Beaufort, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Hilton Head Island STRs averaged $409/night at 63.4% occupancy in April 2026, with 2025 full-year average revenue of $5,622/month across 12,422 active listings.
Quick Answer: Beaufort, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Hilton Head market area is 76%. average monthly revenue in the Hilton Head market area is $10,088. average daily rate in the Hilton Head market area is $501. the top operator in the Hilton Head market area is Vacasa with 710 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Hilton Head regional market, which includes Beaufort. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Beaufort.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Beaufort, SC market is centered on Hilton Head Island, a resort community in Beaufort County with approximately 38,000 permanent residents and 2.5 million annual visitors. The island’s 12 miles of Atlantic shoreline, 20-plus golf courses, and Sea Pines Resort anchor one of the Southeast’s most active STR markets, with 12,422 active listings as of the April 2026 snapshot.
In April 2026, the average daily rate was $409 and occupancy reached 63.4%, reflecting a strong spring shoulder period. Year-over-year for April, occupancy declined 5.5% and revenue declined 3.1%, while ADR gained 2.5% compared to April 2025. The 2025 full-year average was $372 ADR and 56.5% occupancy, generating average monthly revenue of $5,622 per listing, up 6.2% from the 2024 full-year average of $5,293.
Entire-place listings represent 99% of all inventory at 12,342 properties, with just 113 private rooms and 1 shared room. On the channel side, 8,470 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 1,381 are Airbnb-only, and 2,605 are VRBO-only. VRBO’s strong multi-channel presence reflects the resort-condo and villa rental culture prominent in Sea Pines and other gated communities.
The bedroom mix is led by 2-bedrooms (5,079 listings), followed by 3-bedrooms (2,757), 1-bedrooms (2,025), 4-bedrooms (1,330), and 5-bedrooms (1,231). The market’s rental demand score of 85 out of 100 and investability score of 80 are among the strongest in the Southeast. The total market score is 51, regulation score 57, and seasonality score 47.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 37% |
| Feb | 61% |
| Mar | 70% |
| Apr | 64% |
| May | 63% |
| Jun | 79% |
| Jul | 80% |
| Aug | 60% |
| Sep | 51% |
| Oct | 52% |
| Nov | 37% |
| Dec | 33% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Beaufort are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Hilton Head market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Hilton Head market as a whole, which includes Beaufort, so these counts are not Beaufort-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 710 | 29,602 | ★ 4.50 |
| 2 | LSI Vacation Rental SC | 582 | 14,605 | ★ 4.63 |
| 3 | VacayHome Connect | 480 | 96 | ★ 4.60 |
| 4 | Beach Properties of Hilton Head | 430 | 3,630 | ★ 4.65 |
| 5 | The Vacation Company | 385 | 9,052 | ★ 4.82 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Beaufort?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Beaufort 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 | 11.1% |
| vrbo | 20.9% |
| both | 68% |
Home Value Trends (Beaufort)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Beaufort 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 Beaufort — 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
Hilton Head Island operates one of South Carolina’s most structured STR programs, substantially enhanced in 2025 and 2026. Every owner renting a property for fewer than 30 consecutive days must hold a Town STR Permit and a Town Business License ($10 base fee plus gross-revenue-based tax).
As of May 1, 2026, the permit fee is $150 per bedroom per year (increased from a flat $250). Permits run May 1 to April 30 annually, are non-transferable, and must be held in an individual’s name rather than a corporate entity. A $250 late fee applies after May 15. All advertisements must display the STR permit number effective May 1, 2026.
Owner occupancy and primary residence are not required. Investment properties may operate freely with a valid permit. There is no cap on annual rental nights. Individual HOAs may impose their own restrictions; as of May 2026, HOA properties must provide written documentation confirming STR authorization before a permit is issued.
Operational requirements include: a local agent available 24/7 who can be on-site within one hour of a complaint; quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM; maximum six vehicles in the driveway; fire safety systems required for properties over 3,600 square feet; propane grills require 60-minute automatic shutoff valves.
Total lodging tax is approximately 11% of gross rental receipts, composed of 5% SC state sales tax, 2% SC state accommodations tax, 1% Town local accommodations tax, 2% Town beach preservation fee, and 1% Beaufort County green space tax. Enforcement is rated strict, with a proactive performance-driven model and six dedicated full-time enforcement staff as of 2026.
Market Comparison
Hilton Head Island’s 2025 average ADR of $372 is well above the US STR median of approximately $220, consistent with a premium coastal resort market. The 2025 annual occupancy of 56.5% is close to the national median of approximately 55%, and the April 2026 occupancy of 63.4% reflects a genuinely strong spring shoulder period rather than a seasonal outlier.
On the operator side, Vacasa leads with 710 listings and 29,602 total reviews at a 4.50 average rating, representing the national platform’s largest footprint in this corridor. LSI Vacation Rental SC holds 582 listings with 14,605 reviews at a 4.63 rating, the leading local operator. VacayHome Connect manages 480 listings (4.60 rating, 96 reviews), Beach Properties of Hilton Head holds 430 listings (4.65 rating, 3,630 reviews), and The Vacation Company manages 385 listings (4.82 rating, 9,052 reviews).
The top five operators collectively manage 2,587 listings, representing approximately 20.8% of the 12,422-listing inventory. This is a moderately concentrated operator landscape for a market of this size, with a mix of national platforms (Vacasa, VacayHome Connect) and strong regional specialists (LSI, Beach Properties of Hilton Head, The Vacation Company). The Vacation Company’s 4.82 rating across 9,052 reviews stands out as a quality benchmark among full-service managers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beaufort, South Carolina
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