James Island Airbnb Market Analysis 2025: Short Term Rental Data & Vacation Rental Statistics in South Carolina, United States
Is Airbnb profitable in James Island in 2025? Explore comprehensive Airbnb analytics for James Island, South Carolina, United States to uncover income potential. This 2025 STR market report for James Island, based on AirROI data from April 2024 to March 2025, reveals key trends in the niche market of 58 active listings.
Whether you're considering an Airbnb investment in James Island, optimizing your existing vacation rental, or exploring rental arbitrage opportunities, understanding the James Island Airbnb data is crucial. Leveraging the low regulation environment is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Let's dive into the specifics.
Key James Island Airbnb Performance Metrics Overview
Monthly Airbnb Revenue Variations & Income Potential in James Island (2025)
Understanding the monthly revenue variations for Airbnb listings in James Island is key to maximizing your short term rental income potential. Seasonality significantly impacts earnings. Our analysis, based on data from the past 12 months, shows that the peak revenue month for STRs in James Island is typically June, while January often presents the lowest earnings, highlighting opportunities for strategic pricing adjustments during shoulder and low seasons. Explore the typical Airbnb income in James Island across different performance tiers:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve $6,708+ monthly, often utilizing dynamic pricing and superior guest experiences.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) earn $4,622 or more, indicating effective management and desirable locations/amenities.
- Typical properties (Median) generate around $3,169 per month, representing the average market performance.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) see earnings around $1,943, often with potential for optimization.
Average Monthly Airbnb Earnings Trend in James Island
James Island Airbnb Occupancy Rate Trends (2025)
Maximize your bookings by understanding the James Island STR occupancy trends. Seasonal demand shifts significantly influence how often properties are booked. Typically, Junesees the highest demand (peak season occupancy), while January experiences the lowest (low season). Effective strategies, like adjusting minimum stays or offering promotions, can boost occupancy during slower periods. Here's how different property tiers perform in James Island:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) achieve 87%+ occupancy, indicating high desirability and potentially optimized availability.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) maintain 76% or higher occupancy, suggesting good market fit and guest satisfaction.
- Typical properties (Median) have an occupancy rate around 57%.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) average 38% occupancy, potentially facing higher vacancy.
Average Monthly Occupancy Rate Trend in James Island
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Airbnb Trends in James Island (2025)
Effective short term rental pricing strategy in James Island involves understanding monthly ADR fluctuations. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Airbnb in James Island typically peaks in July and dips lowest during January. Leveraging Airbnb dynamic pricing tools or strategies based on this seasonality can significantly boost revenue. Here's a look at the typical nightly rates achieved:
- Best-in-class properties (Top 10%) command rates of $393+ per night, often due to premium features or locations.
- Strong performing properties (Top 25%) achieve nightly rates of $242 or more.
- Typical properties (Median) charge around $159 per night.
- Entry-level properties (Bottom 25%) earn around $120 per night.
Average Daily Rate (ADR) Trend by Month in James Island
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Airbnb Seasonality Analysis & Trends in James Island (2025)
Peak Season (June, May, July)
- Revenue averages $4,597 per month
- Occupancy rates average 67.4%
- Daily rates average $211
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $3,537 per month
- Occupancy maintains around 55.5%
- Daily rates hold near $203
Low Season (January, February, September)
- Revenue drops to average $2,497 per month
- Occupancy decreases to average 45.3%
- Daily rates adjust to average $195
Seasonality Insights for James Island
- The Airbnb seasonality in James Island shows highly seasonal trends requiring careful strategy. While the sections above show seasonal averages, it's also insightful to look at the extremes:
- During the high season, the absolute peak month showcases James Island's highest earning potential, with monthly revenues capable of climbing to $4,823, occupancy reaching a high of 69.5%, and ADRs peaking at $213.
- Conversely, the slowest single month of the year, typically falling within the low season, marks the market's lowest point. In this month, revenue might dip to $2,211, occupancy could drop to 41.2%, and ADRs may adjust down to $191.
- Understanding both the seasonal averages and these monthly peaks and troughs in revenue, occupancy, and ADR is crucial for maximizing your Airbnb profit potential in James Island.
Seasonal Strategies for Maximizing Profit
- Peak Season: Maximize revenue through premium pricing and potentially longer minimum stays. Ensure high availability.
- Low Season: Offer competitive pricing, special promotions (e.g., extended stay discounts), and flexible cancellation policies. Target off-season travelers like remote workers or budget-conscious guests.
- Shoulder Seasons: Implement dynamic pricing that balances peak and low rates. Target weekend travelers or specific events. Offer slightly more flexible terms than peak season.
- Regularly analyze your own performance against these James Island seasonality benchmarks and adjust your pricing and availability strategy accordingly.
Best Areas for Airbnb Investment in James Island (2025)
Exploring the top neighborhoods for short-term rentals in James Island? This section highlights key areas, outlining why they are attractive for hosts and guests, along with notable local attractions. Consider these locations based on your target guest profile and investment strategy.
| Neighborhood / Area | Why Host Here? (Target Guests & Appeal) | Key Attractions & Landmarks |
|---|---|---|
| Historic Downtown | Charming area with historic homes and proximity to local attractions. Guests appreciate the walkability and access to downtown amenities, making it ideal for tourists. | Fort Sumter National Monument, Charleston City Market, Waterfront Park, The Battery, Rainbow Row |
| Folly Beach | A popular beach town known for its laid-back vibe and beautiful coastline. Ideal for those looking to enjoy the beach and outdoor activities, drawing many families and tourists. | Folly Beach Pier, Folly Beach County Park, Carolina Salt Seafood, Folly Island, Morris Island Lighthouse |
| James Island County Park | A large park offering a variety of recreational activities and close proximity to the city. Great for families and outdoor enthusiasts looking for spacious settings. | James Island County Park, Fishing / Rowing/Canoeing, Biking Trails, Picnic Areas, Dog Park |
| Bohicket Marina | Charming marina area that's great for boaters and seafood lovers. Provides easy access to the water and offers a relaxed lifestyle, attracting vacationers. | Bohicket Marina, Bohicket Grill, Kayaking, Fishing, Boat Rentals |
| Riverland Terrace | Quaint neighborhood known for its local eateries and community vibe. Its proximity to downtown Charleston makes it appealing to visitors seeking local experiences. | Terraza, The Terrace Theatre, St. Andrews Parish |
Understanding Airbnb License Requirements & STR Laws in James Island (2025)
While James Island, South Carolina, United States currently shows low STR regulations, specific Airbnb license requirements might still exist or change. Always verify the latest short term rental regulations and Airbnb license requirements directly with local government authorities for James Island to ensure full compliance before hosting.
(Source: AirROI data, 2025, finding no licensed listings among those analyzed)
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in James Island (2025)
Benchmark your potential! Explore examples of top-performing Airbnb properties in James Islandbased on Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) revenue. Analyze their characteristics, revenue, occupancy rate, and ADR to understand what drives success in this market.
Renovated - 3 Bed Home - 10 Minutes to Downtown!
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Waterfront Home 5 minutes From Downtown Charleston
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Lovely Home w/ Ideal City + Beach Location!
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Zen Den Spacious and Peaceful
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Lowcountry Wave
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
3BR Beach/Downtown 10min
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Note: Performance varies based on location, size, amenities, seasonality, and management quality. Data reflects the past 12 months.
Top Performing Airbnb Hosts in James Island (2025)
Learn from the best! This table showcases top-performing Airbnb hosts in James Island based on the number of properties managed and estimated total revenue over the past year. Analyze their scale and performance metrics.
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom | 2 | $144,006 | 81 | 4.88/5.0 |
| The Boroughs | 1 | $102,303 | 164 | 4.96/5.0 |
| David | 1 | $84,957 | 325 | 4.82/5.0 |
| Jaime | 2 | $81,616 | 332 | 4.97/5.0 |
| Ced | 1 | $74,040 | 244 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Host #8242154 | 1 | $72,511 | 107 | 4.93/5.0 |
| Erin | 1 | $71,668 | 142 | 4.96/5.0 |
| Nick + Cheryl | 2 | $69,354 | 151 | 2.43/5.0 |
| Rebekah | 1 | $64,884 | 24 | 5.00/5.0 |
| Steve | 1 | $62,721 | 68 | 4.99/5.0 |
Analyzing the strategies of top hosts, such as their property selection, pricing, and guest communication, can offer valuable lessons for optimizing your own Airbnb operations in James Island.
Dive Deeper: Advanced James Island STR Market Data (2025)
Ready to unlock more insights? AirROI provides access to advanced metrics and comprehensive Airbnb data for James Island. Explore detailed analytics beyond this report to refine your investment strategy, optimize pricing, and maximize your vacation rental profits.
Explore Advanced MetricsJames Island Short-Term Rental Market Composition (2025): Property & Room Types
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Market Composition Insights for James Island
- The James Island Airbnb market composition is heavily skewed towards Entire Home/Apt listings, which make up 94.8% of the 58 active rentals. This indicates strong guest preference for privacy and space.
- Looking at the property type distribution in James Island, House properties are the most common (62.1%), reflecting the local real estate landscape.
- Houses represent a significant 62.1% portion, catering likely to families or larger groups.
- The presence of 17.2% Hotel/Boutique listings indicates integration with traditional hospitality.
- Smaller segments like outdoor/unique (combined 1.7%) offer potential for unique stay experiences.
James Island Airbnb Room Capacity Analysis (2025): Bedroom Distribution
Distribution of Listings by Number of Bedrooms
Room Capacity Insights for James Island
- The dominant room capacity in James Island is 2 bedrooms listings, making up 27.6% of the market. This suggests a strong demand for properties suitable for couples or solo travelers.
- Together, 2 bedrooms and 1 bedroom properties represent 51.7% of the active Airbnb listings in James Island, indicating a high concentration in these sizes.
- A significant 36.2% of listings offer 3+ bedrooms, catering to larger groups and families seeking more space in James Island.
James Island Vacation Rental Guest Capacity Trends (2025)
Distribution of Listings by Guest Capacity
Guest Capacity Insights for James Island
- The most common guest capacity trend in James Island vacation rentals is listings accommodating 4 guests (27.6%). This suggests the primary traveler segment is likely small families or groups.
- Properties designed for 4 guests and 2 guests dominate the James Island STR market, accounting for 53.5% of listings.
- 36.1% of properties accommodate 6+ guests, serving the market segment for larger families or group travel in James Island.
- On average, properties in James Island are equipped to host 4.6 guests.
James Island Airbnb Booking Patterns (2025): Available vs. Booked Days
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Booking Pattern Insights for James Island
- The most common availability pattern in James Island falls within the 181-270 days range, representing 36.2% of listings. This suggests many properties have significant open periods on their calendars.
- Approximately 51.7% of listings show high availability (181+ days open annually), indicating potential for increased bookings or specific owner usage patterns.
- For booked days, the 91-180 days range is most frequent in James Island (36.2%), reflecting common guest stay durations or potential owner blocking patterns.
- A notable 50.0% of properties secure long booking periods (181+ days booked per year), highlighting successful long-term rental strategies or significant owner usage.
James Island Airbnb Minimum Stay Requirements Analysis
Distribution of Listings by Minimum Night Requirement
1 Night
16 listings
29.1% of total
2 Nights
14 listings
25.5% of total
3 Nights
5 listings
9.1% of total
4-6 Nights
1 listings
1.8% of total
7-29 Nights
3 listings
5.5% of total
30+ Nights
16 listings
29.1% of total
Key Insights
- The most prevalent minimum stay requirement in James Island is 1 Night, adopted by 29.1% of listings. This highlights the market's preference for shorter, flexible bookings.
- A significant segment (29.1%) caters to monthly stays (30+ nights) in James Island, pointing to opportunities in the extended-stay market.
Recommendations
- Align with the market by considering a 1 Night minimum stay, as 29.1% of James Island hosts use this setting.
- If feasible, allowing 1-night stays, especially midweek or during low season, could capture last-minute bookings, as only 29.1% currently do.
- Explore offering discounts for stays of 30+ nights to attract the 29.1% of the market seeking extended stays.
- Adjust minimum nights based on seasonality – potentially shorter during low season and longer during peak demand periods in James Island.
James Island Airbnb Cancellation Policy Trends Analysis (2025)
Super Strict 60 Days
1 listings
1.8% of total
Flexible
7 listings
12.5% of total
Moderate
17 listings
30.4% of total
Firm
15 listings
26.8% of total
Strict
16 listings
28.6% of total
Cancellation Policy Insights for James Island
- The prevailing Airbnb cancellation policy trend in James Island is Moderate, used by 30.4% of listings.
- A majority (55.4%) of hosts in James Island utilize Firm or Strict policies, indicating a market where hosts prioritize booking security.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Consider adopting a Moderate policy to align with the 30.4% market standard in James Island.
- Regularly review your cancellation policy against competitors and market demand shifts in James Island.
James Island STR Booking Lead Time Analysis (2025)
Average Booking Lead Time by Month
Booking Lead Time Insights for James Island
- The overall average booking lead time for vacation rentals in James Island is 51 days.
- Guests book furthest in advance for stays during June (average 72 days), likely coinciding with peak travel demand or local events.
- The shortest booking windows occur for stays in January (average 29 days), indicating more last-minute travel plans during this time.
- Seasonally, Spring (61 days avg.) sees the longest lead times, while Winter (39 days avg.) has the shortest, reflecting typical travel planning cycles.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Use the overall average lead time (51 days) as a baseline for your pricing and availability strategy in James Island.
- For June stays, consider implementing length-of-stay discounts or slightly higher rates for bookings made less than 72 days out to capitalize on advance planning.
- Target marketing efforts for the Spring season well in advance (at least 61 days) to capture early planners.
- Monitor your own booking lead times against these James Island averages to identify opportunities for dynamic pricing adjustments.
Popular & Essential Airbnb Amenities in James Island (2025)
Amenity Prevalence
Amenity Insights for James Island
- Essential amenities in James Island that guests expect include: Free parking on premises, Air conditioning, TV, Wifi, Smoke alarm, Hot water, Coffee maker, Essentials, Heating. Lacking these (any) could significantly impact bookings.
- Popular amenities like Dishes and silverware are common but not universal. Offering these can provide a competitive edge.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Ensure your listing includes all essential amenities for James Island: Free parking on premises, Air conditioning, TV, Wifi, Smoke alarm, Hot water, Coffee maker, Essentials, Heating.
- Prioritize adding missing essentials: TV, Wifi, Smoke alarm, Hot water, Coffee maker, Essentials, Heating.
- Consider adding popular differentiators like Dishes and silverware to increase appeal.
- Highlight unique or less common amenities you offer (e.g., hot tub, dedicated workspace, EV charger) in your listing description and photos.
- Regularly check competitor amenities in James Island to stay competitive.
James Island Airbnb Guest Demographics & Profile Analysis (2025)
Guest Profile Summary for James Island
- The typical guest profile for Airbnb in James Island consists of primarily domestic travelers (97%), often arriving from nearby Charlotte, typically belonging to the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group (50%), primarily speaking English or Spanish.
- Domestic travelers account for 96.6% of guests.
- Key international markets include United States (96.6%) and Canada (0.8%).
- Top languages spoken are English (74.9%) followed by Spanish (10.5%).
- A significant demographic segment is the Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) group, representing 50% of guests.
Recommendations for Hosts
- Target domestic marketing efforts towards travelers from Charlotte and Columbia.
- Tailor amenities and listing descriptions to appeal to the dominant Post-2000s (Gen Z/Alpha) demographic (e.g., highlight fast WiFi, smart home features, local guides).
- Highlight unique local experiences or amenities relevant to the primary guest profile.
- Consider seasonal promotions aligned with peak travel times for key origin markets.
Nearby Short-Term Rental Market Comparison
How does the James Island Airbnb market stack up against its neighbors? Compare key performance metrics like average monthly revenue, ADR, and occupancy rates in surrounding areas to understand the broader regional STR landscape.
| Market | Active Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Avg. Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folly Beach | 885 | $6,398 | $497.67 | 47% |
| Sullivan's Island | 24 | $6,341 | $798.57 | 43% |
| Isle of Palms | 873 | $6,018 | $636.28 | 40% |
| Ocean Isle Beach | 414 | $5,769 | $604.07 | 39% |
| Talahi Island | 47 | $5,577 | $314.14 | 50% |
| Charleston | 1,841 | $5,054 | $354.60 | 53% |
| Mount Pleasant | 445 | $4,059 | $277.98 | 54% |
| Tybee Island | 1,260 | $3,913 | $385.21 | 40% |
| Fripp Island | 124 | $3,827 | $413.61 | 37% |
| Kiawah Island | 532 | $3,755 | $514.97 | 35% |