Alton Bay, New Hampshire Short-Term Rental Market
Alton Bay, NH STRs averaged $268/night at 33.6% occupancy in April 2026, with peak summer months reaching 71.9% occupancy on Lake Winnipesaukee.
Quick Answer: Alton Bay, New Hampshire is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the New Hampshire Lakes Region market area is 63%. average monthly revenue in the New Hampshire Lakes Region market area is $7,735. average daily rate in the New Hampshire Lakes Region market area is $457. the top operator in the New Hampshire Lakes Region market area is Vacasa with 97 listings. market score is 46/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the New Hampshire Lakes Region regional market, which includes Alton Bay. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Alton Bay.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Alton Bay is a resort village within the Town of Alton, New Hampshire, situated at the southern tip of Lake Winnipesaukee, one of the largest lakes in the northeastern United States. The town has a population of approximately 5,894 and the broader Lake Winnipesaukee region draws an estimated 1.5 million or more visitors annually. Alton Bay is a seasonal tourism destination with summer as the dominant season, supplemented by winter activity including the Alton Bay Ice Runway (one of the few FAA-recognized ice runways in the country), snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
The STR market is predominantly whole-property rentals: entire-place listings account for 2,571 of approximately 2,646 total listings, with 74 private rooms and 1 shared room. The bedroom distribution is centered on mid-size properties, with three-bedroom (775) and two-bedroom (620) being the most common, followed by one-bedroom (542), four-bedroom (447), and five-bedroom-plus (260). Cross-listed properties are the most common channel approach, with 1,323 listings appearing on both Airbnb and VRBO, 871 Airbnb-only, and 452 VRBO-only.
In April 2026, a shoulder month, the market posted an average daily rate of $268, occupancy of 33.6%, and RevPAR of $89.78. Year over year, occupancy declined 6.8% and revenue increased 1.9%, reflecting ADR growth of 4.3% that more than offset the occupancy dip. The market’s investability score of 71.8 and regulation score of 70.5 reflect a manageable but increasingly structured permitting environment.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 34% |
| Feb | 44% |
| Mar | 29% |
| Apr | 38% |
| May | 46% |
| Jun | 58% |
| Jul | 72% |
| Aug | 70% |
| Sep | 38% |
| Oct | 42% |
| Nov | 30% |
| Dec | 43% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Alton Bay are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in New Hampshire Lakes Region market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the New Hampshire Lakes Region market as a whole, which includes Alton Bay, so these counts are not Alton Bay-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 97 | 2,983 | ★ 4.49 |
| 2 | Break Away | 90 | 501 | ★ 4.69 |
| 3 | Evolve | 84 | 3,149 | ★ 4.67 |
| 4 | At The Lake Vacation Rentals | 66 | 667 | ★ 4.62 |
| 5 | Vacanza | 31 | 775 | ★ 4.54 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Alton Bay?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Alton Bay 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 | 32.9% |
| vrbo | 17.1% |
| both | 50% |
Booking Insights
Booking-window and length-of-stay analysis for Alton Bay — 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
Alton Bay operates under Town of Alton short-term rental regulations adopted September 12, 2023. Every STR must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit from the Town of Alton Building Department before operating. Existing operators were required to obtain permits by April 1, 2024, and enforcement began with fines for unpermitted rentals starting January 1, 2024.
The permit fee is paid by cash or check only and is not published in the available data. Investors should contact the Building Department (603-875-2164) or Planning Department (603-875-2162) to confirm the current fee and renewal cadence.
Properties must comply with zoning, setback, health, and environmental requirements. The application requires a plot plan showing utilities including septic, wells, and drainage. Environmental protections near Lake Winnipesaukee shorelines and wetlands apply. There is no published nightly cap or annual night limit.
At the state level, New Hampshire imposes an 8.5% Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax on stays of 185 days or fewer, applied to the full reservation price including fees. Operators must register with the NH Department of Revenue Administration regardless of booking frequency. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit this tax automatically, but registration is still required of operators. There is no owner-occupancy requirement and no primary-residence requirement. Enforcement is characterized as moderate.
Market Comparison
The US median STR occupancy is approximately 55% and the national median ADR is approximately $220. Alton Bay’s April 2026 occupancy of 33.6% falls below the national median, as expected for a shoulder month in a highly seasonal lake market. The ADR of $268 exceeds the national median, reflecting the area’s lakefront and vacation-home character.
The market’s overall score of 45.6 out of 100 reflects lower rental demand (48.2) and moderate revenue growth (69.8) compared to larger STR markets. The investability score of 71.8 and regulation score of 70.5 are the stronger sub-scores, indicating that acquisition economics and the regulatory environment are more favorable than the demand metrics alone suggest.
Among top operators, Vacasa leads by listing count with 97 listings and 2,983 reviews at a 4.49 average rating. Break Away follows with 90 listings and 501 reviews at 4.69. Evolve holds 84 listings with 3,149 reviews at 4.67, the highest review count among the top five operators. At The Lake Vacation Rentals manages 66 listings with 667 reviews at 4.62. Vacanza rounds out the top five at 31 listings and 775 reviews at 4.54. The mix of national operators (Vacasa, Evolve) and regional specialists (Break Away, At The Lake, Vacanza) reflects a market that supports both models.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alton Bay, New Hampshire
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