Wells, Maine Short-Term Rental Market
Wells ME's southern York County area STR market: $489 ADR, 77.0% occupancy, $9,606 monthly revenue in August 2026.
Quick Answer: Wells, 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 152 listings. market score is 50/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Maine Beaches regional market, which includes Wells. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Wells.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Wells is a coastal town in York County, Maine, with a year-round population of 11,314. StaySTRA tracks short-term rental performance for Wells at a shared level for the southern York County area. That group has six towns: Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Sanford, Shapleigh, Wells and York. Every performance figure on this page describes the southern York County area STR market, not Wells alone. In August 2026 the southern York County area STR market averaged an ADR of $489.24 at 76.99% occupancy. The average listing earned $9,606 for the month. Compared with August 2025, ADR rose 9.4% and monthly revenue rose 7.8%, while occupancy slipped 1.7%. August is the busiest month of the year, so these figures sit near the seasonal peak. Entire-place listings averaged $9,848 for the month and houses averaged $10,856. Apartments averaged $7,159. Annual averages show growth in rates. In 2025 the area averaged 51.4% occupancy, a $342 ADR and $4,532 in monthly revenue. In 2024 it averaged 51.8% occupancy, a $330 ADR and $4,339 in monthly revenue. Annual occupancy eased from 60.15% in 2021 to 51.35% in 2025, while annual ADR rose from $283 to $342 over the same span. Wells draws summer visitors to seven miles of sandy beaches, including Wells Beach and Crescent Beach. Visitors also use the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. Listing counts, bedroom mix, booking channel mix and listing type mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Wells, so this profile omits them. No annual visitor count is published for Wells.
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 Wells 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 Wells, so these counts are not Wells-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 152 | 7,411 | ★ 4.49 |
| 2 | Evolve | 86 | 2,952 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | Salt & Shine Vacation Rentals | 60 | 980 | ★ 4.88 |
| 4 | Coastline Vacation Rentals | 55 | 1,133 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Grand Welcome | 51 | 777 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Wells?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Wells 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 | 18.9% |
| both | 50.7% |
Home Value Trends (Wells)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Wells 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 Wells — 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 town-wide in Wells, subject to an annual Short-Term Rental License issued by the Town. The ordinance defines a short-term rental as any dwelling unit or portion of one rented for fewer than 30 days to transient guests. Hotels and inns are excluded and do not need the license. Owners apply through a third-party online portal. New applications are reviewed monthly by the Board of Selectmen, and renewals are processed each April. The license fee is not published online. Applicants confirm it at application or through the Code Enforcement Office at 207-646-5187. A new Code Enforcement fee schedule took effect February 5, 2025. Applicants must also confirm zoning eligibility with the Wells Planning Department. The license is not a finding that a property meets building, land use, fire or life safety codes, and owners must maintain that compliance themselves. Operators must post the license on site and follow the length-of-stay, guest-count and parking rules in the ordinance. The Town enforces through notice and cure. Owners who receive a notice must respond and correct the violation to avoid court action. Wells sets no cap on nights per year and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Maine charges a 9% state lodging tax on short-term rentals, and Wells adds no local occupancy tax. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
A common benchmark for the US STR market is a median occupancy near 55% and a median ADR near $220. In August 2026 the southern York County area ran at 76.99% occupancy, about 22 points above that benchmark. Its ADR of $489.24 was more than double the benchmark. August is the peak month, so the year-round picture is weaker. The 2025 annual average was 51.4% occupancy, below the benchmark, with a $342 ADR, well above it. Rates are the strength of this market. August 2026 ADR rose 9.4% from a year earlier. Property manager and operator data is tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Wells, so this profile omits the top operators and their market share. Buyers who want a manager should ask for Wells-specific performance history and license status before signing. Wells requires an annual license with monthly approvals, a process that many markets do not have.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wells, Maine
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