Lexington, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Lexington, SC STRs averaged 67.2% occupancy and $182/night in April 2026 across approximately 2,625 active listings near Lake Murray.
Quick Answer: Lexington, South Carolina is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 69%. average monthly revenue is $3,473. average daily rate is $184. the top operator is Heartwood Furnished Homes with 218 listings. market score is 93/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Columbia, SC regional market, which includes Lexington. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lexington.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Lexington, South Carolina short-term rental market held approximately 2,625 active listings as of April 2026, serving a Lake Murray tourism region west of Columbia. Entire-place listings account for 2,283 units (87.0% of tracked listings), with 330 private rooms and 12 shared rooms. One-bedroom units are most common with 771 listings, followed by three-bedroom (729), two-bedroom (679), four-bedroom (304), and five-plus bedroom (135) units, indicating a mix that serves weekend lake visitors and longer-term corporate or relocation stays.
Channel distribution shows Airbnb as the dominant platform. Among tracked listings, 1,374 are Airbnb-only, 1,124 appear on both platforms, and 127 are VRBO-only. The dual-listing rate of 42.8% is moderate for a mid-size regional market.
In April 2026, occupancy reached 67.2% and the average daily rate was $181.79, producing a RevPAR of $122.14. This April performance is near the historical July peak of 67.2%, making it one of the market’s stronger months. Year-over-year, occupancy rose 3.18%, ADR rose 1.11%, and revenue grew 3.46%. The 2025 full-year average was $174 ADR at 60.5% occupancy, producing approximately $2,962 in average monthly revenue per active listing.
Market scores are strong across most dimensions. The total score is 93.3 out of 100, with investability at 91.3, rental demand at 88.0, and seasonality at 85.1, indicating relatively year-round stable demand for the region. Revenue growth scores 69.7 and regulation scores 59.7, reflecting the new county permitting requirements that took effect in 2025.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50% | $113 | $1,653 |
| Feb | 62% | $118 | $1,855 |
| Mar | 65% | $132 | $2,289 |
| Apr | 63% | $146 | $2,509 |
| May | 59% | $159 | $2,478 |
| Jun | 66% | $155 | $2,727 |
| Jul | 67% | $147 | $2,704 |
| Aug | 65% | $155 | $2,658 |
| Sep | 58% | $154 | $2,333 |
| Oct | 58% | $148 | $2,398 |
| Nov | 57% | $154 | $2,405 |
| Dec | 50% | $127 | $1,955 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Lexington
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heartwood Furnished Homes | 218 | 14,846 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Evolve | 51 | 1,938 | ★ 4.70 |
| 3 | Patriot Family Homes | 44 | 2,367 | ★ 4.30 |
| 4 | Casago | 32 | 514 | ★ 4.22 |
| 5 | Be Our Guest | 29 | 1,631 | ★ 4.64 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lexington?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 771 |
| 2 bed | 679 |
| 3 bed | 729 |
| 4 bed | 304 |
| 5 bed | 135 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $197 |
| Luxury | $323 |
| Professionally Managed | $232 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $2,402 |
| Entire Place | $3,726 |
| House | $3,806 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 52.3% |
| vrbo | 4.8% |
| both | 42.8% |
Investment Analysis
Lexington, SC presents a relatively accessible investment profile for the Southeast. The 2025 full-year average monthly revenue of $2,962 (annualized to $35,544) is the practical underwriting baseline for a typical listing. Housing snapshot data was not available in this data pull, so a gross yield calculation cannot be provided; investors should apply the $35,544 annual baseline to comparable Lexington County sale prices.
ADR tiers reveal an unusual pattern in this market. The professionally managed tier averaged $236.22 per night in April 2026, significantly above the entire-home average of $195.19 and the all-listings average of $181.79. This $41 premium for professionally managed properties over the general entire-home segment likely reflects the large presence of corporate furnished-housing operators in the market serving business and relocation clients at higher nightly rates. The luxury tier averaged $298.01 per night.
Revenue by property type in April 2026: entire-place listings averaged $3,612 per month and house-category listings averaged $3,572, a difference of just $40. Apartment listings trailed at $2,657 per month. The near-parity between entire-place and house-category revenue suggests both property types are similarly positioned in this market.
Annual revenue has grown steadily. Monthly revenue climbed from $1,757 in 2017 to $2,962 in 2025, a roughly 69% increase over eight years. Revenue growth paused briefly in 2022-2023 before resuming, with 2024 and 2025 posting $2,879 and $2,962 respectively. The market’s high investability score of 91.3 reflects consistent demand driven by Lake Murray recreation and the broader Columbia metro economic base.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Lexington)
Booking Insights
Lexington, SC guests book an average of 41.5 days in advance, with stays averaging 3.9 nights. The 42-day lead window is moderate and suggests guests plan four to six weeks out, consistent with a regional lake destination drawing visitors from Charlotte, Greenville, and Atlanta.
For operators, a 42-day booking horizon means rate adjustments made 45 to 60 days before arrival will capture most demand. Summer lake weekends and bass tournament events benefit from early pricing decisions made in April and May for June and July dates.
The 3.9-night average stay is longer than the typical weekend baseline of 2 to 3 nights. This reflects a mix of lake vacation stays (extended weekends and short weeks) and corporate or relocation stays drawn by Lexington County’s position as a Columbia suburb. Operators accepting 3- to 5-night minimums align with the existing demand pattern. Combining a 2-night minimum for shoulder and off-season months with a 3- to 4-night minimum during peak summer allows operators to maximize occupancy while reducing turnover costs during high-demand weeks.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Short-term rentals are permitted in the Lexington area but the regulatory framework depends on location within or outside the Town of Lexington corporate limits.
For properties in unincorporated Lexington County (most lake-area properties), a Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit is required under the county’s ordinance that took effect January 1, 2025. The permit costs $320 per property per year, renewed annually. County rules require: guests must be at least 25 years old, a minimum two-night stay, no more than two occupants per bedroom, at least one parking space, a state health department septic inspection before permit issuance, a nuisance abatement plan, and a local representative able to be on-site within 45 minutes. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate and no annual night cap.
For properties inside Town of Lexington limits, the county ordinance does not apply. Instead, the town treats STRs as home occupations requiring a business license and a home occupation permit through Town Hall.
On taxes, properties within the Town of Lexington pay a 3% local accommodations tax (effective January 1, 2025) in addition to South Carolina’s statewide 7% accommodations tax, for a combined rate of approximately 10%. Properties in unincorporated Lexington County pay a 3% county accommodations tax plus state and local-option sales taxes, landing at approximately 11% to 12% combined.
Enforcement in Lexington County is handled by the Sheriff’s Department. Operating without a permit is a first-offense fine of $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail, with escalating penalties. Enforcement is assessed as moderate. The county STR ordinance and town accommodations tax are both new as of January 1, 2025.
Market Comparison
Lexington, SC’s April 2026 occupancy of 67.2% sits above the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, and revenue grew 3.46% year-over-year, indicating a healthy if not rapidly expanding market. The April 2026 ADR of $181.79 is below the approximate U.S. median of $220, reflecting the mid-tier pricing typical of Southeastern lake markets.
The market’s total score of 93.3 and investability score of 91.3 rank it among the stronger mid-size regional markets tracked. Demand drivers include Lake Murray (one of the Southeast’s largest man-made reservoirs and a nationally ranked bass fishing destination), day-trip traffic from Columbia, and steady corporate demand from the Columbia metro.
The operator side is highly concentrated at the top. The five largest property managers collectively hold 374 listings, representing approximately 14.2% of the 2,625 total active listings. Heartwood Furnished Homes dominates significantly, with 218 listings and a 4.74 rating across 14,846 reviews, likely reflecting a corporate furnished-housing model. Evolve follows with 51 listings at a 4.70 rating. Patriot Family Homes holds 44 listings at a 4.30 rating across 2,367 reviews, suggesting military or government relocation housing. Casago operates 32 listings at a 4.22 rating.
The mix of corporate housing operators (Heartwood), military housing specialists (Patriot), national platforms (Evolve, Casago), and boutique operators reflects the market’s layered demand base.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lexington, South Carolina
What is the average daily rate for STRs in Lexington, SC?
What occupancy rate can I expect for an STR in Lexington, SC?
Do I need a permit to operate an STR in Lexington, SC?
What is the occupancy tax rate for STRs in Lexington, SC?
What is the best season for STRs in Lexington, SC?
How much revenue can an STR in Lexington, SC generate annually?
Who are the major property managers in the Lexington, SC STR market?
Analyze Lexington Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Lexington.
Free Lexington STR Calculator →
