Millinocket, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Millinocket, ME STRs averaged $175/night at 36.0% occupancy in April 2026, in the spring shoulder between winter and summer seasons.
Quick Answer: Millinocket, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 53%. average monthly revenue is $2,758. average daily rate is $228. the top operator is Morton & Furbish Vacation Rentals with 332 listings. market score is 54/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Maine Area regional market, which includes Millinocket. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Millinocket.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The STR market data for area 66113 covers the broader North Maine Woods/Katahdin region anchored by Millinocket in Penobscot County, Maine (town population 4,116). Millinocket is the primary southern gateway to Baxter State Park, which contains Mount Katahdin (5,269 ft, northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail) and draws over 60,000 summer visitors. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (87,500 acres east of Baxter) reported 33,835 visitors in 2025. The town also serves as a winter hub for snowmobile trail access to the broader North Maine Woods corridor.
NOTE ON SCALE: The town of Millinocket had approximately 75 short-term rental units operating within town limits as of 2025 following enactment of its March 2025 licensing ordinance. The Apivex-sourced STR metric data mapped to this area (approximately 6,065 listings by channel count) reflects the broader regional submarket spanning surrounding camps, cabins, and wilderness lodging across Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. The metrics and revenue figures represent this regional context.
The latest snapshot shows 5,680 entire-place units (93.7% of 6,065 by listing type) and 381 private rooms (6.3%). Bedroom distribution: one-bedroom leads at 1,781 (29.4% of 6,062 bedroom-segmented), followed by two-bedroom (1,728, 28.5%), three-bedroom (1,552, 25.6%), four-bedroom (691, 11.4%), and five-or-more-bedroom (310, 5.1%). Channel mix: 3,199 on Airbnb only, 606 on VRBO only, and 2,260 on both.
In April 2026, the market posted an ADR of $175, occupancy of 36.0%, and RevPAR of $63.02, generating average monthly revenue of $1,805. April is a spring shoulder month. Year-over-year, occupancy fell 12.1 percentage points and revenue fell 6.5%, while ADR rose 7.1%. The 2025 full-year average was 48.8% occupancy, $210 ADR, and $2,740/month.
Market scores: total 54.2, investability 88.2, rental demand 53.1, regulation 66.6, seasonality 67.0, revenue growth 54.4.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46% | $205 | $2,438 |
| Feb | 58% | $223 | $3,027 |
| Mar | 45% | $206 | $2,655 |
| Apr | 41% | $163 | $1,831 |
| May | 47% | $162 | $1,692 |
| Jun | 57% | $191 | $2,387 |
| Jul | 68% | $204 | $3,514 |
| Aug | 67% | $204 | $3,685 |
| Sep | 48% | $177 | $2,360 |
| Oct | 48% | $166 | $2,148 |
| Nov | 40% | $145 | $1,668 |
| Dec | 47% | $176 | $1,915 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Millinocket
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morton & Furbish Vacation Rentals | 332 | 4,697 | ★ 4.78 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 123 | 4,683 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Evolve | 99 | 2,736 | ★ 4.68 |
| 4 | North Woods Maine Cabins Inc | 70 | 1,117 | ★ 4.84 |
| 5 | Sugarloaf Rentals LLC | 63 | 558 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Millinocket?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,781 |
| 2 bed | 1,728 |
| 3 bed | 1,552 |
| 4 bed | 691 |
| 5 bed | 310 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $235 |
| Luxury | $434 |
| Professionally Managed | $349 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,903 |
| Entire Place | $2,846 |
| House | $3,041 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.7% |
| vrbo | 10% |
| both | 37.3% |
Investment Analysis
No housing valuation data is available for Millinocket ME in the April 2026 snapshot, so gross yield calculations cannot be made. Investors should source comparable sales data independently for properties in the North Maine Woods submarket.
The 2025 full-year regional average of $2,740/month ($32,880 annualized) provides a baseline revenue reference for underwriting. The investability score of 88.2 out of 100 is notably high relative to the modest total score of 54.2, reflecting favorable cost-to-income dynamics in a lower-priced Maine market despite declining trend-level occupancy since the 2021 peak.
Revenue peaked at $2,912/month in 2021 and declined through 2024 ($2,696) before a modest recovery to $2,740 in 2025. ADR has shown consistent upward movement: from $136 in 2017 to $210 in 2025, a 54.4% cumulative increase. Regional occupancy peaked at 60.2% in 2021 and has trended to 48.8% in 2025.
By revenue sub-type, house-type listings generated $1,909/month in April 2026. Entire-place listings averaged $1,885/month. Apartment-type listings averaged $1,681/month.
By ADR tier: the market-wide average is $175/night. Entire-home listings averaged $184/night, a $9 or 5.1% premium. Professionally managed listings averaged $282/night, a $107 or 61.1% premium. The luxury tier averaged $411/night, a $236 or 134.9% premium. The large PM and luxury premiums indicate meaningful upside for professional management and premium cabin positioning in this low-base-rate market. Separate monthly revenue data for the professionally managed and luxury tiers is not available.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Millinocket)
Booking Insights
In April 2026, the average booking lead time for Millinocket/North Maine Woods STRs was 47.4 days, meaning guests typically reserve about seven weeks ahead of arrival. Average length of stay was 4.5 nights.
A 47.4-day lead time reflects the planning horizon of outdoor recreation travelers. Summer guests booking Baxter State Park hiking itineraries plan ahead because the park uses timed-entry reservations (limiting daily visitors per zone), and associated lodging is often secured at the same time. Winter snowmobilers also tend to plan trail trips in advance.
A 4.5-night average stay is consistent with multi-day wilderness itineraries rather than overnight or weekend visits. Operators targeting summer hikers and snowmobile groups should set minimum stays of 3 to 5 nights during peak windows (July-August and January-February). Shorter minimums of 2 to 3 nights are appropriate during spring shoulder (April-May) and fall (September-October) to capture shorter-itinerary visitors.
Combined, the 47.4-day lead time and 4.5-night average stay suggest pricing decisions should be finalized 30 to 60 days before target arrival dates, with peak summer and winter windows held firm at maximum rates beyond 60 days out.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Millinocket enacted its first short-term rental ordinance (Town Code Chapter 125, Part 2, Article XVIII) in March 2025, effective on or around March 13 to 26, 2025, following planning board review, two public hearings, and Town Council approval.
Under the ordinance, no person may operate an STR without a Town license. An STR is defined as a dwelling rented for vacation, leisure, or recreation for up to 30 days to a guest who maintains a permanent residence elsewhere. Each unit must be licensed annually at a $100 fee (payable by cash, check, or credit card; credit card adds a 2.5% surcharge). No grandfathering applies to pre-existing operations. The Town’s Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) conducts site and building safety inspections; operators are contacted within 14 days of registration to schedule an initial inspection, and the CEO may inspect at any time for compliance.
The one substantive density restriction: an owner cannot rent more than 50% of a building’s units as STRs. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement applies. No annual night cap was adopted.
Town officials have indicated the licensing requirement could precede a future town-wide STR unit cap if compliance data warrants, mirroring approaches taken in Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport. No cap had been adopted as of mid-2026.
Taxes: Maine levies a flat 9% state lodging (sales) tax on STR revenue, remitted to Maine Revenue Services. No separate local or municipal lodging tax applies in Millinocket. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Millinocket’s April 2026 occupancy of 36.0% is well below the U.S. STR median of 55%, consistent with April being the spring shoulder month between the winter snowmobile season and the summer hiking season. The 2025 full-year regional occupancy of 48.8% also falls below the national median.
ADR at $175 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately $220, reflecting the remote Maine wilderness destination nature of the market. RevPAR at $63.02 is well below the $96.25 that U.S. median occupancy of 55% at this ADR would imply ($175 x 0.55), because April’s 36.0% occupancy is well short of the national median. At peak summer levels (July-August, approximately 67% occupancy), RevPAR approaches $136 to $137, which remains below U.S. median due to the lower ADR base.
Among active property managers in the regional market, Morton & Furbish Vacation Rentals leads with 332 listings and 4,697 reviews (rating 4.78). Vacasa holds 123 listings with 4,683 reviews (rating 4.62). Evolve manages 99 listings (2,736 reviews, 4.68 rating). North Woods Maine Cabins Inc operates 70 listings (1,117 reviews, 4.84 rating). Sugarloaf Rentals LLC holds 63 listings (558 reviews, 4.89 rating). The top five account for 687 of approximately 6,065 regional listings (11.3%).
The dual-season profile (summer hiking, winter snowmobiling) is unusual among Maine STR markets and provides a demand hedge captured in the seasonality score of 67.0 out of 100.
Frequently Asked Questions About Millinocket, Maine
What is the average daily rate for Millinocket, ME area short-term rentals?
What is the typical revenue for a Millinocket, ME area STR?
Does the Millinocket, ME area have a winter STR season?
What permits are required for STRs in the Town of Millinocket, ME?
What taxes apply to Millinocket, ME short-term rentals?
Who are the top property managers in the Millinocket/North Maine Woods STR market?
What are the main visitor attractions in the Millinocket, ME area?
Analyze Millinocket Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Millinocket.
Free Millinocket STR Calculator →
