Bayfield, Wisconsin Short-Term Rental Market
Bayfield, WI STRs averaged $190/night at 40.1% occupancy in April 2026, with an investability score of 91.9 out of 100.
Quick Answer: Bayfield, Wisconsin is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Wisconsin Area market area is 60%. average monthly revenue in the Wisconsin Area market area is $4,359. average daily rate in the Wisconsin Area market area is $293. the top operator in the Wisconsin Area market area is Evolve with 553 listings. market score is 80/100 (grade B).
Market data reflects the Wisconsin Area regional market, which includes Bayfield. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Bayfield.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Bayfield is a small Lake Superior harbor town of roughly 584 residents, positioned as the mainland gateway to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which recorded approximately 247,167 visits in 2023. The short-term rental market is heavily seasonal, drawing outdoor-recreation travelers, kayakers, sailors, and regional Midwest leisure visitors in summer and fall, along with sea-cave and ice-cave seekers in winter when conditions permit.
In April 2026, the market recorded an average daily rate of $190 and occupancy of 40.1%, with RevPAR of $76. April falls in the shoulder period between ice season and peak summer; the 2025 annual average occupancy was 46.3% and ADR was $235. Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy increased 1.6%, ADR increased 6.7%, and revenue grew 0.3%, indicating that the ADR gain was largely offset by volume timing.
Entire-place listings dominate the supply at 14,056 units (94.6% of total), with 792 private-room and 4 shared-room listings. By bedroom count, two-bedroom properties are the most common at 4,277 listings, followed by three-bedroom (4,069), one-bedroom (2,983), four-bedroom (2,156), and five-bedroom-plus (1,339). Channel distribution shows dual-platform operation is prevalent: 7,059 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 5,664 on Airbnb only, and 2,129 on VRBO only. The higher VRBO share relative to other markets reflects the vacation-property character of the Apostle Islands region.
The overall market score is 80.0 out of 100, with investability at 91.9 and revenue growth at 91.9, both among the highest scores in the data set. Rental demand scores 57.8 and seasonality 56.8, reflecting the market’s concentrated summer-fall demand window.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Jan | 36% |
| Feb | 41% |
| Mar | 35% |
| Apr | 41% |
| May | 50% |
| Jun | 62% |
| Jul | 70% |
| Aug | 62% |
| Sep | 47% |
| Oct | 43% |
| Nov | 38% |
| Dec | 41% |
Month-by-month nightly rates and revenue figures for Bayfield are available to StaySTRA Pro members. Unlock with StaySTRA Pro or analyze a specific address free.
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Wisconsin Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Wisconsin Area market as a whole, which includes Bayfield, so these counts are not Bayfield-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 553 | 19,950 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 421 | 11,122 | ★ 4.62 |
| 3 | Hiller Vacation Homes | 95 | 1,825 | ★ 4.46 |
| 4 | Northwoods Property Managment | 63 | 445 | ★ 4.71 |
| 5 | Wild Eagle Lodge | 59 | 18 | ★ 4.50 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Bayfield?
Revenue and nightly-rate breakdowns by bedroom count, property tier, and dwelling type for Bayfield 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 | 38.1% |
| vrbo | 14.3% |
| both | 47.5% |
Home Value Trends (Bayfield)
Typical home values, median sale prices, and the 10-year price trend for Bayfield 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 Bayfield — 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 the City of Bayfield and require a Short-Term Rental License issued annually by the city Zoning Administrator. Licenses run a July 1 through June 30 annual term and must be renewed each year. The city fee amount is not published online; operators should contact Bayfield City Hall at 715-779-5712 for current fee information.
Before a license is issued or renewed, the owner must submit a completed Bayfield Fire Department fire inspection report and a Bayfield County Health Department inspection report, both dated within the prior year. Rentals are limited to one renter per any seven-consecutive-day period and may not generate vehicular traffic, noise, fumes, glare, or vibration beyond what is normal for the residential neighborhood. There is no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement and no cap on annual rental nights.
All STRs within the City of Bayfield are subject to an 8% room tax on gross lodging receipts. Wisconsin state law also requires a Tourist Rooming House license through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), administered locally by the Bayfield County Health Department; the state license fee is approximately $929 for a single unit.
Properties located in unincorporated Bayfield County (outside the city limits, the City of Washburn, and the Town of Pilsen) operate under a separate county STR ordinance that requires a one-time $500 county permit and compliance with potable-water and plumbing standards, per Bayfield County Ordinance Sec. 13-1-35 updated July 30, 2024. Enforcement is rated moderate.
Market Comparison
Bayfield’s April 2026 occupancy of 40.1% is below the US STR median of approximately 55%, but April is a shoulder month in this market. The 2025 annual average occupancy of 46.3% is also below the national median, reflecting Bayfield’s compressed demand window. However, the 2025 annual average ADR of $235 is above the US STR median of approximately $220, consistent with the Apostle Islands destination premium.
The market’s revenue growth score of 91.9 and investability score of 91.9 are standout metrics, indicating that Bayfield has delivered consistent revenue improvement over time despite its seasonal concentration.
Among property managers, Evolve leads with 553 listings and a 4.74 average rating across 19,950 reviews. Vacasa is second with 421 listings and a 4.62 rating across 11,122 reviews. Hiller Vacation Homes manages 95 listings with a 4.46 rating. Northwoods Property Management operates 63 listings at a 4.71 rating. Wild Eagle Lodge holds 59 listings with an early-stage review base of 18 reviews at a 4.50 rating. The top 5 operators collectively manage 1,191 listings. Evolve and Vacasa together represent the dominant professionally managed presence in the market, consistent with the Northwoods Wisconsin vacation-rental landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bayfield, Wisconsin
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