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 is 70%. average monthly revenue is $5,762. average daily rate is $317. the top operator 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 Apivex 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 | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36% | $177 | $1,852 |
| Feb | 47% | $182 | $2,000 |
| Mar | 50% | $188 | $2,477 |
| Apr | 56% | $204 | $2,992 |
| May | 58% | $221 | $3,172 |
| Jun | 69% | $255 | $4,432 |
| Jul | 79% | $256 | $5,321 |
| Aug | 79% | $255 | $5,363 |
| Sep | 63% | $228 | $3,781 |
| Oct | 50% | $194 | $2,718 |
| Nov | 45% | $192 | $2,271 |
| Dec | 45% | $193 | $2,323 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Clinton
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | 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 pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 2,160 |
| 2 bed | 1,396 |
| 3 bed | 1,145 |
| 4 bed | 481 |
| 5 bed | 193 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $326 |
| Luxury | $565 |
| Professionally Managed | $381 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $4,225 |
| Entire Place | $5,964 |
| House | $6,381 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 47.1% |
| vrbo | 7.6% |
| both | 45.3% |
Investment Analysis
Clinton’s STR market generates meaningful per-listing revenue relative to its small-town character. At April 2026’s average monthly revenue of $3,259 per listing, annualized gross revenue runs approximately $39,108. No housing snapshot data was available for Clinton at the time of this analysis, so a purchase-price-to-income yield calculation cannot be provided. Prospective investors should obtain current Whidbey Island residential sale prices independently.
Performance stratifies clearly by listing type and tier. Entire-place listings averaged $3,362 per month and houses averaged $3,532, well above the all-listings average. Apartments generated $2,475, roughly $1,000 less per month. The ADR gap is also significant: luxury-tier listings commanded $412.22 per night versus $233.24 for all listings, and professionally managed properties averaged $264.55 per night, a $31 premium over the market average.
The 2025 full-year average annual revenue per listing was $3,908 per month, up from $2,317 in 2017, though 2021 (at $3,838/month) marked a prior peak that the market has only recently reapproached. Revenue in 2026 year-to-date is tracking below 2025 (2026 year-to-date average $2,591 versus $3,908 full-year 2025), reflecting seasonal softness in the January-April period.
A key investment risk: Clinton sits in a Mixed-Use Rural Area of Intense Development (RAID) under a development moratorium through October 14, 2026, and county planners have discussed banning STRs in these areas. Any investment should be contingent on clear regulatory status of the specific parcel with Island County Planning.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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Booking Insights
Clinton STR guests book an average of 44.2 days in advance and stay an average of 3.43 nights. The longer booking lead time compared to national averages (often 30 to 45 days) reflects the destination nature of Whidbey Island travel: visitors arriving by ferry plan ahead, particularly during summer months when ferry waits can reach two to three hours and competition for prime listing dates is intense.
The 3.43-night average stay is shorter than many rural destination markets, suggesting a strong weekend-trip pattern. The Mukilteo-Clinton ferry is about 35 miles from Seattle, making it a practical two-night or three-night getaway for Seattle-area travelers. Hosts should consider two-night minimums during peak season to avoid single-night gaps in the calendar while capturing the demand from these short-break visitors.
The 44-day advance booking window gives hosts a reasonable runway for dynamic pricing. Rates can be set higher for bookings made 30 or more days in advance and adjusted downward closer to arrival if occupancy is not materializing. For the January-February trough period, shorter minimum stays (or no minimum) can help attract travelers who are otherwise deterred by inflexible policies.
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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