Colchester, Vermont Short-Term Rental Market
Colchester, VT STRs averaged $189/night at 51.0% occupancy in April 2026 across 1,267 active listings.
Quick Answer: Colchester, Vermont is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 64%. average monthly revenue is $4,432. average daily rate is $263. the top operator is Errin with 33 listings. market score is 64/100 (grade C).
Market data reflects the Burlington regional market, which includes Colchester. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Colchester.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Colchester’s short-term rental market includes 1,267 active listings, with entire-place units accounting for 1,089 (86% of supply) and private rooms making up 178. Bedroom distribution leans toward smaller units: 591 one-bedroom, 310 two-bedroom, 235 three-bedroom, 89 four-bedroom, and 40 five-bedroom listings. The average daily rate in April 2026 was $189, and average occupancy stood at 51.0%, yielding RevPAR of $96.63.
Airbnb is the dominant channel: 798 listings appear only on Airbnb, 419 list on both Airbnb and Vrbo, and just 50 list only on Vrbo. Vrbo penetration is notably low relative to most lake markets, reflecting the Burlington-area demographic skewing toward Airbnb users.
Year-over-year as of April 2026, occupancy fell 3.0 percentage points and revenue declined 2.2%, while ADR rose 2.2%. Annual average occupancy peaked at 74.6% in 2021 and has declined each year since, settling at approximately 58.0% in 2024 and 2025. Rental demand scored 83.3/100 on the market index, the highest sub-score for this market, indicating strong baseline demand relative to peers.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47% | $164 | $2,183 |
| Feb | 59% | $170 | $2,435 |
| Mar | 51% | $153 | $2,268 |
| Apr | 59% | $163 | $2,380 |
| May | 59% | $201 | $2,924 |
| Jun | 67% | $207 | $3,527 |
| Jul | 77% | $210 | $4,238 |
| Aug | 80% | $216 | $4,608 |
| Sep | 69% | $200 | $3,611 |
| Oct | 71% | $200 | $3,847 |
| Nov | 50% | $165 | $2,295 |
| Dec | 54% | $171 | $2,295 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Colchester
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Errin | 33 | 5,361 | ★ 4.82 |
| 2 | Bissonette Properties | 27 | 1,554 | ★ 4.81 |
| 3 | Vacasa | 26 | 863 | ★ 4.52 |
| 4 | Evolve | 12 | 241 | ★ 4.72 |
| 5 | Henchman Property Management | 12 | 2,649 | ★ 4.86 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Colchester?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 591 |
| 2 bed | 310 |
| 3 bed | 235 |
| 4 bed | 89 |
| 5 bed | 40 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $277 |
| Luxury | $448 |
| Professionally Managed | $367 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,038 |
| Entire Place | $4,692 |
| House | $4,962 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 63% |
| vrbo | 3.9% |
| both | 33.1% |
Investment Analysis
Colchester’s STR market generates average monthly revenue of $2,472 as of April 2026, annualizing to approximately $29,659 per listing. Property type matters: houses average $2,701/month, entire-place units average $2,523/month, and apartments average $2,321/month.
Professionally managed properties command an ADR of $221 versus the all-listings average of $189, a 17% premium. Luxury-tier listings average $337/night, nearly double the market average, suggesting meaningful upside for higher-end properties.
No housing price data was available from the snapshot for this market, so a direct gross yield calculation cannot be made. Vermont’s regulatory framework is investor-friendly at the state level: no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement exists statewide, and Colchester has not adopted a local STR permit ordinance. The regulation score of 78.5/100 reflects this permissive environment. Investability scores 66.9/100, above average for the region. The primary risk factor for investors is the multi-year occupancy softening from the 2021 peak, which the revenue growth score of 51.3/100 also signals.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
The average booking lead time in Colchester is 37.6 days as of April 2026, meaning guests book just over five weeks in advance on average. This is consistent with a regional drive market where travelers plan ahead for peak summer weekends but book more spontaneously in shoulder months.
Average length of stay is 3.73 nights. This is above the national median, which reduces cleaning frequency and turnover costs relative to short-stay urban markets. A sub-4-night average means most bookings are weekend-plus stays rather than full-week rentals, giving operators flexibility in availability calendars without locking out mid-week demand. Operators pricing for July-August should note that the high-demand weeks (around Burlington events and peak lake season) likely skew toward longer stays, while the 3.73-night average includes shoulder-period shorter stays that pull the figure down.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Colchester has not adopted a dedicated local STR registry or permit ordinance. No city permit, fee, or registration requirement applies specifically to short-term rentals as of mid-2026. STRs are treated under existing residential zoning use categories in Colchester’s Development Regulations (effective May 3, 2023); operators should confirm that STR use is allowed in the specific zoning district before operating.
At the state level, Vermont defines an STR as a furnished dwelling rented under 30 consecutive days and more than 14 days per year. Combined occupancy tax is approximately 13%: Vermont’s 9% Rooms Tax plus a 3% STR surcharge (effective August 1, 2024) plus Colchester’s 1% local option rooms tax. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit these taxes automatically for bookings made through their platforms. Operators who rent independently for 15 or more days per year must register with the Vermont Department of Taxes (registration is free) and collect/remit taxes themselves.
Health and safety compliance is enforced under Vermont’s Rental Housing Health and Safety Code. Properties sleeping nine or more guests require a state Fire Safety inspection. There is no statewide or local nightly cap, owner-occupancy requirement, or primary-residence rule. Enforcement in Colchester is rated minimal.
Market Comparison
Colchester’s April 2026 occupancy of 51.0% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, consistent with an off-peak April read in a summer-dominant market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 58.0% is above the national median. ADR of $189 is below the US median of approximately $220, reflecting Colchester’s positioning as a regional destination rather than a national resort market.
The total market score of 63.7/100 is above average, supported by the high rental demand score (83.3/100) and solid regulation score (78.5/100). The rental demand strength likely reflects the Burlington metro’s tight housing market and active visitor base.
Among top operators, Errin leads with 33 listings and a 4.82 rating across 5,361 reviews, the largest review volume in the market. Bissonette Properties holds 27 listings at 4.81, and Vacasa manages 26 listings at 4.52. Henchman Property Management rounds out the notable operators with 12 listings and a 4.86 rating (2,649 reviews). The top five operators together control 110 listings, about 8.7% of the 1,267-listing market, indicating a highly fragmented, independent-operator-dominated landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Colchester, Vermont
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