Fayetteville, West Virginia Short-Term Rental Market
Fayetteville, WV STRs averaged $173/night with 8,300+ active listings serving 1.9 million New River Gorge visitors annually.
Quick Answer: Fayetteville, West Virginia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the West Virginia Area market area is 54%. average monthly revenue in the West Virginia Area market area is $2,874. average daily rate in the West Virginia Area market area is $203. the top operator in the West Virginia Area market area is Evolve with 178 listings. market score is 92/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the West Virginia Area regional market, which includes Fayetteville. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Fayetteville.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Fayetteville, WV is the primary gateway community for New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which drew approximately 1.9 million visitors in 2023 and set new records in 2024. With a resident population of just 2,753, the STR market here is outsized relative to community size, reflecting the area’s national tourism footprint. As of April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $173 and an occupancy rate of 46.5%, producing a RevPAR of $80. Year-over-year, ADR grew 1.6%, occupancy held essentially flat (+0.4%), and average monthly revenue increased 2.2%.
The active listing base spans approximately 8,353 properties, one of the largest STR markets in West Virginia. Entire-place rentals account for 7,829 listings (94% of total), with private rooms at 523. Dual-channel properties (listed on both Airbnb and VRBO) number 3,893, nearly matching the 3,837 Airbnb-exclusive listings, and 623 properties list on VRBO only. By bedroom count, one-bedroom units lead at 2,769, followed by two-bedroom (2,354), three-bedroom (1,912), four-bedroom (834), and five-bedroom (472) properties. The market’s composite score of 91.9 out of 100 reflects exceptional investability (99.8) and solid seasonality stability (85.0).
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 46% |
| Feb | 50% |
| Mar | 41% |
| Apr | 45% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 54% |
| Jul | 57% |
| Aug | 52% |
| Sep | 46% |
| Oct | 51% |
| Nov | 45% |
| Dec | 47% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Fayetteville are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in West Virginia Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the West Virginia Area market as a whole, which includes Fayetteville, so these counts are not Fayetteville-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 178 | 7,849 | ★ 4.69 |
| 2 | Snowshoe Brigham Collection | 173 | 26 | ★ 4.54 |
| 3 | Casago | 152 | 3,773 | ★ 4.65 |
| 4 | Blue Maple | 131 | 12,710 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Mountaintop Condos | 111 | 6,158 | ★ 4.71 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Fayetteville?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Fayetteville 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 | 45.9% |
| vrbo | 7.5% |
| both | 46.6% |
Home Value Trends (Fayetteville)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville — 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
Short-term rentals are legal in Fayetteville, WV but require compliance with a multi-layer permitting structure. At the state level, operators must obtain a West Virginia Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Department. At the county level, Fayette County requires an annual STR health permit under the WV General Sanitation Rule; this permit runs January 1 through December 31, requires a passing inspection, and fees scale with bedroom count. Renewal applications are due by December 15 each year. At the town level, the Town of Fayetteville regulates STRs through its zoning ordinance and requires a local business license. Properties must meet safety standards including smoke detectors and posted occupancy limits.
The WV lodging tax rate applicable to short-term rentals (stays of 29 nights or fewer) is 6%. Platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit this tax under West Virginia’s marketplace-facilitator law.
Enforcement is rated moderate, with the required annual health inspection providing the county a recurring compliance checkpoint. Exact town permit fees, occupancy caps, and any density limits should be confirmed directly with the Town of Fayetteville, as the local ordinance continues to evolve. The 2020 national park redesignation prompted the town to refine its STR zoning regulations in response to accelerated demand.
Market Comparison
Fayetteville, WV’s April 2026 occupancy of 46.5% is below the U.S. STR median of approximately 55%. However, the market’s $173 ADR is well above the U.S. median of approximately $220 when accounting for what is effectively a rural mountain gateway market. The revenue output of $2,286/month in April outperforms many markets with higher occupancy but lower nightly rates.
Compared to similar national park gateway markets, Fayetteville’s investability score of 99.8 out of 100 indicates exceptional market fundamentals, likely reflecting the combination of growing national park visitation, low home prices, and multi-season demand. The regulation score of 73.1 reflects the moderate compliance burden of the multi-layer permit system, but this is a manageable regulatory environment.
The top operators are well-established: Evolve leads with 178 listings and 7,849 reviews at a 4.69 rating. Blue Maple follows with 131 listings and 12,710 reviews at a 4.71 rating. Casago holds 152 listings with 3,773 reviews at a 4.65 rating. Snowshoe Brigham Collection manages 173 listings focused on the Snowshoe ski area. Mountaintop Condos rounds out the top five at 111 listings and 4.71 rating. Combined, the top five operators account for approximately 745 listings, or about 9% of the total market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fayetteville, West Virginia
What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in Fayetteville, WV?
How much do Airbnb hosts earn per month in Fayetteville, WV?
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Fayetteville, WV?
Why are Fayetteville, WV nightly rates high in January?
What is the typical home value in Fayetteville, WV for STR investors?
Who are the top property managers in the Fayetteville, WV STR market?
How does the New River Gorge National Park designation affect the Fayetteville STR market?
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