Saco, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Saco Bay STRs earned $422 ADR, 47.2% occupancy and $5,285 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Saco, Maine is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Maine Beaches market area is 47%. average monthly revenue in the Maine Beaches market area is $5,285. average daily rate in the Maine Beaches market area is $422. the top operator in the Maine Beaches market area is Vacasa with 156 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Maine Beaches regional market, which includes Saco. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saco.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Saco, Maine, a coastal city of 20,819 residents in York County, using performance data for the Saco Bay STR market, which Saco shares with neighboring Old Orchard Beach. Every performance figure below describes that shared Saco Bay market rather than Saco alone. Bedroom, channel and listing type counts, along with top operator names, are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Saco, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the average daily rate across all listings was $422 and occupancy was 47.2%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $5,285. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 5.8%, ADR is up 12.0% and revenue is up 9.3%, so rate growth is carrying most of the gain. The September reading is the shoulder season after the summer peak: the seasonal September average is 48.1% occupancy at a $315 ADR, so this September ran well above its usual rate level.
Over a longer window the market has repriced upward. Average yearly ADR rose from $228 in 2017 to $342 in 2025, and the 2026 year to date figure through September is $371. Occupancy peaked at 60.2% in 2021, eased to 51.4% in 2025, and stands at 53.3% for 2026 so far. Average monthly revenue was $4,533 in 2025 and is $5,004 across the first nine months of 2026.
The visitor draw is concentrated in summer. Funtown Splashtown USA, Ferry Beach State Park and the Camp Ellis beach neighborhood anchor demand from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with visitors coming mostly from New England and Quebec. No official city level annual visitor count is published. Investors should read this as a strongly seasonal beach market where July and August do most of the work, and where a short term rental license is required.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 49% |
| Mar | 46% |
| Apr | 50% |
| May | 52% |
| Jun | 66% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 79% |
| Sep | 48% |
| Oct | 46% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 42% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Saco are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Maine Beaches market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Maine Beaches market as a whole, which includes Saco, so these counts are not Saco-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 156 | 7,738 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | Evolve | 86 | 2,963 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | Salt & Shine Vacation Rentals | 60 | 981 | ★ 4.88 |
| 4 | Coastline Vacation Rentals | 55 | 1,136 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 51 | 784 | ★ 4.88 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Saco?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saco 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 | 30.4% |
| vrbo | 18.8% |
| both | 50.7% |
Home Value Trends (Saco)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saco 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 Saco — 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 Saco, but a license is required. The city regulates them mainly through its Seasonal Property Rental ordinance, which covers a defined coastal zone around Camp Ellis: the area east of Seaside Avenue and Camp Ellis Avenue, plus land within 400 feet west of the centerline of those streets.
Owners renting a dwelling in that zone for periods of six days up to four months need a Seasonal Property Rental License, issued by the Code Enforcement Officer and renewed annually. The permit fee is not published in the available research. Rentals in the zone must be for at least six days, which effectively blocks nightly stays there. Each rental period is limited to a single occupancy group, and units may not be sublet.
Licensing requires passing Fire Code, Building Code and Life Safety Code inspections by the Fire Department and Code Enforcement Office. Applicants must have fewer than three documented complaints in the prior year and be current on personal property taxes and city fees, such as sewer.
There is no owner occupancy requirement and no primary residence requirement. No annual night cap is published. Maine charges a 9% lodging tax on rentals under 28 days, and owners must register with Maine Revenue Services and collect it. Saco does not levy a separate local occupancy tax. Enforcement is driven by complaints and inspections and is considered moderate.
Outside the Camp Ellis zone, short term rentals fall under general zoning rules. Local reporting indicates the city has discussed broader short term rental rules, but no citywide ordinance appears to have been finalized. Confirm the current status with Saco Code Enforcement before buying.
Market Comparison
The Saco Bay market is a high rate, strongly seasonal market. The all listings ADR was $422 and occupancy was 47.2% in September 2026.
The occupancy level is mostly a seasonal effect. The market runs 79.0% in July and 79.4% in August, but falls to 34.6% in January and 36.6% in November. A market with two very strong months and several weak ones averages out lower on an annual basis even while it earns strong nightly rates. The 2026 year to date occupancy is 53.3% and the 2026 year to date ADR is $371.
Revenue per listing is where the rate advantage shows. Average monthly revenue of $5,285 in September 2026 and a seasonal annual total of $44,728 reflect the premium nightly rates, partly offset by the high cost of entry, with a typical Saco home value of $533,454.
The market score data included with this area rates revenue growth at 79.1 and investability at 67.9, against seasonality at 50.7. Operator rankings are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Saco, so this profile omits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saco, Maine
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