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 is 42%. average monthly revenue is $2,125. average daily rate is $188. the top operator is Evolve with 179 listings. market score is 69/100 (grade C).
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46% | $200 | $2,585 |
| Feb | 57% | $214 | $2,927 |
| Mar | 45% | $184 | $2,403 |
| Apr | 47% | $160 | $1,964 |
| May | 51% | $172 | $2,048 |
| Jun | 60% | $214 | $2,924 |
| Jul | 68% | $218 | $3,839 |
| Aug | 68% | $222 | $3,960 |
| Sep | 51% | $197 | $2,683 |
| Oct | 54% | $194 | $2,858 |
| Nov | 43% | $164 | $2,030 |
| Dec | 53% | $192 | $2,412 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Bristol
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,996 |
| 2 bed | 2,032 |
| 3 bed | 1,736 |
| 4 bed | 929 |
| 5 bed | 511 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $203 |
| Luxury | $368 |
| Professionally Managed | $227 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,039 |
| Entire Place | $2,276 |
| House | $2,266 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 54.6% |
| vrbo | 8.7% |
| both | 36.7% |
Investment Analysis
Bristol’s average STR generated $2,125 in monthly revenue as of April 2026. Entire-place listings averaged $2,276/month and houses averaged $2,266/month. Apartments averaged $2,039/month, close to the all-listing average. The tighter spread between segment types here reflects the lake-centric nature of demand, where most guests prioritize full-property access regardless of property type.
The professionally managed ADR of $226.51 is $38 above the market average of $188.16, a 20% premium. The luxury ADR of $368.34 is $180 above the market average, indicating a meaningful high-end segment. No Zillow housing data is available for this area at the time of this report, so a purchase-price-based yield calculation cannot be provided.
On the YoY trend, annual average revenue per listing has grown from $1,993/month in 2019 to $3,207/month in 2025 (2025 annual average), with a partial pullback in early 2026 matching the seasonal softness pattern. The 2025 annual ADR of $230 and 2024 average of $223 suggest ongoing rate growth, though occupancy has compressed from a 2021 peak of 63.4% to 52.1% in 2025.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Bristol STR guests book an average of 45 days in advance and stay an average of 4.05 nights. The 45-day lead time provides operators roughly six weeks of pricing runway before arrival, which is particularly valuable during the compressed summer peak when demand spikes around July 4th and school-calendar windows. A 4-night average stay suggests a mix of long-weekend and week-stay visitors consistent with a lake vacation market.
For operators, the 4-night average reduces turnover frequency and housekeeping costs. Setting 3- to 4-night minimum stays during the June through August peak window can help capture the full-week and long-weekend visitor without leaving short gaps. Outside the peak, minimum stay flexibility will support higher overall occupancy in the shoulder months of May, September, and October.
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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