Southport, North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Southport restricts new residential STRs; the NC coast market hit $443 ADR, 61.7% occupancy, $7,594 revenue in August 2026.
Quick Answer: Southport, North Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Wilmington market area is 51%. average monthly revenue in the Wilmington market area is $5,179. average daily rate in the Wilmington market area is $382. the top operator in the Wilmington market area is Vacasa with 776 listings. market score is 63/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Wilmington regional market, which includes Southport. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Southport.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Southport sits at the mouth of the Cape Fear River in Brunswick County, North Carolina, and has a population of 4,205. Its short-term rental performance is not tracked for the town alone. StaySTRA’s data provider reports one shared series for the southeastern North Carolina coast, which covers Southport, Oak Island, Sunset Beach, Calabash, Supply and Holly Ridge. Every performance number on this page describes that regional STR market, not the Southport town limits.
In August 2026, the southeastern North Carolina coast STR market averaged an average daily rate (ADR) of $443.10 and occupancy of 61.7%. Average revenue per listing was $7,594 for the month. Compared with August 2025, occupancy fell 6.0%, ADR rose 7.9%, and revenue per listing rose 3.1%. Higher rates more than offset the drop in booked nights.
Calendar-year averages show a longer trend. In 2025 the regional market averaged 51.4% occupancy, a $314 ADR and $4,538 in monthly revenue per listing. The first eight months of 2026 average 56.7% occupancy, a $348 ADR and $5,393 in monthly revenue. That 2026 figure includes the summer peak and leaves out the slow fall and winter months, so it does not compare directly with the full 2025 year.
Listing counts, the mix of listing types, the bedroom mix and the booking channel mix are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Southport, so this profile omits them. The visitor mix is described in the town profile. Visitors are mostly leisure travelers, including day-trippers, coastal weekenders, boaters and anglers, and film-location tourists. Southport is also the gateway to Oak Island and the Bald Head Island ferry. The town’s 4th of July celebration draws an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people in a single event. No official annual visitor count was found for Southport itself.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 32% |
| Feb | 45% |
| Mar | 55% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 60% |
| Jun | 76% |
| Jul | 81% |
| Aug | 68% |
| Sep | 52% |
| Oct | 47% |
| Nov | 39% |
| Dec | 34% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Southport are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wilmington market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Wilmington market as a whole, which includes Southport, so these counts are not Southport-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 776 | 18,259 | ★ 4.46 |
| 2 | Oak Island Accommodations | 469 | 2,489 | ★ 4.43 |
| 3 | Better Beach Rentals | 445 | 3,724 | ★ 4.37 |
| 4 | Evolve | 332 | 12,283 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Carolina Retreats by Vtrips | 317 | 3,785 | ★ 4.54 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Southport?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Southport 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 | 21.3% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 61.8% |
Home Value Trends (Southport)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Southport 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 Southport — 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
Southport allows short-term rentals, but new ones are tightly limited. The town adopted a Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance on July 8, 2021 and amended it in 2022. Enforcement is rated strict.
New STRs are prohibited in the R-10, R-20 and MF residential districts. Existing rentals in those zones can continue only as lawful nonconforming uses, and the owner must document verifiable bookings before July 8, 2021. A late or missed permit renewal permanently ends that grandfathered status. New STRs are allowed with a zoning permit in the Central Business District, the Business District and PUD. Homestays, where a full-time resident rents up to two guest rooms, are allowed in residential and PUD districts with an annual permit.
A permit is required and renews annually. Permits run from January 1 to December 31. The permit fee is not published in the profile. Operators must name a 24/7 responsible party who lives within 20 miles and can respond to complaints within 45 minutes. Operators must also post house rules and carry minimum insurance of $1,000,000 for STRs and $500,000 for homestays.
Lodging is subject to Brunswick County’s 1% room occupancy tax, plus applicable North Carolina state and local sales taxes. No annual night cap is published. No owner-occupancy requirement for whole-home STRs is listed, although homestays require a resident operator. In August 2022 the town signaled it would revisit its rules, and coastal North Carolina STR rules remain in flux. Verify current terms with the town before acting.
Market Comparison
The comparison below uses rough national norms of about 55% occupancy and about $220 ADR.
In August 2026 the southeastern North Carolina coast market ran at 61.7% occupancy, which is 6.7 points above the national figure. Its $443.10 ADR is about twice the national figure. On a full-year basis the picture is mixed. The 2025 average occupancy of 51.4% is below 55%, while the 2025 average ADR of $314 is about 43% above $220. The market earns its revenue from high rates in a short summer season, not from year-round occupancy.
Within the regional series, the long-run trend favors rate growth. Average ADR rose from $190 in 2017 to $314 in 2025, while occupancy moved between 48.9% and 59.8% over the same years. Occupancy peaked at 59.8% in 2021 and has eased since.
Top operators and property managers are tracked at a shared regional level rather than uniquely for Southport, so this profile omits them. Southport itself is a small town of 4,205 residents with strict STR rules, so it does not supply the volume that the wider coast does.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southport, North Carolina
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