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Best Airbnb Markets in North Carolina (2026)

Based on Airbtics data from September 2025 to August 2026, this page ranks the best Airbnb markets in North Carolina by Market Grade. The grade compares short-term rental yield, year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy (demand), then adjusts for local regulation. The table also shows listing count, average daily rate, and annual revenue for every market.

Markets on this page are ranked by the Airbtics Market Grade, not by the number of listings. The grade compares each market with the other markets in this ranking on three measures, then adjusts for local short-term rental regulation.

  1. Yield: Annual short-term rental revenue divided by property price. A higher yield ranks higher.
  2. Growth: Year-over-year change in revenue. Faster revenue growth ranks higher.
  3. Demand: Average occupancy rate over the last 12 months. Higher occupancy ranks higher.

Stricter short-term rental regulation lowers the letter grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, and annual revenue are shown for every market. Exact yield and revenue growth are published for the three highest-graded markets. For every other market those two figures are in Market Explorer. The rankboard plots the same markets by occupancy and average daily rate, and the table under the chart lists those values in text.

Learn more about how we collect the data and accuracy

Last updated: 16th October, 2026

North Carolina Short-Term Rental Market Overview (September 2025 to August 2026)

National averages across all North Carolina markets
Average Occupancy Rate i
58.64%
Average Annual Revenue i
$55,009
Average Daily Rate (ADR) i
$246
YoY Supply Growth i
36.30%
YoY Revenue Change i
14.45%

Top 14 North Carolina Cities for Airbnb in 2026

Tick the markets you like to track their revenue, occupancy, and ADR in your Airbtics watchlist. Free to start, up to 10 markets.

Position Market Grade Market Name Regulation No of Listings Avg. Occupancy Rate Avg. Daily Rate Revenue Short-term Rental Yield Revenue Growth
1AForest City
Lenient
72747%$266$48,43727.6%+30.5%
2BWilmington
Lenient
1,15359%$198$45,16917.1%+14.0%
3BWinston-Salem
Lenient
1,15255%$164$34,63316.8%+14.8%
4BAsheville
Lenient
1,05861%$159$37,426Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
5BBrevard
Lenient
78856%$228$49,263Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
6B+Morehead City
Lenient
1,94457%$295$63,625Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
7COak Island
Lenient
1,55860%$376$84,944Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
8CRaleigh
Lenient
1,55261%$176$41,391Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
9CKill Devil Hills
Lenient
1,08161%$294$67,709Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
10C+Carolina Beach
Lenient
1,38262% 🚀$300$70,680Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
11C+Durham
Lenient
1,11964% 🚀$161$39,310Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
12C+Jacksonville
Lenient
1,03559%$294$65,563Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
13C+North Topsail Beach
Lenient
85661%$357$82,076Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer
14D+Charlotte
Lenient
3,31658%$180$39,906Unlock in Market ExplorerUnlock in Market Explorer

Data Seen By

BiggerPockets
Trustpilot

Market Explorer

Filter markets by occupancy, price, and yield

Filter North Carolina by occupancy, ADR, yield, rent gap, and property price, then compare markets side by side.

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Find the Best Airbnb Markets with Our Interactive Tool

Use our interactive Market Explorer to find the best places to start an Airbnb in North Carolina. Compare multiple markets side by side, apply filters like regulations, budget (property or rent prices), and market size, and even export the results to Excel.

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Why Invest in Airbnb North Carolina in 2026?

The highest-graded short-term rental markets in North Carolina are Forest City, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. The table ranks every tracked market by Airbtics Market Grade. Occupancy, average daily rate, annual revenue, yield, and revenue growth are the figures behind that grade.

Top 3 Airbnb markets in North Carolina by Market Grade

These are the three highest-graded Airbnb markets in North Carolina. Market Grade compares yield, revenue growth, and occupancy (demand) with the other markets on this page, then adjusts for short-term rental regulation. The chart repeats those three percentiles in text so the ranking is readable without the graphic.

Rank 1 — Forest City (Grade A)

Forest City is rank 1 of 14 markets in this North Carolina ranking by Airbtics Market Grade A, with 27.6% short-term rental yield, 47.0% occupancy, and +30.5% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Forest City ranks top 4% for yield, top 4% for growth, and lowest 4% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $266, annual revenue of $48,437, a rent gap of 4251.8%, 727 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $150,000.

  • Market gradeA
  • Yield27.6%
  • Revenue growth+30.5%
  • Occupancy47.0%
  • Average daily rate$266
  • Annual revenue$48,437
  • Rent gap4251.8%
  • Active listings727
  • 2-bedroom price$150,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 4%Yieldtop 4%Growthlowest 4%Demand

Percentile versus other North Carolina markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 4%
  • Growth: top 4%
  • Demand: lowest 4%

Rank 2 — Wilmington (Grade B)

Wilmington is rank 2 of 14 markets in this North Carolina ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 17.1% short-term rental yield, 59.0% occupancy, and +14.0% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Wilmington ranks top 39% for yield, lowest 46% for growth, and lowest 43% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $198, annual revenue of $45,169, a rent gap of 3025.7%, 1,153 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $275,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield17.1%
  • Revenue growth+14.0%
  • Occupancy59.0%
  • Average daily rate$198
  • Annual revenue$45,169
  • Rent gap3025.7%
  • Active listings1,153
  • 2-bedroom price$275,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 39%Yieldlowest 46%Growthlowest 43%Demand

Percentile versus other North Carolina markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 39%
  • Growth: lowest 46%
  • Demand: lowest 43%

Rank 3 — Winston-Salem (Grade B)

Winston-Salem is rank 3 of 14 markets in this North Carolina ranking by Airbtics Market Grade B, with 16.8% short-term rental yield, 55.0% occupancy, and +14.8% year-over-year revenue growth.

Compared with the other markets on this page, Winston-Salem ranks top 46% for yield, top 39% for growth, and lowest 11% for demand. The market shows an average daily rate of $164, annual revenue of $34,633, a rent gap of 2843.2%, 1,152 active listings, lenient short-term rental regulation, and a typical 2-bedroom property price of $210,000.

  • Market gradeB
  • Yield16.8%
  • Revenue growth+14.8%
  • Occupancy55.0%
  • Average daily rate$164
  • Annual revenue$34,633
  • Rent gap2843.2%
  • Active listings1,152
  • 2-bedroom price$210,000
  • RegulationLenient
top 46%Yieldtop 39%Growthlowest 11%Demand

Percentile versus other North Carolina markets on this page. Farther from the center is stronger.

  • Yield: top 46%
  • Growth: top 39%
  • Demand: lowest 11%

Market Rankboard: North Carolina

Each dot is a vacation rental market in North Carolina, plotted by occupancy rate (x-axis) and average daily rate (ADR) (y-axis). Dashed lines mark the national median.

North Carolina Airbnb markets rankboard scatter chart showing occupancy rate versus average daily rate (ADR)
Occupancy rate and average daily rate for each North Carolina market plotted in the chart above, in Market Grade order.
MarketOccupancy rateAverage daily rate
Forest City47.0%$266
Wilmington59.0%$198
Winston-Salem55.0%$164
Asheville61.0%$159
Brevard56.0%$228
Morehead City57.0%$295
Oak Island60.0%$376
Raleigh61.0%$176
Kill Devil Hills61.0%$294
Carolina Beach62.0%$300
Durham64.0%$161
Jacksonville59.0%$294
North Topsail Beach61.0%$357
Charlotte58.0%$180

Compare property prices, short-term rental yield, rent gap, annual revenue, and supply growth in the Airbtics Market Explorer watchlist.

See all Airbnb markets in North Carolina

Browse all 14 markets we track in North Carolina. Each link opens the market's Airbnb revenue and performance data page.

North Carolina Airbnb market FAQs

  • What are the best Airbnb markets in North Carolina?

    Airbtics ranks short-term rental markets in North Carolina by Market Grade. The grade compares yield (annual revenue divided by property price), year-over-year revenue growth, and occupancy, then adjusts for regulation. The highest-graded market in this dataset is Forest City. The main table lists markets in that order; use the Market Explorer to filter by budget, regulations, and more.

  • How many Airbnb markets does Airbtics track in North Carolina?

    We currently analyze 14 active short-term rental markets in North Carolina with listing supply, median occupancy, ADR, and revenue estimates.

  • What is the average Airbnb occupancy rate in North Carolina?

    The national average occupancy rate across tracked markets is 58.64% (LTM). Rates differ by city. Use the rankboard on this page, or open a market page for that city's numbers.

  • How do I compare Airbnb markets in North Carolina?

    Use the occupancy vs ADR rankboard on this page for a quick view, or open the Market Explorer to compare markets side by side, change chart axes, export to Excel, and save markets to a watchlist.

  • How can I estimate Airbnb income in North Carolina?

    Use our Airbnb income calculator to estimate revenue for a specific address, or open any market link below for median revenue and occupancy benchmarks.




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For trends, supply, and year-over-year changes, see the 2025 short-term rental report for North Carolina.