Freeland, Washington Short-Term Rental Market
Freeland, WA STRs averaged $233/night at 53.6% occupancy in April 2026 on Whidbey Island.
Quick Answer: Freeland, 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 Freeland. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Freeland.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Freeland is an unincorporated community on the south end of Whidbey Island, Washington, in Island County. It serves as a primary STR market for Puget Sound getaway visitors from the greater Seattle metro. In April 2026, listings averaged $233.24 per night with an overall occupancy rate of 53.6% and a RevPAR of $125.00. Year-over-year trends in April were mixed: occupancy declined 1.92 percentage points while ADR rose 4.27%, resulting in a net revenue change of -2.19% compared to April 2025.
The market is almost entirely entire-place rentals. Of approximately 5,386 listings tracked, 5,066 are entire-place, 318 are private rooms, and 2 are shared rooms. The bedroom breakdown shows: 2,160 one-bedroom listings, 1,396 two-bedroom, 1,145 three-bedroom, 481 four-bedroom, and 193 five-or-more-bedroom listings. Channel distribution splits roughly evenly between Airbnb-only (2,535), both-platform listings (2,442), and VRBO-only (409), indicating strong dual-channel representation.
The composite StaySTRA score is 70.18. Notable sub-scores include rental demand at 83.42 and revenue growth at 81.46, reflecting strong underlying visitor interest and improving revenue trajectory. The investability score of 65.07 is the lowest sub-score, reflecting both higher property values in the Pacific Northwest market and active regulatory uncertainty described below.
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 Freeland 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 Freeland, so these counts are not Freeland-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 Freeland?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Freeland 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 (Freeland)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Freeland 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 Freeland — 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
Freeland is an unincorporated community governed by Island County, which as of mid-2026 does not operate a dedicated STR permit or registration program for unincorporated areas. STRs are currently permitted. Operators must comply with Washington State requirements: obtain a state business license, collect and remit retail sales tax on stays under 30 days (Island County’s combined sales tax rate is approximately 9%, applied to lodging), and meet RCW 64.37 safety standards including smoke and carbon monoxide alarm requirements. STRs on septic systems may trigger Island County Environmental Health review. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement, and no statutory cap on rental nights.
IMPORTANT regulatory risk for investors: in April 2025, Island County long-range planners formally recommended banning new STRs within Freeland’s Urban Growth Area and other south-Whidbey mixed-use nodes (Clinton, Bayview, Greenbank, and others) through the Comprehensive Plan update, citing workforce housing concerns. A public hearing was noticed for June 23, 2026. The plan had not been confirmed as finally adopted at the time this profile was updated. Anyone considering a purchase specifically for STR use in Freeland should verify the current adopted code directly with Island County Planning and Community Development (360-679-7339) before committing.
Market Comparison
Freeland April 2026 occupancy of 53.6% sits slightly below the approximate U.S. STR median of 55%, though this reflects an off-peak month in a strongly seasonal summer market. The all-listing ADR of $233.24 exceeds the national median of roughly $220, consistent with Pacific Northwest island properties commanding a premium.
Among active operators, Vacasa leads the Freeland market with 327 listings and 24,080 reviews at a 4.515 rating, making it the dominant national operator by a significant margin. Evolve manages 144 listings with 9,100 reviews at a 4.834 rating. San Juan Property Management holds 91 listings with 8,680 reviews at 4.728. AvantStay operates 83 listings at 4.745, and Brigadoon Vacation Rentals manages 58 listings with 3,491 reviews at 4.811. The concentration of large national operators (Vacasa and Evolve together account for 471 listings) alongside strong-rated regional operators indicates a professionalized management market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freeland, Washington
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