Top 30 Best Places in North Carolina, United States to Invest in Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals (2025)

Source: AirROI

Last updated: 2025-11-01

Unlock high-ROI opportunities in North Carolina, United States‘s booming short-term rental (STR) market. This 2025 Airbnb investment guide from AirROI leverages cutting-edge Airbnb data analytics to pinpoint the most profitable cities for Airbnb and vacation rental entrepreneurs. Whether you’re scaling your portfolio or making your first STR investment, discover markets with strong rental demand, high revenue potential, and favorable regulations. We are committed to providing trustworthy insights based on comprehensive market analysis, and you can learn more about our rigorous approach to data accuracy.

Our STR market analysis dives deep into key performance indicators like monthly revenue, average daily rates (ADR), occupancy trends, property counts, and regulatory landscapes across North Carolina, United States. We go beyond simple rankings to provide the context you need for informed investment decisions using reliable Airbnb data.

Explore the data-driven insights below to identify the premier short-term rental investment hotspots and high ROI Airbnb markets in North Carolina, United States for 2025.

Top Short-Term Rental Markets in North Carolina, United States

Rank:#1Market:CharlotteCountry:United StatesProperties:3,000Monthly Revenue:$2250.24Daily Rate (ADR):$206.68Occupancy:44.43%Regulation:Low
Rank:#2Market:AshevilleCountry:United StatesProperties:1,863Monthly Revenue:$2303.39Daily Rate (ADR):$240.88Occupancy:38.67%Regulation:Low
Rank:#3Market:RaleighCountry:United StatesProperties:1,500Monthly Revenue:$2146.11Daily Rate (ADR):$182.82Occupancy:45.67%Regulation:Moderate
Rank:#4Market:Carolina BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:1,487Monthly Revenue:$3198.39Daily Rate (ADR):$324.41Occupancy:41.70%Regulation:Low
Rank:#5Market:WilmingtonCountry:United StatesProperties:1,471Monthly Revenue:$2374.79Daily Rate (ADR):$206.12Occupancy:44.48%Regulation:Low
Rank:#6Market:Oak IslandCountry:United StatesProperties:1,181Monthly Revenue:$3487.11Daily Rate (ADR):$442.13Occupancy:37.19%Regulation:Low
Rank:#7Market:Kill Devil HillsCountry:United StatesProperties:1,094Monthly Revenue:$3316.77Daily Rate (ADR):$311.16Occupancy:44.25%Regulation:Low
Rank:#8Market:DurhamCountry:United StatesProperties:1,005Monthly Revenue:$1843.62Daily Rate (ADR):$172.45Occupancy:44.54%Regulation:Low
Rank:#9Market:Bryson CityCountry:United StatesProperties:881Monthly Revenue:$2490.04Daily Rate (ADR):$244.44Occupancy:37.80%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:North Topsail BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:851Monthly Revenue:$3710.41Daily Rate (ADR):$420.25Occupancy:37.78%Regulation:Low
Rank:#11Market:CorollaCountry:United StatesProperties:815Monthly Revenue:$4541.54Daily Rate (ADR):$511.85Occupancy:39.22%Regulation:Low
Rank:#12Market:Nags HeadCountry:United StatesProperties:796Monthly Revenue:$4151.44Daily Rate (ADR):$430.91Occupancy:41.21%Regulation:Low
Rank:#13Market:Beech MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:763Monthly Revenue:$2168.79Daily Rate (ADR):$296.82Occupancy:31.74%Regulation:Low
Rank:#14Market:GreensboroCountry:United StatesProperties:734Monthly Revenue:$2079.22Daily Rate (ADR):$196.01Occupancy:43.33%Regulation:Low
Rank:#15Market:Surf CityCountry:United StatesProperties:679Monthly Revenue:$3610.07Daily Rate (ADR):$376.97Occupancy:38.30%Regulation:Low
Rank:#16Market:Winston-SalemCountry:United StatesProperties:661Monthly Revenue:$1667.02Daily Rate (ADR):$168.30Occupancy:42.41%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:BooneCountry:United StatesProperties:584Monthly Revenue:$2784.96Daily Rate (ADR):$304.93Occupancy:38.15%Regulation:Low
Rank:#18Market:FayettevilleCountry:United StatesProperties:576Monthly Revenue:$1317.02Daily Rate (ADR):$122.15Occupancy:44.41%Regulation:Low
Rank:#19Market:HendersonvilleCountry:United StatesProperties:541Monthly Revenue:$1952.14Daily Rate (ADR):$225.05Occupancy:37.71%Regulation:Low
Rank:#20Market:Atlantic BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:537Monthly Revenue:$2199.77Daily Rate (ADR):$285.60Occupancy:34.09%Regulation:Low
Rank:#21Market:Maggie ValleyCountry:United StatesProperties:528Monthly Revenue:$2362.89Daily Rate (ADR):$243.78Occupancy:36.33%Regulation:Low
Rank:#22Market:Banner ElkCountry:United StatesProperties:488Monthly Revenue:$2945.84Daily Rate (ADR):$387.19Occupancy:32.55%Regulation:Low
Rank:#23Market:Black MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:479Monthly Revenue:$2522.93Daily Rate (ADR):$276.45Occupancy:36.97%Regulation:Low
Rank:#24Market:Kure BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:473Monthly Revenue:$3855.27Daily Rate (ADR):$421.54Occupancy:39.56%Regulation:Low
Rank:#25Market:Wrightsville BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:467Monthly Revenue:$4581.70Daily Rate (ADR):$536.93Occupancy:37.14%Regulation:Low
Rank:#26Market:Lake LureCountry:United StatesProperties:463Monthly Revenue:$1746.66Daily Rate (ADR):$304.27Occupancy:26.14%Regulation:Low
Rank:#27Market:Sugar MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:456Monthly Revenue:$1465.65Daily Rate (ADR):$236.25Occupancy:30.11%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:Ocean Isle BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:455Monthly Revenue:$5184.54Daily Rate (ADR):$636.46Occupancy:36.20%Regulation:Low
Rank:#29Market:Emerald IsleCountry:United StatesProperties:452Monthly Revenue:$3969.54Daily Rate (ADR):$389.68Occupancy:41.23%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:WaynesvilleCountry:United StatesProperties:437Monthly Revenue:$2039.82Daily Rate (ADR):$224.14Occupancy:35.89%Regulation:Low

Our Data-Driven Methodology for STR Market Analysis

At AirROI, our market rankings and insights are powered by a robust methodology combining comprehensive Airbnb data collection with sophisticated STR analytics techniques. We strive to provide the most accurate and actionable intelligence for short-term rental investors.

Data Collection & Scope

  • Global Coverage: We aggregate STR data from tens of millions of active short-term rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo worldwide.
  • Real-Time Metrics: Our systems track key performance indicators (KPIs) daily, including booking rates, nightly pricing (ADR), occupancy rates, and revenue.
  • Regulatory Monitoring: We actively monitor and incorporate local short-term rental regulations, licensing requirements, and tax obligations into our market analysis.

Analysis & Ranking

  • Proprietary Algorithms: AI and machine learning models analyze booking patterns, predict seasonal demand shifts, and identify emerging market trends in the STR space.
  • Key Metric Evaluation: We evaluate markets based on a weighted combination of critical investment factors using our extensive Airbnb analytics:
    • Revenue Potential: Average Monthly Revenue and Average Daily Rate (ADR).
    • Market Demand: Occupancy Rate and booking lead times.
    • Investment Scale: Number of active properties and market growth trends.
    • Regulatory Environment: Assessed impact of local STR regulations on operational feasibility and profitability.
  • Benchmarking: Performance is benchmarked against regional and global averages to provide context for vacation rental investment potential.

Key Metrics Explained

  • Properties: The count of active short-term rental listings in the market.
  • Monthly Revenue: Average revenue generated per property per month, a key indicator for Airbnb profitability.
  • Daily Rate (ADR): Average nightly booking price.
  • Occupancy: Percentage of nights booked out of total available nights, crucial for understanding STR demand.
  • Regulation: An indicator of the local regulatory climate impacting Airbnb investment.

This rigorous approach ensures our recommendations are based on real-world performance Airbnb data and forward-looking market analysis, empowering you to invest smarter in the vacation rental market.

Access Real-Time Airbnb API

This report is powered by our industry-leading Airbnb Data API, providing direct access to live short-term rental data from global markets like North Carolina. Use this data to build powerful analytics tools, discover investment opportunities, and inform your vacation rental strategy.

Get API Access

All Markets in North Carolina, United States

AberdeenAhoskieAlbemarleAlexanderAlmondAndrewsApexArchdaleArdenAsheboroAshevilleAtlantic BeachAvonBakersvilleBald Head IslandBalsam GroveBanner ElkBarnardsvilleBathBeaufortBeech MountainBelhavenBelmontBent CreekBirdtown CommunityBlack MountainBlowing RockBooneBosticBrasstownBrevardBrunswick CountyBryson CityBurlingtonBurnsvilleBuxtonCalabashCandlerCantonCarolina BeachCarrboroCarthageCaryCashiersCastle HayneCaswell BeachCedar MountainCedar PointChapel HillCharlotteChimney RockClaytonClemmonsClydeCoatsCoinjockColingtonColumbiaColumbusConcordCorneliusCorollaCrumplerCullowheeDavidsonDeep GapDenverDobsonDuckDurhamEdentonElizabeth CityElk ParkElkinElonEmerald IsleFairfield HarbourFairviewFayettevilleFergusonFlat RockFleetwoodFletcherForest CityFranklinFriscoFuquay-VarinaGarnerGastoniaGertonGlade ValleyGlenvilleGoldsboroGrahamGrassy CreekGreen MountainGreensboroGreenvilleHampsteadHarkers IslandHarrisburgHatterasHavelockHayesvilleHendersonHendersonvilleHenricoHertfordHickoryHigh PointHighlandsHillsboroughHolden BeachHolly RidgeHope MillsHorse ShoeHot SpringsHubertHuntersvilleIndian TrailJacksonvilleJames CityJamestownJeffersonKannapolisKernersvilleKill Devil HillsKings MountainKinstonKitty HawkKnightdaleKure BeachLake JunaluskaLake LureLake Norman of CatawbaLake ToxawayLake WaccamawLansingLaurel ParkLaurel SpringsLeasburgLeicesterLelandLenoirLexingtonLillingtonLincolntonLittletonLumbertonMaconMaggie ValleyManteoMarbleMarionMars HillMarshallMatthewsMebaneMill SpringMills RiverMint HillMocksvilleMonroeMontreatMooresvilleMoravian FallsMorehead CityMorgantonMorrisvilleMount AiryMount GileadMount HollyMurphyNags HeadNeboNew BernNew LondonNewlandNewportNewtonNorth Topsail BeachNorwoodOak IslandOcean Isle BeachOcracokeOgdenOld FortOrientalOttoPenrosePilot MountainPine Knoll ShoresPinehurstPinevillePiney CreekPisgah ForestPittsboroPowells PointPurlearRaefordRaleighRichlandsRobbinsvilleRocky MountRodantheRosmanRoxboroRutherfordtonSalisburySalter PathSaludaSalvoSanfordSapphireScaly MountainSemoraSeven DevilsShallotteShelbySherrills FordSmithfieldSneads FerrySouthern PinesSouthern ShoresSouthportSpartaSpring LakeSpruce PineSt. JamesStatesvilleSugar GroveSugar MountainSummerfieldSunset BeachSurf CitySwannanoaSwansboroSylvaThomasvilleToddTopsail BeachToptonTownship of TaylorsvilleTroutmanTryonTuckasegeeValle CrucisVassVilasWake ForestWarrensvilleWashingtonWatauga CountyWavesWaxhawWaynesvilleWeavervilleWendellWest JeffersonWestfieldWhite LakeWhitevilleWhittierWilmingtonWilsonWinston-SalemWoodfinWrightsville BeachZirconia