Alden, Michigan Short-Term Rental Market
Alden, MI STRs averaged $239/night at 26.6% occupancy in April 2026, with July peak occupancy reaching 75.2% on Torch Lake.
Quick Answer: Alden, Michigan is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Michigan North Coastal market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the Michigan North Coastal market area is $5,178. average daily rate in the Michigan North Coastal market area is $382. the top operator in the Michigan North Coastal market area is Northern Michigan Escapes with 198 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Michigan North Coastal regional market, which includes Alden. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Alden.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Alden is a small lakeside community on the southeast shore of Torch Lake in Antrim County, Michigan. The short-term rental market here is shaped almost entirely by summer lake access. As of April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $239 and an occupancy rate of 26.6%, generating an average monthly revenue of $1,790 per active listing. RevPAR for the month stood at $63.56.
The active listing base spans roughly 4,240 listings across the dimensions tracked, with entire-place rentals making up 98% of supply (4,147 out of 4,240). Private rooms account for only 93 listings. Bedroom mix is fairly even across the 1-to-5-bedroom range: 1-bedroom units represent 898 listings, 2-bedrooms 1,101, 3-bedrooms 1,156, 4-bedrooms 678, and 5-bedroom-plus properties 403. The market skews toward larger vacation homes suitable for groups.
On the channel side, 2,250 listings are active on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,239 are Airbnb-only, and 751 are VRBO-only, reflecting broad dual-platform distribution.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy declined 12.1 percentage points compared to April 2025, while ADR grew 5.5% and overall revenue slipped 2.1%. The full-year 2025 average occupancy was 44.2% with an ADR of $322 and average monthly revenue of $3,793 per listing.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 35% |
| Feb | 43% |
| Mar | 25% |
| Apr | 28% |
| May | 45% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 75% |
| Aug | 67% |
| Sep | 41% |
| Oct | 39% |
| Nov | 24% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Alden are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Michigan North Coastal market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Michigan North Coastal market as a whole, which includes Alden, so these counts are not Alden-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Michigan Escapes | 198 | 9,917 | ★ 4.69 |
| 2 | Evolve | 136 | 6,096 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | Graham Management | 73 | 1,277 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Pure Vacation Management | 61 | 339 | ★ 4.73 |
| 5 | Vacation Properties of Northern Michigan | 45 | 2,209 | ★ 4.89 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Alden?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Alden 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 | 29.2% |
| vrbo | 17.7% |
| both | 53.1% |
Home Value Trends (Alden)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Alden 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 Alden — 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
Alden sits within Helena Township, Antrim County, Michigan. The Helena Township Zoning Ordinance, revised and effective June 28, 2024, explicitly permits short-term vacation rentals by right in R-1 (One-Family Residential), R-2 (One- and Two-Family Residential), Agricultural, and Commercial zoning districts. No township STR permit or registration is required, and there is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
The ordinance defines a short-term vacation rental as a rental of at least 7 days. Rentals shorter than 7 nights are not classified as lawful short-term vacation rentals under the zoning code, which investors should verify against their specific operating model.
The applicable lodging tax is Michigan’s 6% state use tax on stays of 30 days or fewer. Antrim County does not levy a separate county lodging tax. Platforms such as Airbnb typically collect and remit the state use tax automatically.
Enforcement has been described as focused on nuisance and watercraft issues rather than STR restrictions, consistent with the ordinance’s permissive stance. A public hearing was scheduled for June 2025 regarding waterfront property restrictions (Ordinance Section 5.02.02). Investors with lakefront properties should verify the outcome of that hearing, as it may affect waterfront setback or use rules. No permit ban or moratorium is in effect. Michigan House bills in 2024 proposed an additional 6% excise tax on STRs rented more than 14 days per year; those bills had not been enacted as of mid-2025.
Market Comparison
Alden’s full-year 2025 average ADR of $322 sits well above the US STR median ADR of approximately $220, reflecting a premium lake destination with limited supply. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 44.2% runs below the US STR median of roughly 55%, a direct result of the market’s heavy seasonal concentration.
The total market score of 69.7 out of 100 is supported by strong investability (98.1) and revenue growth (89.7) scores, partially offset by moderate rental demand (48.0) and seasonality (44.7) scores. The regulation score of 72.3 reflects the permissive Helena Township framework.
Property management is relatively consolidated. Northern Michigan Escapes leads the market with 198 listings and 9,917 reviews at a 4.69 rating. Evolve holds 136 listings with 6,096 reviews at a 4.71 rating. Graham Management manages 73 listings with a 4.74 rating. Together, the top three operators account for approximately 407 tracked listings. Vacation Properties of Northern Michigan, ranked fifth with 45 listings, carries the highest rating at 4.89 across 2,209 reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alden, Michigan
What is the average daily rate for Alden, MI short-term rentals?
What occupancy rate can I expect for an Alden STR?
How much revenue does a typical Alden short-term rental generate?
Is renting on Torch Lake legal in Alden?
What is the best time of year to rent an Alden vacation property?
Who are the top property managers in Alden, MI?
How far in advance do guests book Alden vacation rentals?
Analyze Alden Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Alden.
Free Alden STR Calculator →
