Mars Hill, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
September 2026 Asheville-area STR averages $245 ADR, 56.0% occupancy and $3,796 monthly revenue.
Quick Answer: Mars Hill, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Asheville market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Asheville market area is $3,796. average daily rate in the Asheville market area is $245. 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
This profile covers Mars Hill within the Asheville-area STR market in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The performance figures below describe that shared regional market rather than Mars Hill alone. Bedroom, channel and listing-type counts and top operator names are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Mars Hill, so this profile omits them.
As of September 2026, the Asheville-area STR market posted an average daily rate (ADR) of $245, occupancy of 56.0% and average monthly revenue of $3,796 per listing. Compared with September 2025, occupancy is up 11.3%, ADR is up 10.5% and revenue is up 25.8%, so the gain came from both more booked nights and higher rates.
Over a longer window, the market has moved in a narrow band on occupancy and a rising band on rates. Annual occupancy ran 66.0% in 2021, 59.1% in 2022, 56.0% in 2023, 52.8% in 2024 and 54.4% in 2025. ADR rose from $194 in 2021 to $214 in 2025. Through the first nine months of 2026, the year to date figures are 53.7% occupancy, a $229 ADR and $3,452 in monthly revenue, ahead of the 2025 full year revenue of $3,278.
Mars Hill itself is a small mountain college town in Madison County, about 17 miles north of Asheville, with a population of 2,171 and an elevation near 2,330 feet. Demand draws on outdoor recreation at Bailey Mountain Preserve and Bike Park, winter sports at nearby Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and events tied to Mars Hill University, founded in 1856, and the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre. Most guests are regional drive-market travelers and Asheville-area overflow looking for a quieter, cooler and more affordable base. No annual visitor count specific to Mars Hill is published, since tourism is managed county-wide by the Madison County Tourism Development Authority.
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 are permitted in the Mars Hill area, and a permit is required. The rules operate at two levels.
In unincorporated Madison County, owners renting for fewer than 30 days must obtain a Madison County Vacation Rental Certificate from the county Planning & Zoning Department. The county uses an inspection checklist, a set of special requirements for vacation rentals and tiered rules for projects over three units. Mars Hill town zoning compliance is also required. A permit cost and renewal period are not published in the research on file.
Inside Mars Hill town limits, the Town’s own Zoning Ordinance, effective June 7, 2021, governs and operates independently of the county land-use ordinance. No blanket STR ban was found, but use is determined by zoning district, and residential districts may restrict or condition rentals. Owners should confirm parcel zoning with the Town Planning & Zoning Department at 828-689-2301 before buying or operating.
The occupancy tax is 3%, the statutory ceiling authorized under S.L. 1997-102, and operators should confirm the currently levied rate with the county. Lodging revenue is also subject to North Carolina state and local sales tax.
No maximum nights per year, owner-occupancy requirement or primary-residence requirement was identified. Enforcement is rated moderate, since the certificate and inspection are administrative rather than punitive. Rules can change, so verify current requirements with the county and town before committing capital.
Market Comparison
The Asheville-area STR market posted September 2026 occupancy of 56.0% and an ADR of $245.
The market is also gaining ground. Occupancy is up 11.3% year over year, ADR is up 10.5% and revenue is up 25.8%. Full year occupancy in 2024 and 2025 was 52.8% and 54.4%, so the September 2026 reading shows a recovery, and the 2026 year to date ADR of $229 is ahead of the 2025 full year ADR of $214.
Luxury listings at $436 and professionally managed listings at $366 sit well above the $245 all-listings ADR, which shows how much room there is for differentiated properties.
Mars Hill has a typical home value of $419,721. Top operators in this market are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Mars Hill, so this profile omits them. Investors should compare the regional averages here against comps for specific Mars Hill properties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mars Hill, North Carolina
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