Clinton, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Clinton, WA STRs averaged $233/night at 53.6% occupancy in April 2026, with summer peaks reaching 79% occupancy.
Quick Answer: Clinton, Washington is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is 70%. average monthly revenue in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is $5,762. average daily rate in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is $317. the top operator in the Puget Sound/Bremerton market area is Vacasa with 327 listings. market score is 70/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Puget Sound/Bremerton regional market, which includes Clinton. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Clinton.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Clinton is the southern ferry landing on Whidbey Island, Washington, serving as the primary arrival point for visitors from the Seattle and Puget Sound metro area via the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry route. The STR market is concentrated in entire-place listings: 5,066 of approximately 5,386 active listings are entire-place units (94%), with 318 private rooms and just 2 shared rooms rounding out the supply.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $233 and occupancy of 53.6%, generating $125 in RevPAR. Year-over-year through April 2026, ADR rose 4.3%, though occupancy declined 1.9 percentage points and total revenue per listing fell 2.2%. The ADR gain has not yet offset the occupancy softening.
By bedroom count, 1-bedroom units lead with 2,160 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (1,396), 3-bedroom (1,145), 4-bedroom (481), and 5-bedroom-plus (193). Airbnb-only listings number 2,535, VRBO-only 409, and 2,442 listings appear on both platforms.
The market’s composite score is 70.2 out of 100, with strong revenue growth (81.5) and rental demand (83.4) scores partially offset by a low seasonality score (50.7), which reflects the pronounced concentration of demand in summer months. The regulatory score of 72.7 reflects Island County’s still-developing STR framework.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 47% |
| Mar | 50% |
| Apr | 56% |
| May | 58% |
| Jun | 69% |
| Jul | 79% |
| Aug | 79% |
| Sep | 63% |
| Oct | 50% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 45% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Clinton are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Puget Sound/Bremerton market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Puget Sound/Bremerton market as a whole, which includes Clinton, so these counts are not Clinton-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacasa | 327 | 24,080 | ★ 4.52 |
| 2 | Evolve | 144 | 9,100 | ★ 4.83 |
| 3 | San Juan Property Management | 91 | 8,680 | ★ 4.73 |
| 4 | AvantStay | 83 | 6,296 | ★ 4.75 |
| 5 | Brigadoon Vacation Rentals | 58 | 3,491 | ★ 4.81 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Clinton?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Clinton 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 | 47.1% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 45.3% |
Home Value Trends (Clinton)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Clinton 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 Clinton — 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
Clinton is an unincorporated community in Island County, Washington. As of mid-2026, Island County has no dedicated STR ordinance. STRs are permitted, and no county-level STR permit is required, but operators must comply with Washington State law under RCW 64.37, which requires a valid state business license, $1,000,000 in liability insurance, posted occupancy limits, emergency exit markings, carbon monoxide alarms, and 24-hour contact information availability.
Stays under 30 nights are subject to Washington retail sales tax (approximately 9.0% in the 98236 ZIP code) plus Island County’s 2% special hotel and motel lodging tax, for a combined tax burden of approximately 11% on guest charges. Airbnb and VRBO collect and remit much of this on behalf of hosts.
A critical regulatory caveat applies directly to Clinton: the community is designated a Mixed-Use Rural Area of Intense Development (RAID), one of 11 such designations in Island County. An emergency moratorium on new land-use and building permits in RAIDs has been in effect since April 2025, extended through October 14, 2026, while the county rewrites its density and zoning code. County planners have publicly discussed prohibiting STRs in RAID-designated areas as part of this rewrite.
Operators on septic systems may also require Island County Environmental Health review. Prospective operators should confirm current parcel zoning and moratorium status directly with Island County Planning and Community Development before purchasing or listing. The regulatory environment is fluid and could tighten materially before the end of 2026.
Market Comparison
Clinton’s 53.6% occupancy in April 2026 is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%, a reflection of the market’s highly seasonal demand pattern (peak summer offset by a very soft winter). The $233 ADR, however, is well above the U.S. median of approximately $220, placing Clinton among the higher-rate small-market destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
RevPAR of $125 reflects the blend of above-average rates and below-average occupancy. In the context of island destination markets with similar seasonal profiles (coastal and island getaways), this is a competitive performance.
Professional management is more consolidated here than in most markets. Vacasa leads with 327 listings and 24,080 reviews at a 4.515 average rating, representing roughly 6% of total listings. Evolve holds 144 listings with 9,100 reviews at 4.834 stars, and San Juan Property Management manages 91 listings with 8,680 reviews at 4.728 stars. AvantStay (83 listings, 6,296 reviews, 4.745 stars) and Brigadoon Vacation Rentals (58 listings, 3,491 reviews, 4.811 stars) complete the top five. The top five collectively manage 703 listings, or approximately 13% of the active market, suggesting professional management is more prevalent here than in typical urban markets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinton, Washington
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