Ocracoke, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
The Ocracoke, NC area STR market averaged $216 a night at 58.1% occupancy in June 2026.
Quick Answer: Ocracoke, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the North Carolina Area market area is 58%. average monthly revenue in the North Carolina Area market area is $3,402. average daily rate in the North Carolina Area market area is $216. the top operator in the North Carolina Area market area is Ocracoke Island Realty with 279 listings. market score is 60/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the North Carolina Area regional market, which includes Ocracoke. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Ocracoke.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Ocracoke is the southernmost, most remote destination on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, reachable only by ferry, private boat, or small plane, with most of the island federally protected as part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Ocracoke has a small year round population of 797, and the vacation rental market here is mature, dominated by cottages managed by local property companies for decades under North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act.
As of June 2026, the Ocracoke area STR market shows an average daily rate of $216.43 with occupancy at 58.13%, down 1.71% year over year and ADR down 5.68%. Revenue per listing was essentially flat year over year, down 0.31%, at $3,402.10 per month for the average active listing.
Listing count, bedroom mix, and channel split data for this area are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Ocracoke, so this profile omits those specific breakdowns. This also applies to the specific property management operator data for this area, since a data check found it shared across multiple unrelated North Carolina cities rather than confirmed unique to Ocracoke.
Entire home rentals average $229.49 a night, above the area wide figure, while listings in the top luxury tier command $408.50 a night and professionally managed listings average $307.23, both well above the $216.43 area wide ADR.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 40% |
| Feb | 50% |
| Mar | 54% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 55% |
| Jun | 61% |
| Jul | 66% |
| Aug | 58% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 54% |
| Nov | 49% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Ocracoke are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in North Carolina Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the North Carolina Area market as a whole, which includes Ocracoke, so these counts are not Ocracoke-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocracoke Island Realty | 279 | 1,449 | ★ 4.67 |
| 2 | Evolve | 238 | 8,420 | ★ 4.71 |
| 3 | Ocracoke's Blue Heron Realty | 69 | 154 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Sandhills Rentals LLC | 54 | 2,888 | ★ 4.80 |
| 5 | Stay Well Vacation Rentals | 40 | 1,215 | ★ 4.88 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Ocracoke?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Ocracoke 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 | 50.2% |
| vrbo | 9.2% |
| both | 40.5% |
Home Value Trends (Ocracoke)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Ocracoke 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 Ocracoke — 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
Ocracoke is an unincorporated village on Ocracoke Island in Hyde County, North Carolina, with no town government and no municipal short-term rental permit or license requirement. County level STR regulation is minimal: there is no owner occupancy rule, no primary residence requirement, no cap on nights per year, and no zoning specifically restricting vacation rentals, which have operated on the island for decades under North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act.
The practical constraints are tax and occupancy rather than permitting. Lodging is taxed at a combined 11.75%, made up of 6.75% North Carolina state sales tax plus a 5% Hyde County occupancy tax, remitted to the state and county. Owners must also file an Occupancy Tax Reporting Form and a Business Personal Property listing with the Hyde County Finance and Tax Department, since furnishings, golf carts, kayaks, grills, and hot tubs are all taxable business property.
The most actively enforced rule is maximum occupancy, set by the Hyde County Health Department and state regulations based on septic system capacity, typically two people per advertised bedroom; overages can lead to eviction without refund.
Most rentals are handled by established local property management companies, which manage compliance on behalf of owners. Investors should confirm current septic and occupancy limits and tax filing steps directly with Hyde County before purchasing.
Market Comparison
Ocracoke’s occupancy of 58.13% sits modestly above the broader US short-term rental median of roughly 55%, while its $216.43 average daily rate runs just below the roughly $220 national median, pointing to a market with solid demand at a rate close to the national norm.
A data check found that the property manager information available for this area is shared across multiple unrelated North Carolina cities rather than confirmed unique to Ocracoke, so this profile omits naming specific operators here even though several of the names in that shared dataset reference Ocracoke directly.
Ocracoke’s remote, ferry dependent location and the maturity of its vacation cottage market, built up over decades under North Carolina’s Vacation Rental Act, likely support its steady occupancy and rate performance relative to the broader national market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ocracoke, North Carolina
What is the average daily rate for short-term rentals in the Ocracoke, NC area?
What is the occupancy rate for the Ocracoke area STR market?
Are short-term rentals legal in Ocracoke, North Carolina?
What is the lodging tax rate for short-term rentals in Ocracoke?
What is the main regulatory constraint for short-term rentals in Ocracoke?
When is peak season for the Ocracoke area STR market?
How much does a typical home cost in Ocracoke, North Carolina?
Analyze Ocracoke Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Ocracoke.
Free Ocracoke STR Calculator →
