Platforms such as Airbnb may collect the tax on the host’s behalf. A common exception: a property rented fewer than 15 days per year is generally not required to collect the lodging tax.
Investors should still contact the Lincolnville Code Enforcement Officer to confirm that a specific parcel’s zoning district permits the intended STR use, as local zoning compliance remains the operator’s responsibility even in the absence of a dedicated STR ordinance.
Future regulatory risk: community discussion about regulating STRs has surfaced in Lincolnville and more broadly across coastal Maine. The town’s permissive status could change at a future town meeting. Investors should monitor for any proposed zoning or ordinance changes and confirm current rules directly with the town before making acquisition decisions.
Market Comparison
Lincolnville, Maine’s 52.6% annual average occupancy (2025) sits near the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%. Its 2025 annual ADR of $250 exceeds the approximate U.S. median of $220, reflecting the coastal Maine premium for summer vacation rental access. The April 2026 RevPAR of $97.86 understates the market’s peak potential; August’s historical average of $5,146 per listing illustrates the summer revenue concentration.
The market’s total score of 51.6 positions Lincolnville as a moderate-performing midcoast market relative to other tracked areas. The investability score of 70.1 and revenue growth score of 77.6 signal reasonable long-run appreciation, while the lower total score reflects the high seasonal concentration.
The operator landscape in Lincolnville is moderately concentrated at the top. The five largest property managers collectively hold 660 listings, representing approximately 14.7% of the 4,492 total active listings. Vacasa leads with 284 listings and a 4.60 rating across 10,040 reviews. Tides To Pines follows with 215 listings at a 4.54 rating across 4,496 reviews, making it a regionally specialized second-tier operator. Evolve holds 61 listings at a 4.76 rating. Your Island Connection operates 51 listings at a 4.77 rating, the highest average rating in the top five. On The Water holds 49 listings.
The presence of regionally specialized operators (Tides To Pines, Your Island Connection, On The Water) alongside national platforms reflects a market where local expertise is valued alongside scale.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lincolnville, Maine
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