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 in the Burlington market area is 64%. average monthly revenue in the Burlington market area is $4,432. average daily rate in the Burlington market area is $263. the top operator in the Burlington market area 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 StaySTRA 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 |
|---|---|
| Jan | 47% |
| Feb | 59% |
| Mar | 51% |
| Apr | 59% |
| May | 59% |
| Jun | 67% |
| Jul | 77% |
| Aug | 80% |
| Sep | 69% |
| Oct | 71% |
| Nov | 50% |
| Dec | 54% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Colchester are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Burlington market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Burlington market as a whole, which includes Colchester, so these counts are not Colchester-only figures.
| # | 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 nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Colchester 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 | 63% |
| vrbo | 3.9% |
| both | 33.1% |
Home Value Trends (Colchester)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Colchester 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 Colchester — 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
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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