Cashiers, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
North Carolina Mountains STRs averaged $210/night at 44.3% occupancy in April 2026 across 12,300+ active listings.
Quick Answer: Cashiers, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North Carolina Mtns market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $3,793. average daily rate in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $251. the top operator in the North Carolina Mtns market area is Evolve with 723 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the North Carolina Mtns regional market, which includes Cashiers. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Cashiers.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The North Carolina Mountains market, anchored by resort communities such as Cashiers on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, is one of the largest mountain STR markets in the Southeast. More than 12,300 active listings are on record, with 12,067 entire-place units (97.5% of supply) and 303 private rooms. The bedroom distribution is relatively balanced: 2-bedroom (3,814), 1-bedroom (2,991), 3-bedroom (3,371), 4-bedroom (1,418), and 5-bedroom (761). April 2026 data shows an average daily rate of $210, average occupancy of 44.3%, and RevPAR of $93. Monthly revenue per listing was $2,508. Year-over-year, occupancy improved 3.2 percentage points, ADR edged up 0.37%, and revenue grew 5.7%. Channel distribution shows 7,543 listings on both Airbnb and VRBO, with 3,366 Airbnb-only and 1,461 VRBO-only. The overall market score is 70.1 out of 100, with investability (81.0) and seasonality (71.0) among the higher scores — the latter reflecting that this market sees demand across two distinct peak seasons rather than just summer.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 41% |
| Mar | 47% |
| Apr | 47% |
| May | 49% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 56% |
| Sep | 49% |
| Oct | 61% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 46% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Cashiers are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North Carolina Mtns market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North Carolina Mtns market as a whole, which includes Cashiers, so these counts are not Cashiers-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 723 | 35,109 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 454 | 17,037 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 119 | 3,777 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 415 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,400 | ★ 4.65 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Cashiers?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Cashiers 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 | 27.2% |
| vrbo | 11.8% |
| both | 61% |
Home Value Trends (Cashiers)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Cashiers 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 Cashiers — 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
Cashiers sits in unincorporated Jackson County, NC, so no municipal STR ordinance applies. Operators must register with the Jackson County Finance Office (828-631-2251) before renting and collect and remit occupancy tax. Effective July 1, 2025, Jackson County raised its occupancy tax from 4% to 6%, adding an estimated $1.25 million in annual county revenue. The 6% occupancy tax applies to properties rented 15 or more days per calendar year; stays of 90 or more consecutive days are exempt. Combined with the NC state sales tax rate of 6.75% (4.75% state plus 2% Jackson County local), the total tax burden is approximately 12.75% of gross rental receipts. No county-wide STR permit beyond occupancy tax registration is required for unincorporated areas. NC General Statute 160D-1207(c) prevents the county from imposing a mandatory registration permit separate from tax registration. No owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on maximum rental nights per year applies at the county level. The regulation score for this market is 74.2 out of 100, and enforcement is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks (approximately 55% median occupancy, $220 median ADR), the NC Mountains market runs below national median on occupancy (44.3%) and near the median on ADR ($210). The dual-peak seasonal pattern differentiates it from single-peak coastal and ski markets. Revenue growth year-over-year was a positive 5.7%. The professional management landscape is led by national operators: Evolve holds 723 listings with a 4.76 average rating across 35,109 reviews, followed by Vacasa with 454 listings (4.47 rating, 17,037 reviews), Yonder with 119 listings (4.71 rating), Rumbling Bald Resort with 112 listings (4.35 rating), and Bryson City Cabin Rentals with 112 listings (4.65 rating). Evolve’s dominance at 723 listings represents about 6% of entire-place inventory. The market is less concentrated than the Outer Banks, with more room for independent operators to compete on quality and positioning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cashiers, North Carolina
What is the average daily rate for NC Mountains short-term rentals?
What is the typical monthly revenue for an NC Mountains STR?
What are the peak seasons for NC Mountains short-term rentals?
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Cashiers or Jackson County, NC?
What is the gross rental yield for a Cashiers-area investment property?
Who are the largest property managers in the NC Mountains market?
How does the NC Mountains STR market compare to other mountain destinations?
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