Bristol, New Hampshire Short-Term Rental Market
Bristol, NH STRs at Newfound Lake averaged $188/night at 42.2% occupancy in April 2026, with peak summer revenue reaching $3,960/month.
Quick Answer: Bristol, New Hampshire is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Vermont/New Hampshire Area market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Vermont/New Hampshire Area market area is $4,798. average daily rate in the Vermont/New Hampshire Area market area is $277. the top operator in the Vermont/New Hampshire Area market area is Evolve with 179 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Vermont/New Hampshire Area regional market, which includes Bristol. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bristol.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bristol, New Hampshire sits at the southern end of Newfound Lake, one of the cleanest spring-fed lakes in the region and the primary demand driver for short-term rentals here. As of April 2026, the market reported an average daily rate of $188.16 and an occupancy rate of 42.2%, yielding a RevPAR of $79.45. Year-over-year, occupancy declined 4.39 percentage points while ADR grew 5.61%, resulting in a net revenue decline of 1.42%. This pattern reflects a shift toward higher-rated but fewer booked nights rather than a broad softening in demand.
The market holds approximately 8,209 active listing-channel relationships: 4,480 on Airbnb, 713 on VRBO, and 3,016 listed on both platforms. Entire-place listings dominate at 7,256 units (88.4% of the listing pool), with private rooms at 939 and shared rooms at 14. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units are most common at 2,996, followed by 2-bedrooms (2,032), 3-bedrooms (1,736), 4-bedrooms (929), and 5-bedroom-plus properties (511). The market’s overall score is 69.3 out of 100, with a revenue growth sub-score of 75.6 and an investability score of 77.5.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 46% |
| Feb | 57% |
| Mar | 45% |
| Apr | 47% |
| May | 51% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 67% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 54% |
| Nov | 43% |
| Dec | 53% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bristol are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Vermont/New Hampshire Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Vermont/New Hampshire Area market as a whole, which includes Bristol, so these counts are not Bristol-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 179 | 7,432 | ★ 4.68 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 142 | 5,522 | ★ 4.43 |
| 3 | Quechee Lakes Rentals | 123 | 2,483 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Seacoast & Summit Vacation Rentals | 54 | 3,451 | ★ 4.81 |
| 5 | Beachside Vacation Rentals | 31 | 1,112 | ★ 4.20 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bristol?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bristol 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 | 54.6% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 36.7% |
Home Value Trends (Bristol)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bristol 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 Bristol — 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
Bristol, NH has no local short-term rental ordinance, registration requirement, or permit cap. The town’s zoning code does not define or prohibit STRs in most districts, so operators are governed primarily by general zoning, life-safety, and septic compliance requirements. No owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate applies.
The principal legal obligation is at the state level. Every operator must obtain a New Hampshire Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax Operator License from the NH Department of Revenue Administration (Form CD-3), applied for at least 30 days before starting rental activity. Operators must collect and remit the 8.5% NH Meals and Rooms tax on gross rental receipts, post the license at the property, and include the license number in any advertisement or online listing. NH Meals and Rooms licenses expire June 30 of each odd-numbered year, making them biennial renewals. New Hampshire imposes no additional local lodging tax, so the all-in lodging tax for Bristol STRs is 8.5%.
A 2024 NH Supreme Court decision addressed municipalities’ ability to regulate STRs through existing zoning frameworks. Prospective investors should confirm the current ordinance status with the Bristol Land Use Department before purchasing. Enforcement is characterized as minimal.
Market Comparison
Bristol’s 42.2% occupancy in April 2026 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, though this reflects seasonal timing (April is one of the market’s weakest months). The market’s annual 2025 average occupancy of 52.1% is closer to but still below the national median. The ADR of $188.16 is below the U.S. median of approximately $220, though the luxury tier at $368/night and professional management tier at $227/night demonstrate the market’s rate upside.
The professional management landscape is led by Evolve with 179 listings and a 4.68 average rating across 7,432 reviews. Vacasa operates 142 listings with a 4.43 rating. Quechee Lakes Rentals, a regional operator, manages 123 listings at a 4.76 average rating. The top three operators together hold 444 listings. Seacoast and Summit Vacation Rentals holds 54 listings at 4.81. The revenue growth sub-score of 75.6 indicates the market is trending positively on a multi-year basis despite the recent occupancy softness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bristol, New Hampshire
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