Hendersonville, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Hendersonville's Western North Carolina STR market averaged $240 ADR, 48.3% occupancy and $3,198 monthly revenue in September 2026.
Quick Answer: Hendersonville, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North Carolina Mtns market area is 48%. average monthly revenue in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $3,198. average daily rate in the North Carolina Mtns market area is $240. the top operator in the North Carolina Mtns market area is Evolve with 725 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the North Carolina Mtns regional market, which includes Hendersonville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Hendersonville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
This profile covers Hendersonville, North Carolina, using September 2026 data. Performance numbers describe the Western North Carolina mountains STR market, a region that includes Hendersonville and other nearby towns, so they reflect regional performance rather than Hendersonville alone. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Hendersonville, so this profile omits them.
In September 2026 the Western North Carolina STR market recorded an average daily rate of $240 and occupancy of 48.3%. Average monthly revenue per listing was $3,198. Entire-home rentals averaged $242 per night, with houses earning $3,372 a month and apartments $2,341.
Year over year, occupancy rose 11.3%, ADR rose 3.4% and revenue rose 15.2%. The longer record adds context. Annual occupancy peaked at 60.7% in 2020 and 60.4% in 2021, then eased to 47.7% in 2024 and 48.4% in 2025. The 2026 year to date figure through September is 47.6% occupancy at a $226 ADR and $2,991 in monthly revenue. ADR has climbed from $187 in 2017 to $226 in 2026, so pricing has held up while occupancy normalized after the pandemic surge.
Hendersonville is a mountain town in Henderson County, about 30 minutes south of Asheville, with a population of 15,656. Henderson County tourism generates roughly $325 million in annual visitor economic impact. Demand draws on waterfall hiking at DuPont State Recreational Forest, fall foliage, the county’s apple harvest from August through October, the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, Flat Rock Playhouse and a walkable historic Main Street. Retirees and second-home owners add a steady visitor base outside the summer peak.
The September gain against last year is notable given the softer occupancy trend since 2021. Investors should treat the regional figures as a guide to market conditions, then check them against local comps before underwriting a specific property.
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 Hendersonville 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 Hendersonville, so these counts are not Hendersonville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 725 | 35,200 | ★ 4.76 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 463 | 17,166 | ★ 4.47 |
| 3 | Yonder | 118 | 3,770 | ★ 4.71 |
| 4 | Rumbling Bald Resort | 112 | 412 | ★ 4.35 |
| 5 | Bryson City Cabin Rentals | 112 | 1,406 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Hendersonville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Hendersonville 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 (Hendersonville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Hendersonville 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 Hendersonville — 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
Hendersonville is one of the more permissive STR markets in Western North Carolina. Short-term rentals are permitted, and enforcement severity is rated minimal. Neither the City of Hendersonville nor Henderson County requires an STR permit, license or registration. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, no primary-residence requirement and no cap on rental nights per year.
The local zoning ordinance defines a short-term or vacation rental as a dwelling rented for fewer than 30 days. STRs are generally allowed across residential and commercial zones without special-use permits. North Carolina state law, including rulings such as Schroeder v. City of Wilmington, limits the ability of local governments to require rental owners to obtain registration or permits, which is a key reason local controls are light.
The main compliance obligation is tax. Operators must register with and remit the Henderson County Room Occupancy Tax, which rose from 5% to 6% effective September 1, 2025, applying to reporting periods beginning October 1, 2025. In addition, North Carolina state and local sales tax, roughly 6.75% to 7.5%, applies to rentals of fewer than 90 continuous days, on the listing price including cleaning and guest fees.
No new STR permitting requirements have been adopted by the city or county. Investors should still confirm HOA or subdivision covenants and verify current rules with the City Planning and Zoning office and the county Finance department, since regulations can change.
Market Comparison
The Western North Carolina STR market in September 2026 ran at 48.3% occupancy and a $240 ADR. The 2026 year to date figures are 47.6% occupancy and a $226 ADR.
Higher rates with lower occupancy are typical of a destination with strong summer and fall peaks and quiet winters. July occupancy is 67.6%, June and October are 60.6%, and August is 55.9%. January at 32.2% and February at 40.7% pull the annual average down.
The direction is favorable. Occupancy rose 11.3% year over year in September 2026, ADR rose 3.4% and revenue rose 15.2%.
Top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Hendersonville, so this profile omits them. Investors comparing Hendersonville with other mountain markets should look at both occupancy and ADR, since a lower occupancy can still produce solid revenue when rates are high.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hendersonville, North Carolina
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