Clemson, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Clemson, SC STRs averaged $225 per night at 47.1% occupancy in April 2026, driven by Clemson University event demand.
Quick Answer: Clemson, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Lake Hartwell market area is 56%. average monthly revenue in the Lake Hartwell market area is $4,048. average daily rate in the Lake Hartwell market area is $311. the top operator in the Lake Hartwell market area is Evolve with 146 listings. market score is 47/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Lake Hartwell regional market, which includes Clemson. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Clemson.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Clemson is a college town of roughly 18,000 residents in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, anchored by Clemson University’s approximately 29,000 students. Memorial Stadium, seating over 80,000, generates intense episodic demand for short-term rentals on football Saturdays, graduation weekends, and major campus events.
As of April 2026, the market posted a 47.1% occupancy rate and an average daily rate (ADR) of $225, producing a RevPAR of $106 and average monthly revenue of $2,677 per listing. Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy increased 0.5 percentage points, ADR rose 1.7%, and revenue per listing declined 2.0%.
The listing mix is almost entirely entire-place accommodations: 2,799 entire-place listings alongside 162 private rooms. By bedroom count, the market skews toward larger properties, with three-bedroom units most common (780 listings), followed by two-bedroom (715), four-bedroom (504), and one-bedroom (631) properties. Five-bedroom units account for 327 listings.
On distribution channels, 1,371 listings operate on both Airbnb and VRBO. Airbnb-only counts 1,253 listings and VRBO-only 337. The composite StaySTRA market score is 47.3 out of 100. Investability scores 88.6, reflecting high event-driven demand potential, while revenue growth (44.7) and seasonality stability (53.5) scores are lower, reflecting the market’s episodic nature.
Important note for investors: Clemson’s city ordinance caps STR rentals at 25 nights per calendar year per property. This fundamentally shapes the market’s economics and must be understood before analyzing income figures.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 29% |
| Feb | 43% |
| Mar | 47% |
| Apr | 48% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 60% |
| Jul | 66% |
| Aug | 54% |
| Sep | 45% |
| Oct | 44% |
| Nov | 44% |
| Dec | 35% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Clemson are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lake Hartwell market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Lake Hartwell market as a whole, which includes Clemson, so these counts are not Clemson-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 146 | 6,530 | ★ 4.75 |
| 2 | Linton Realty | 86 | 5,662 | ★ 4.96 |
| 3 | Cope Property Management | 47 | 913 | ★ 4.76 |
| 4 | Clemson Vacation Rentals | 36 | 667 | ★ 4.88 |
| 5 | Oconee Hospitality | 31 | 1,572 | ★ 4.91 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Clemson?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Clemson 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 | 42.3% |
| vrbo | 11.4% |
| both | 46.3% |
Home Value Trends (Clemson)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Clemson 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 Clemson — 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
Clemson permits short-term rentals under a registration-based ordinance (City Code Chapter 13, Article IV) adopted in 2015. The most significant constraint for investors is a hard cap of 25 rental nights per calendar year per registered property.
Registration costs $100 per dwelling annually. The registration year runs April 15 through April 14 and expires every April 14. There is no proration or refund for partial years.
There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement. Non-owner-occupied properties must designate a responsible agent within a 75-mile radius for care, maintenance, and emergencies. Occupancy is capped at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional persons, with a maximum of 10 total occupants.
Operators must display a city-issued sign or decal visible from the street during all rental days and maintain a guest log.
Guests pay a 2% City of Clemson local accommodations tax, plus South Carolina’s 5% sales tax and 2% state accommodations tax, for a combined accommodations tax of approximately 9%. The city’s local accommodations tax is remitted monthly.
Enforcement is at moderate severity, with violation and registration revocation provisions (Sections 13-80 and 13-81). South Carolina’s legislature considered statewide STR preemption legislation (2025-2026 Bill 442) that could affect local authority if enacted. As of mid-2026, Clemson’s 2015 ordinance remains in force. Investors should confirm current regulatory status with the City of Clemson Planning and Development office.
Market Comparison
Against national STR benchmarks, Clemson’s April 2026 occupancy of 47.1% is below the US median of approximately 55%, while its $225 ADR exceeds the national median of roughly $220. The market earns above-average nightly rates but with below-average occupancy, reflecting the event-driven, episodic nature of demand rather than sustained year-round travel.
The overall composite score of 47.3 out of 100 places Clemson below the national midpoint on aggregate metrics, primarily due to revenue growth (44.7) and seasonality (53.5). The exceptional investability score of 88.6 reflects the premium pricing environment and strong event demand.
Professional operators maintain a visible presence. Evolve leads with 146 listings and 6,530 reviews (4.75 rating). Linton Realty holds 86 listings with 5,662 reviews and a notable 4.96 rating. Clemson Vacation Rentals operates 36 local listings with a 4.88 rating. Oconee Hospitality manages 31 listings with 1,572 reviews at 4.91. Together, the top five operators manage approximately 346 listings against an estimated 2,961 total active listings.
The 25-night annual cap does not prevent professional management from operating; it does mean professional operators in this market specialize in optimizing a smaller number of high-value rental nights rather than maximizing occupancy days.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clemson, South Carolina
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How much can a Clemson STR gross under the 25-night cap?
What does it cost to register an STR in Clemson?
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