Daufuskie Island, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Daufuskie Island, SC STRs averaged $409 per night at 63.4% occupancy in April 2026, with average monthly revenue of $6,533 in one of the Southeast's highest-ADR island markets.
Quick Answer: Daufuskie Island, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 76%. average monthly revenue is $10,088. average daily rate is $501. the top operator is Vacasa with 710 listings. market score is 51/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Hilton Head regional market, which includes Daufuskie Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Daufuskie Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Daufuskie Island is an unincorporated barrier island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, accessible only by ferry or private boat from Bluffton or Hilton Head. With a permanent population of approximately 557, the island draws visitors for Gullah heritage, golf, unspoiled beaches, and a golf-cart-paced atmosphere free of automobiles and bridges.
As of April 2026, the Daufuskie Island STR market posted an average daily rate of $409 and an occupancy rate of 63.4%, generating $259 in revenue per available room. These are among the highest metrics in the Southeast Lowcountry. The market total score is 50.84 out of 100, with rental demand scoring 84.62 and investability at 80.39.
The supply base by bedroom count totals 12,422 listings: 2,025 one-bedroom, 5,079 two-bedroom, 2,757 three-bedroom, 1,330 four-bedroom, and 1,231 five-bedroom listings. Two-bedroom units are the most numerous, reflecting the resort and vacation-home character of the market. Entire-place listings account for 12,342 of the 12,456 total listings by type, with 113 private-room and 1 shared-room option.
Channel distribution is distinct from most markets: 8,470 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 2,605 list exclusively on VRBO, and only 1,381 are Airbnb-only. This heavy VRBO concentration reflects the premium vacation-home character of the market.
Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy declined 5.45 percentage points while ADR rose 2.45%. Revenue fell 3.14% year-over-year. The 2025 full-year average occupancy was 56.51% with an ADR of $372 and average monthly revenue of $5,622, compared to 56.24% occupancy, $358 ADR, and $5,293 in revenue during 2024. The ADR trend has been consistently upward, growing from $312 in 2022 to $372 in 2025.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37% | $246 | $2,431 |
| Feb | 61% | $240 | $3,018 |
| Mar | 70% | $284 | $4,272 |
| Apr | 64% | $333 | $5,227 |
| May | 63% | $344 | $5,412 |
| Jun | 79% | $397 | $7,802 |
| Jul | 80% | $362 | $7,512 |
| Aug | 60% | $326 | $5,134 |
| Sep | 51% | $279 | $3,734 |
| Oct | 52% | $271 | $3,693 |
| Nov | 37% | $272 | $2,732 |
| Dec | 33% | $290 | $2,623 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Daufuskie Island
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 Daufuskie Island?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,025 |
| 2 bed | 5,079 |
| 3 bed | 2,757 |
| 4 bed | 1,330 |
| 5 bed | 1,231 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $503 |
| Luxury | $786 |
| Professionally Managed | $583 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $6,948 |
| Entire Place | $10,133 |
| House | $12,842 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 11.1% |
| vrbo | 20.9% |
| both | 68% |
Investment Analysis
Daufuskie Island is a premium Lowcountry vacation-home market with average monthly revenue of $6,533 in April 2026, one of the highest figures in the Southeast. Annualized gross revenue from the April figure projects to approximately $78,394 per listing. The 2025 full-year average of $5,622 per month annualizes to approximately $67,464, reflecting year-round demand that is nonetheless lower than the summer peak captured in the April-through-August window.
No housing value data was available in this snapshot, so a gross yield calculation cannot be performed. Given the island’s remote access, limited supply growth, and Hilton Head-adjacent demand, purchase prices for eligible properties are expected to be at a significant premium. Investors should source current pricing from Beaufort County property records and local brokerages.
Property type performance varies substantially. Houses average $8,187 per month, 25% above the all-listings average of $6,533. Entire-place listings average $6,569, close to the market average. Apartment-type listings average $4,657, materially lower.
The ADR tier spread is large. Luxury-tier listings average $673 per night, 64% above the all-listings average of $409. Professionally managed listings average $477 per night, a $68 premium over the market average. Entire-home listings average $411, essentially in line with the market average of $409.
ADR has grown consistently: $312 in 2022, $320 in 2023, $358 in 2024, and $372 in 2025. The April 2026 ADR of $409 is above the 2025 annual average, suggesting continued rate appreciation even as occupancy compresses slightly. Rental demand scores 84.62, the strongest of the six market dimensions, and the investability score of 80.39 is solid.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Daufuskie Island has the longest average booking lead time of any market in this batch: 75 days, or approximately 10 to 11 weeks ahead of arrival. This is consistent with a destination that requires ferry reservations and deliberate vacation planning. Guests are not booking Daufuskie impulsively; they plan ahead.
A 75-day lead time gives operators a substantial pricing window. Dynamic pricing adjustments made 60 to 90 days out from target dates, particularly for summer and spring weekends, can capture demand early when guests are most motivated to secure their preferred dates. Last-minute discounting is less common in this market than in urban STR markets.
Average length of stay is 4.67 nights, the longest among the five markets in this batch. This reflects the logistical reality of a ferry-only island: guests who make the trip to Daufuskie extend their stays to maximize the experience. A near-five-night average materially reduces turnover frequency and cleaning costs per occupied night.
For operators, minimum-stay requirements of 4 to 5 nights during peak season align well with observed behavior, improve per-stay revenue, and reduce the operational burden of single-night or two-night turnovers on an island without automobile access.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Daufuskie Island is unincorporated and governed by the Daufuskie Island Community Development Code (Appendix B, Section B.3.30) administered by Beaufort County. Every operator must obtain both a Short-Term Rental Property (STRP) Zoning Permit and a Beaufort County Business License before operating or advertising. The permit number must be displayed in all advertisements. The base application fee is approximately $100, and permits must be renewed annually on or before April 1.
New short-term rentals in the DI-2R and D3-GN zoning districts, which cover much of the Historic District, require a Special Use Permit, meaning an application and Zoning Board of Appeals review rather than administrative approval. This additional review layer was aligned with county-wide special-use rules adopted in November 2021 and subsequently applied to Daufuskie specifically in 2023 code changes.
No cap on annual nights has been identified. Neither owner-occupancy nor primary-residence status is required to operate. Operating standards include posting a fire-safety plan on each floor and in each bedroom, and installing carbon-monoxide alarms outside every bedroom. Permits may be revoked for building-code violations, operating without a business license, advertising without the permit number, or using the property inconsistently with the permit.
On taxes, guests pay 7% state and local sales tax on stays under 90 days, a 2% South Carolina state accommodations tax, and Beaufort County’s local accommodations tax of approximately 3%. Private gated communities such as Haig Point and Melrose also set their own internal STR rules that overlay the county requirements.
Enforcement is characterized as moderate. Beaufort County has noted that unpermitted operators face a significantly higher penalty fee (approximately $1,000) upon discovery.
Market Comparison
Daufuskie Island’s metrics are far above national STR medians. The all-listings ADR of $409 in April 2026 is roughly 86% above the national median of approximately $220. Occupancy of 63.4% exceeds the US median of approximately 55%. RevPAR of $259 is exceptional by any national comparison. This is a premium coastal resort market, not a suburban or general-leisure market.
The market’s total score of 50.84 reflects a high-priced, lower-liquidity market with a seasonality score of 46.82 (heavy summer concentration) and regulation score of 56.57 (complex permitting), which drag the total score below its strong rental demand (84.62) and investability (80.39) dimensions.
Professional management is more prevalent here than in most small-town STR markets. Vacasa leads with 710 listings and 29,602 reviews at a 4.50 rating, the largest operator in the market. LSI Vacation Rental SC ranks second with 582 listings and 14,605 reviews at a 4.63 rating. VacayHome Connect holds 480 listings with 96 reviews at a 4.60 rating. Beach Properties of Hilton Head manages 430 listings with 3,630 reviews at a 4.65 rating. The Vacation Company rounds out the top five with 385 listings and 9,052 reviews at a market-leading 4.82 average rating.
The top five operators represent 2,587 listings, approximately 20.8% of the 12,456 total listings by type. This is a significantly more professionally managed market than typical inland or suburban STR markets, reflecting the premium property values and the logistical complexity of island operations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daufuskie Island, South Carolina
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When is peak season for Daufuskie Island vacation rentals?
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What taxes apply to short-term rentals on Daufuskie Island?
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