Performance indicators for the South Bristol short-term rental market based on reliable data.
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Reliable / Active
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Middle-Earners Gross Yield
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Middle-Earners Revenue
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Middle-Earners Occupancy
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The highest-performing listings in South Bristol.
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Challenging to Investors
STRs appear permitted but South Bristol lacks a published local ordinance, so investors must navigate unknown local caps/fees/occupancy rules and verify separate municipal licensing while meeting state registration, safety inspections, and a 9% lodging tax—adding uncertainty and compliance steps that dampen investor appetite.
Local STR Agent
STR specialist · South Bristol, ME
South Bristol is a small coastal town in Lincoln County, Maine, set on the western shore of the Pemaquid Peninsula where it meets the Gulf of Maine. With a year-round population of roughly 1,000 residents, it has the feel of a traditional working waterfront village, where lobster boats still share the harbor with seasonal pleasure craft. The town is most famous for the Cribstone Bridge, a one-of-a-kind granite bridge that connects the mainland to Rutherford Island, and it serves as a quiet gateway to the broader Pemaquid region. South Bristol lies about 65 miles northeast of Portland, Maine, the nearest major city.
A few minutes north of the town center, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse stands on the rocky tip of the peninsula and is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Maine. The surrounding park offers cliffside walking trails and striking views of wave-cut pink granite ledges. It is roughly 20 minutes from South Bristol by car.
Just beyond the lighthouse, Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site preserves the archaeological foundations of a 17th-century English settlement, including the partial reconstruction of Fort William Henry and a small museum of period artifacts. It sits about 15 minutes from South Bristol along the same coastal road.
The neighboring town of Damariscotta, roughly 20 minutes north, has a walkable downtown of independent shops, cafés, and galleries clustered around the tidal Damariscotta River. The river itself is renowned for its oyster industry and is bordered by a short riverwalk, giving visitors an easy half-day diversion from the coast.
About 30 minutes southwest along Route 129, Boothbay Harbor offers a fuller resort-town experience with a busy working waterfront, seasonal whale-watching and ferry cruises, and a denser cluster of restaurants and shops. It is the largest tourist hub in the immediate area and a natural day trip for guests staying in South Bristol.
South Bristol's appeal as a short-term rental destination lies in this balance of authenticity and accessibility. Guests come for the slower pace, the working lobster wharves, and the proximity to some of Midcoast Maine's most iconic sites, while still being within a reasonable drive of larger towns and amenities. Its location on the Pemaquid Peninsula places it at the heart of a beloved vacation region, and its small-town atmosphere offers a quieter alternative to the busier harbors nearby, a combination that tends to draw return visitors summer after summer.