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 in the Asheville market area is 62%. average monthly revenue in the Asheville market area is $4,141. average daily rate in the Asheville market area is $248. the top operator in the Asheville market area 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 StaySTRA 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 39% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 56% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 57% |
| Jun | 64% |
| Jul | 68% |
| Aug | 61% |
| Sep | 58% |
| Oct | 63% |
| Nov | 55% |
| Dec | 55% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Mars Hill are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Asheville market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Asheville market as a whole, which includes Mars Hill, so these counts are not Mars Hill-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Mars Hill 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 | 41.1% |
| vrbo | 5.4% |
| both | 53.5% |
Home Value Trends (Mars Hill)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Mars Hill 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 Mars Hill — 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
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 StaySTRA 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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