Jefferson, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Jefferson, NC STRs averaged $246/night at 37.1% occupancy in April 2026 with a market score of 89 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Jefferson, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Boone market area is 50%. average monthly revenue in the Boone market area is $3,568. average daily rate in the Boone market area is $282. the top operator in the Boone market area is Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals with 753 listings. market score is 89/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Boone regional market, which includes Jefferson. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Jefferson.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Jefferson is the seat of Ashe County in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge High Country, sitting at roughly 2,900 feet elevation. The STR market serves a mix of summer outdoor recreationists, fall foliage visitors, and winter Christmas-tree agritourism travelers. In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $246 and occupancy of 37.1%, generating average monthly revenue of $2,517 per listing. RevPAR was $91.10.
The listing mix is almost entirely entire-place rentals: 7,612 entire-place units versus 131 private rooms. By bedroom count, 2-bedroom properties are the largest segment at 2,298 units, followed by 3-bedroom (2,200), 1-bedroom (1,427), 4-bedroom (1,242), and 5-bedroom-plus (569). The channel distribution skews heavily toward dual-listed properties: 4,950 appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,966 are Airbnb-only, and 827 are VRBO-only.
The overall market score of 89.46 out of 100 is among the strongest possible readings, driven by high seasonality (86.08) and revenue growth (79.75) scores. Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy dropped 6.49 percentage points while ADR rose 4.68%, resulting in a modest revenue decline of 1.48%. The ADR trajectory indicates rate integrity is holding even as overall utilization normalizes from post-pandemic highs seen in 2021 (56.35% occupancy).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 43% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 35% |
| Apr | 41% |
| May | 42% |
| Jun | 53% |
| Jul | 64% |
| Aug | 55% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 53% |
| Nov | 46% |
| Dec | 50% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Jefferson are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Boone market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Boone market as a whole, which includes Jefferson, so these counts are not Jefferson-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals | 753 | 16,672 | ★ 4.77 |
| 2 | Carolina Cabin Rentals | 478 | 16,022 | ★ 4.65 |
| 3 | Evolve | 315 | 16,846 | ★ 4.74 |
| 4 | Vacasa | 306 | 13,132 | ★ 4.30 |
| 5 | Foscoe Rentals | 142 | 3,407 | ★ 4.85 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Jefferson?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Jefferson 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 | 25.4% |
| vrbo | 10.7% |
| both | 63.9% |
Home Value Trends (Jefferson)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Jefferson 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 Jefferson — 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
Jefferson, NC has no confirmed dedicated STR ordinance. The str_permitted flag is true, no permit requirement was confirmed, and enforcement is rated minimal. Operators appear to be regulated under the town’s general zoning ordinance, which requires a zoning permit for land uses. Prospective hosts should confirm the allowed use in their specific zoning district directly with the Town of Jefferson zoning office.
On taxes, operators must collect North Carolina state and local sales tax (4.75% state plus 2.25% county, totaling 7.00% in Ashe County) plus the Ashe County room occupancy tax of 3%. No owner-occupancy requirement, primary-residence rule, night cap, or local STR license fee was confirmed.
Important distinction: neighboring West Jefferson is a separate town with a materially different regulatory posture. West Jefferson requires a Special Use Permit from the Board of Adjustments for STRs and prohibits them in Low Density Residential zones, with a compliance deadline of December 31, 2023. Those rules do not apply within the Town of Jefferson, but investors acquiring property in the broader area must confirm which jurisdiction governs their specific address.
No recent changes to Jefferson’s STR regulations were noted in the profile data. Given the absence of a specific STR program, regulations could be added. Verify current rules before acquiring.
Market Comparison
The U.S. STR median occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR approximately $220. Jefferson, NC’s April 2026 occupancy of 37.1% is below the national median, but ADR at $246 exceeds it. The below-median occupancy in April reflects seasonal timing: April is historically one of the two slowest months in this mountain market, while summer and fall occupancy (July 63.8%, October 53.5%) run well above national median.
The total market score of 89.46 out of 100 places Jefferson among the higher-rated markets in the database, supported by high seasonality (86.08) and revenue growth (79.75) scores.
The top operators reflect a mix of regional specialists and national platforms. Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals leads with 753 listings and 16,672 reviews at a 4.77 rating. Carolina Cabin Rentals holds second at 478 listings (16,022 reviews, 4.65 rating). Evolve ranks third with 315 listings (16,846 reviews, 4.74), followed by Vacasa with 306 listings (13,132 reviews, 4.30) and Foscoe Rentals with 142 listings (3,407 reviews, 4.85). The top two operators together hold 1,231 listings against a dataset of roughly 7,743 total tracked units.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jefferson, North Carolina
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Jefferson, NC?
What is the typical monthly revenue for an STR in Jefferson, NC?
Do I need a permit to operate an STR in Jefferson, NC?
What is the occupancy rate for Jefferson, NC STRs?
What is the gross yield potential for an STR investment in Jefferson, NC?
When is the peak season for STRs in Jefferson, NC?
Who are the largest STR operators in the Jefferson, NC market?
Analyze Jefferson Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Jefferson.
Free Jefferson STR Calculator →
