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

Source: AirROI

Last updated: 2025-08-01

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:3,244Monthly Revenue:$2017.96Daily Rate (ADR):$186.55Occupancy:45.84%Regulation:Low
Rank:#2Market:AshevilleCountry:United StatesProperties:2,037Monthly Revenue:$2141.61Daily Rate (ADR):$226.45Occupancy:40.43%Regulation:Low
Rank:#3Market:RaleighCountry:United StatesProperties:1,599Monthly Revenue:$1951.73Daily Rate (ADR):$166.91Occupancy:47.32%Regulation:Low
Rank:#4Market:Carolina BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:1,568Monthly Revenue:$2766.49Daily Rate (ADR):$298.44Occupancy:41.37%Regulation:Low
Rank:#5Market:WilmingtonCountry:United StatesProperties:1,554Monthly Revenue:$2115.69Daily Rate (ADR):$187.50Occupancy:45.62%Regulation:Low
Rank:#6Market:Oak IslandCountry:United StatesProperties:1,211Monthly Revenue:$3071.98Daily Rate (ADR):$411.21Occupancy:37.46%Regulation:Low
Rank:#7Market:Kill Devil HillsCountry:United StatesProperties:1,120Monthly Revenue:$2877.21Daily Rate (ADR):$290.76Occupancy:43.66%Regulation:Low
Rank:#8Market:DurhamCountry:United StatesProperties:1,072Monthly Revenue:$1665.40Daily Rate (ADR):$158.53Occupancy:45.51%Regulation:Low
Rank:#9Market:Bryson CityCountry:United StatesProperties:904Monthly Revenue:$2267.70Daily Rate (ADR):$225.77Occupancy:38.02%Regulation:Low
Rank:#10Market:North Topsail BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:859Monthly Revenue:$3126.93Daily Rate (ADR):$379.18Occupancy:38.36%Regulation:Low
Rank:#11Market:Beech MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:828Monthly Revenue:$1927.02Daily Rate (ADR):$274.41Occupancy:31.43%Regulation:Low
Rank:#12Market:CorollaCountry:United StatesProperties:796Monthly Revenue:$3802.44Daily Rate (ADR):$475.80Occupancy:39.68%Regulation:Low
Rank:#13Market:Nags HeadCountry:United StatesProperties:789Monthly Revenue:$3500.47Daily Rate (ADR):$396.29Occupancy:41.26%Regulation:Low
Rank:#14Market:GreensboroCountry:United StatesProperties:760Monthly Revenue:$1953.13Daily Rate (ADR):$182.05Occupancy:44.78%Regulation:Low
Rank:#15Market:Winston-SalemCountry:United StatesProperties:700Monthly Revenue:$1596.69Daily Rate (ADR):$154.19Occupancy:44.84%Regulation:Low
Rank:#16Market:Surf CityCountry:United StatesProperties:678Monthly Revenue:$3170.93Daily Rate (ADR):$342.96Occupancy:39.38%Regulation:Low
Rank:#17Market:FayettevilleCountry:United StatesProperties:614Monthly Revenue:$1190.19Daily Rate (ADR):$109.84Occupancy:45.75%Regulation:Low
Rank:#18Market:BooneCountry:United StatesProperties:610Monthly Revenue:$2465.35Daily Rate (ADR):$282.52Occupancy:37.99%Regulation:Low
Rank:#19Market:HendersonvilleCountry:United StatesProperties:597Monthly Revenue:$1735.59Daily Rate (ADR):$208.69Occupancy:39.06%Regulation:Low
Rank:#20Market:Atlantic BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:564Monthly Revenue:$1910.20Daily Rate (ADR):$264.70Occupancy:34.31%Regulation:Low
Rank:#21Market:Maggie ValleyCountry:United StatesProperties:548Monthly Revenue:$2105.69Daily Rate (ADR):$223.71Occupancy:36.40%Regulation:Low
Rank:#22Market:Lake LureCountry:United StatesProperties:534Monthly Revenue:$1841.43Daily Rate (ADR):$297.16Occupancy:30.77%Regulation:Low
Rank:#23Market:Black MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:512Monthly Revenue:$2318.00Daily Rate (ADR):$261.05Occupancy:38.09%Regulation:Low
Rank:#24Market:Banner ElkCountry:United StatesProperties:510Monthly Revenue:$2635.91Daily Rate (ADR):$361.29Occupancy:32.29%Regulation:Low
Rank:#25Market:Sugar MountainCountry:United StatesProperties:489Monthly Revenue:$1299.44Daily Rate (ADR):$222.45Occupancy:29.61%Regulation:Low
Rank:#26Market:Kure BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:484Monthly Revenue:$3245.71Daily Rate (ADR):$390.60Occupancy:39.16%Regulation:Low
Rank:#27Market:Wrightsville BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:477Monthly Revenue:$4213.13Daily Rate (ADR):$513.67Occupancy:37.42%Regulation:Low
Rank:#28Market:WaynesvilleCountry:United StatesProperties:470Monthly Revenue:$1843.52Daily Rate (ADR):$208.77Occupancy:35.51%Regulation:Low
Rank:#29Market:Emerald IsleCountry:United StatesProperties:463Monthly Revenue:$3389.29Daily Rate (ADR):$356.40Occupancy:41.19%Regulation:Low
Rank:#30Market:Ocean Isle BeachCountry:United StatesProperties:461Monthly Revenue:$4761.32Daily Rate (ADR):$620.04Occupancy:36.76%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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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 RockClaytonClemmonsClydeCoinjockColingtonColumbiaColumbusConcordCorneliusCorollaCrumplerCullowheeDavidsonDeep GapDenverDobsonDuckDurhamEdentonElizabeth CityElk ParkElkinElonEmerald IsleFairfield HarbourFairviewFayettevilleFergusonFlat RockFleetwoodFletcherForest CityFranklinFriscoFuquay-VarinaGarnerGastoniaGertonGlade ValleyGlenvilleGoldsboroGrahamGrassy CreekGreen MountainGreensboroGreenvilleHampsteadHarkers IslandHatterasHavelockHayesvilleHendersonHendersonvilleHenricoHertfordHickoryHigh PointHighlandsHillsboroughHolden BeachHolly RidgeHope MillsHorse ShoeHot SpringsHubertHuntersvilleIndian TrailJacksonvilleJames CityJamestownJeffersonJonesvilleKannapolisKernersvilleKill Devil HillsKings LandingKings 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 PointPurlearRaefordRaleighReidsvilleRichlandsRobbinsvilleRocky 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