Saint Helena Island, South Carolina Short-Term Rental Market
Saint Helena Island, SC coastal STRs averaged $501/night at 76.5% occupancy in June 2026, though nearly the entire island sits under a Cultural Protection Overlay restricting new development.
Quick Answer: Saint Helena Island, 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 Saint Helena Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Saint Helena Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Saint Helena Island’s short-term rental market, tracked here across the broader Beaufort/Sea Islands catchment rather than the island’s own population of 8,763, comprises roughly 12,456 active listings: 1,381 Airbnb-only, 2,605 Vrbo-only, and 8,470 listed on both platforms. In June 2026, the average daily rate was $501.24 with 76.5% occupancy, down 1.25 percentage points year over year. ADR fell 4.42% year over year, while average monthly revenue of $10,088 was essentially flat, up just 0.16%, indicating occupancy or booking-mix shifts nearly offset the rate decline. Listing type mix is almost entirely entire-place: 12,342 entire-place listings versus 113 private-room and 1 shared-room listing. Bedroom mix is led decisively by 2-bedroom units (5,079 listings), followed by 3-bedroom (2,757), 1-bedroom (2,025), 5-plus bedroom (1,231), and 4-bedroom (1,330). Property type drives a wide revenue spread: houses average $12,842/month, well above entire-place listings at $10,133/month and apartments at $6,948/month, a roughly 85% gap between houses and apartments. Market-score data shows strong rental demand (84.6/100) and high investability (80.4/100), but weaker seasonality (46.8) and regulation (56.6) scores, the latter reflecting the island’s Cultural Protection Overlay. Saint Helena Island is the acknowledged center of Gullah/Geechee culture in the US and is not a resort destination like nearby Hilton Head; visitors are primarily heritage and cultural tourists, along with travelers passing through to Hunting Island State Park.
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 Saint Helena Island 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 Saint Helena Island, so these counts are not Saint Helena Island-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 Saint Helena Island?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Saint Helena Island 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 (Saint Helena Island)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Saint Helena Island 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 Saint Helena Island — 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
Saint Helena Island is unincorporated Beaufort County, so short-term rentals fall under the county’s Community Development Code Section 4.1.360. Every STR must obtain a Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit and a county business license before operating; the zoning permit renews annually on or before April 1. STRs are permitted by-right only in a few mixed-use center districts (C4/C5), which are scarce on the island, but are a special use requiring discretionary, case-by-case approval in the T2Rural district that covers nearly all of Saint Helena Island. Layered on top is the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO), reaffirmed by County Council on May 8, 2023, which exists to protect Gullah/Geechee culture and land from gentrification; it bans golf courses, gated communities, and resorts, meaning large or resort-style STR development is effectively off the table even though individual home rentals can still be approved. There is no county-wide owner-occupancy or primary-residence mandate and no cap on nights per year. Safety rules apply: posted fire-safety plans on each level, smoke detectors replaced if over 10 years old, and CO alarms outside bedrooms on every level. Beaufort County levies a 3% local accommodations tax. Enforcement is rated moderate. Related development disputes, including the Pine Island proposal, continued into 2024, with the county backing CPO protections in litigation. (Regulatory data current as of July 9, 2026.)
Market Comparison
Saint Helena Island’s June 2026 occupancy of 76.5% runs well above the roughly 55% national STR occupancy benchmark, and its ADR of $501.24 sits well above the roughly $220 national median ADR benchmark, reflecting strong demand across the broader Beaufort/Sea Islands tourism area, which draws an estimated 2 million visitors annually and a $1.6 billion tourism economic impact. Among property managers active in the market, Vacasa leads with 710 listings and 29,602 reviews (4.50 average rating), followed by LSI Vacation Rental SC (582 listings, 14,605 reviews, 4.63 rating) and VacayHome Connect (480 listings, 96 reviews, 4.60 rating). Combined, the top three managers operate about 1,772 listings, roughly 14.2% of the market’s 12,456 total active listings, a moderately consolidated segment within a market still dominated by independent hosts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saint Helena Island, South Carolina
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Saint Helena Island, SC?
How much does a Saint Helena Island Airbnb earn per month?
What is the average daily rate for Airbnb listings on Saint Helena Island?
Can you build a large STR resort or development on Saint Helena Island?
Do you need a permit for a short-term rental on Saint Helena Island?
When is the best time to book or list a Saint Helena Island Airbnb?
Who are the largest STR property managers on Saint Helena Island, SC?
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