Mars Hill, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Mars Hill, NC STRs averaged $218/night at 55.2% occupancy in April 2026, with revenue up 14.7% year-over-year.
Quick Answer: Mars Hill, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 62%. average monthly revenue is $4,141. average daily rate is $248. the top operator is Greybeard Rentals with 162 listings. market score is 93/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Asheville regional market, which includes Mars Hill. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Mars Hill.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Mars Hill is a small mountain college town in Madison County, North Carolina, located approximately 17 miles north of Asheville within the Asheville metropolitan area, at an elevation of roughly 2,330 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The STR market encompasses 6,999 active listings across the Madison County corridor, with tourism driven by outdoor recreation, Blue Ridge scenery, and proximity to Asheville.
In April 2026, the all-listings ADR reached $218 with occupancy at 55.2% and RevPAR at $120. By listing type, 6,645 listings (94.9%) are entire-place rentals and 352 (5.0%) are private rooms. By bedroom, 1-bedroom properties lead at 2,593 (37.1% of the bedroom total), followed by 2-bedroom (1,682, 24.0%), 3-bedroom (1,497, 21.4%), 4-bedroom (671, 9.6%), and 5-bedroom-plus (552, 7.9%). Cross-listed properties lead channel distribution at 3,744 listings; Airbnb-only accounts for 2,880 and VRBO-only for 375.
Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy grew 5.2%, ADR grew 1.8%, and revenue grew 14.7%. Annual averages peaked in 2021 at 66.0% occupancy and $3,498 average monthly revenue. By 2025, the market averaged 54.3% occupancy and $3,261 revenue, recovering after a 2023 trough. The Apivex composite market score is 93.1 out of 100, one of the higher scores in the database, with revenue growth at 91.0, seasonality at 86.7, regulation at 74.6, and rental demand at 71.2.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39% | $171 | $2,049 |
| Feb | 47% | $172 | $2,040 |
| Mar | 56% | $183 | $2,859 |
| Apr | 56% | $186 | $2,883 |
| May | 57% | $192 | $2,988 |
| Jun | 64% | $207 | $3,551 |
| Jul | 68% | $201 | $3,825 |
| Aug | 61% | $195 | $3,430 |
| Sep | 58% | $190 | $2,973 |
| Oct | 63% | $204 | $3,269 |
| Nov | 55% | $196 | $2,764 |
| Dec | 55% | $196 | $2,870 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Mars Hill
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greybeard Rentals | 162 | 3,953 | ★ 4.86 |
| 2 | Evolve | 155 | 9,200 | ★ 4.79 |
| 3 | Yonder | 143 | 8,226 | ★ 4.84 |
| 4 | Towns Property Management | 131 | 17,027 | ★ 4.82 |
| 5 | Carolina Mornings | 119 | 6,588 | ★ 4.80 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Mars Hill?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,593 |
| 2 bed | 1,682 |
| 3 bed | 1,497 |
| 4 bed | 671 |
| 5 bed | 552 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $256 |
| Luxury | $426 |
| Professionally Managed | $360 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $3,080 |
| Entire Place | $4,270 |
| House | $4,510 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 41.1% |
| vrbo | 5.4% |
| both | 53.5% |
Investment Analysis
No housing snapshot data is available for this market area. Investors should obtain current property pricing from Madison County assessor records or local brokers in the Mars Hill and Asheville corridor.
April 2026 monthly revenue averaged $3,302 per active listing, which annualizes to approximately $39,624. The 2025 full-year monthly average of $3,261 annualizes to approximately $39,132.
Tier differentiation in April 2026: luxury listings averaged $380/night against the market’s $218 all-listings ADR, a 74.2% premium. Professionally managed properties averaged $315/night, a 44.3% premium. Entire-home listings averaged $225/night, a 3.1% premium.
Revenue by property type: houses led at $3,519/month, entire-place listings averaged $3,396, and apartments averaged $2,746, approximately 16.8% below the all-listing average.
The 14.7% year-over-year revenue gain in April 2026 signals strong market momentum. The revenue growth score of 91.0 and composite market score of 93.1 position this as a high-performing Appalachian mountain market. The 44.3% professionally managed ADR premium suggests active management adds meaningful rate upside in this market relative to self-managed listings.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Mars Hill area STR guests book an average of 45 days ahead and stay approximately 3.7 nights. The 45-day lead time is longer than many drive markets and consistent with a planned destination where Asheville-area visitors and regional travelers book mountain retreats well in advance, particularly for peak weeks.
The 3.7-night average stay reflects a mix of weekend escapes (2 to 3 nights) and full-week mountain vacations. At this stay length, a fully booked July property would turn over approximately 8 times in the month.
For pricing strategy, the 45-day lead window means peak-season pricing should be set 6 to 8 weeks before the target date to capture the primary booking window. July holiday weekends (Fourth of July, Labor Day) should be priced by late May. October foliage weekends are among the most price-sensitive dates in the Asheville MSA; premium rates for late September through mid-October should be set as early as August, since foliage travelers often plan weeks ahead.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals in the Mars Hill area operate under a two-tier regulatory framework. In unincorporated Madison County, operators renting for fewer than 30 days must obtain a Vacation Rental Certificate from the Madison County Planning and Zoning Department. The certificate process includes an inspection checklist and tiered rules for properties with more than three rental units. A permit cost could not be confirmed from available sources.
Within the Town of Mars Hill municipal limits, the town’s own Zoning Ordinance (effective June 7, 2021) governs land use. There is no blanket STR ban within town limits, but permitted use depends on the parcel’s zoning district, and residential areas may limit or condition rentals. Operators must confirm their parcel’s zoning with the Town of Mars Hill Planning and Zoning Department (828-689-2301) before listing.
Lodging revenue is subject to North Carolina state and local sales tax plus the Madison County room occupancy tax (authorized at up to 3% under S.L. 1997-102, which remains the statutory ceiling). Operators should confirm the current levied rate with the Madison County Tourism Development Authority. No state or local maximum nights-per-year cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence requirement was identified. Enforcement is rated moderate: the certificate and inspection requirements are enforced administratively.
Market Comparison
Mars Hill performs near national ADR benchmarks while delivering above-national occupancy in peak months. The US STR median occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR approximately $220. Mars Hill’s April 2026 ADR of $218 is 0.8% below the national median, essentially at benchmark. April occupancy of 55.2% matches the national median; the July peak of 68.4% substantially exceeds it.
The Apivex total score of 93.1 is exceptional and places Mars Hill in the top tier of scored markets. Revenue growth of 91.0 and seasonality of 86.7 reflect strong multi-year income trajectory and a well-structured seasonal demand curve.
Operator mix reflects local and regional dominance alongside national players. Greybeard Rentals leads with 162 listings and a 4.86 rating across 3,953 reviews. Evolve manages 155 listings at a 4.79 rating. Yonder holds 143 listings at a 4.84 rating. Towns Property Management manages 131 listings with a 4.82 rating across 17,027 reviews. Carolina Mornings rounds out the top five with 119 listings at a 4.80 rating. Greybeard, Yonder, and Towns Property Management together manage 436 listings and are all based in the western NC mountain region.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mars Hill, North Carolina
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