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

Source: AirROI

Last updated: 2025-06-01

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:3,196Monthly Revenue:$1930.16Daily Rate (ADR):$183.18Occupancy:46.00%Regulation:Low
Rank:#2Market:AshevilleCountry:United StatesProperties:2,092Monthly Revenue:$2184.52Daily Rate (ADR):$225.27Occupancy:42.13%Regulation:Low
Rank:#3Market:Carolina BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:1,609Monthly Revenue:$2516.82Daily Rate (ADR):$290.46Occupancy:41.48%Regulation:Low
Rank:#4Market:RaleighCountry:United StatesProperties:1,564Monthly Revenue:$1845.01Daily Rate (ADR):$163.31Occupancy:47.47%Regulation:Moderate
Rank:#5Market:WilmingtonCountry:United StatesProperties:1,538Monthly Revenue:$1937.30Daily Rate (ADR):$186.76Occupancy:45.07%Regulation:Low
Rank:#6Market:Kill Devil HillsCountry:United StatesProperties:1,139Monthly Revenue:$2566.30Daily Rate (ADR):$283.33Occupancy:42.85%Regulation:Low
Rank:#7Market:Oak IslandCountry:United StatesProperties:1,134Monthly Revenue:$3008.71Daily Rate (ADR):$387.11Occupancy:38.99%Regulation:Low
Rank:#8Market:DurhamCountry:United StatesProperties:1,074Monthly Revenue:$1573.30Daily Rate (ADR):$158.56Occupancy:45.65%Regulation:Low
Rank:#9Market:North Topsail BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:1,005Monthly Revenue:$2452.66Daily Rate (ADR):$360.13Occupancy:35.91%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:Bryson CityCountry:United StatesProperties:898Monthly Revenue:$2203.19Daily Rate (ADR):$219.50Occupancy:38.54%Regulation:Low
Rank:#11Market:CorollaCountry:United StatesProperties:824Monthly Revenue:$3094.01Daily Rate (ADR):$447.07Occupancy:38.47%Regulation:Low
Rank:#12Market:Beech MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:807Monthly Revenue:$1924.53Daily Rate (ADR):$272.77Occupancy:32.10%Regulation:Low
Rank:#13Market:Nags HeadCountry:United StatesProperties:803Monthly Revenue:$3062.84Daily Rate (ADR):$363.68Occupancy:40.79%Regulation:Low
Rank:#14Market:GreensboroCountry:United StatesProperties:761Monthly Revenue:$1841.94Daily Rate (ADR):$178.09Occupancy:44.99%Regulation:Low
Rank:#15Market:Surf CityCountry:United StatesProperties:716Monthly Revenue:$2716.23Daily Rate (ADR):$329.37Occupancy:37.97%Regulation:Low
Rank:#16Market:Winston-SalemCountry:United StatesProperties:696Monthly Revenue:$1524.27Daily Rate (ADR):$153.51Occupancy:44.69%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:BooneCountry:United StatesProperties:613Monthly Revenue:$2416.04Daily Rate (ADR):$281.35Occupancy:38.35%Regulation:Low
Rank:#18Market:FayettevilleCountry:United StatesProperties:602Monthly Revenue:$1154.80Daily Rate (ADR):$109.92Occupancy:45.69%Regulation:Low
Rank:#19Market:HendersonvilleCountry:United StatesProperties:599Monthly Revenue:$1677.94Daily Rate (ADR):$198.90Occupancy:40.05%Regulation:Low
Rank:#20Market:Atlantic BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:565Monthly Revenue:$1775.94Daily Rate (ADR):$263.70Occupancy:34.63%Regulation:Low
Rank:#21Market:Lake LureCountry:United StatesProperties:555Monthly Revenue:$2173.22Daily Rate (ADR):$293.44Occupancy:35.73%Regulation:Low
Rank:#22Market:Maggie ValleyCountry:United StatesProperties:541Monthly Revenue:$2049.58Daily Rate (ADR):$222.76Occupancy:36.67%Regulation:Low
Rank:#23Market:Black MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:514Monthly Revenue:$2344.50Daily Rate (ADR):$262.73Occupancy:40.06%Regulation:Low
Rank:#24Market:Banner ElkCountry:United StatesProperties:509Monthly Revenue:$2705.56Daily Rate (ADR):$368.92Occupancy:33.26%Regulation:Low
Rank:#25Market:Sugar MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:496Monthly Revenue:$1283.81Daily Rate (ADR):$222.68Occupancy:30.21%Regulation:Low
Rank:#26Market:Kure BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:482Monthly Revenue:$3020.22Daily Rate (ADR):$380.78Occupancy:39.10%Regulation:Low
Rank:#27Market:Emerald IsleCountry:United StatesProperties:478Monthly Revenue:$3049.39Daily Rate (ADR):$349.75Occupancy:40.73%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:WaynesvilleCountry:United StatesProperties:476Monthly Revenue:$1824.95Daily Rate (ADR):$206.78Occupancy:37.16%Regulation:Low
Rank:#29Market:Wrightsville BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:453Monthly Revenue:$4019.10Daily Rate (ADR):$487.73Occupancy:38.43%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:Ocean Isle BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:449Monthly Revenue:$4654.80Daily Rate (ADR):$638.55Occupancy:36.83%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.

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Discover Market Insights

All Markets in North Carolina, United States

AberdeenAhoskieAlbemarleAlexanderAlmondAndrewsApexArchdaleArdenAsheboroAshevilleAtlantic BeachAvonBakersvilleBald Head IslandBalsam GroveBanner ElkBarnardsvilleBeaufortBeech MountainBelhavenBelmontBent CreekBirdtown CommunityBlack MountainBlowing RockBooneBosticBrasstownBrevardBrunswick CountyBryson CityBurlingtonBurnsvilleBuxtonCalabashCandlerCantonCarolina BeachCarrboroCarthageCaryCashiersCastle HayneCaswell BeachCedar MountainCedar PointChapel HillCharlotteChimney RockClaytonClydeCoatsCoinjockColingtonColumbiaColumbusConcordCorneliusCorollaCrumplerCullowheeDavidsonDeep GapDenverDobsonDuckDurhamEdentonElizabeth CityElk ParkElkinElonEmerald IsleFairfield HarbourFairviewFayettevilleFergusonFlat RockFleetwoodFletcherForest CityFranklinFriscoFuquay-VarinaGarnerGastoniaGertonGlade ValleyGlenvilleGoldsboroGrahamGrassy CreekGreen MountainGreensboroGreenvilleHampsteadHarkers IslandHatterasHavelockHayesvilleHendersonHendersonvilleHenricoHertfordHickoryHigh PointHighlandsHillsboroughHolden BeachHolly RidgeHope MillsHorse ShoeHot SpringsHubertHuntersvilleIndian TrailJacksonvilleJames CityJamestownJeffersonKannapolisKernersvilleKill Devil HillsKings LandingKings MountainKinstonKitty HawkKnightdaleKure BeachLake JunaluskaLake LureLake Norman of CatawbaLake ToxawayLake WaccamawLansingLaurel ParkLaurel SpringsLeasburgLeicesterLenoirLexingtonLillingtonLincolntonLittletonLumbertonMaconMaggie 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 MountainSunset BeachSurf CitySwannanoaSwansboroSylvaTarboroThomasvilleToddTopsail BeachToptonTownship of TaylorsvilleTroutmanTryonTuckasegeeValle CrucisVassVilasWake ForestWarrensvilleWashingtonWatauga CountyWavesWaxhawWaynesvilleWeavervilleWendellWest JeffersonWhite LakeWhitevilleWhittierWilmingtonWilsonWinston-SalemWoodfinWrightsville BeachZionvilleZirconia