Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in North Carolina
The typical rent in North Carolina is $1,228 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,441 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $27.71 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in North Carolina
- Typical rent
- $1,228
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 13% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,441
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,012 to $1,866 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $27.71
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $57,640 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 49%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of North Carolina, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
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Studio
Wage: $13.56–$30.27 an hour
Lowest: $705 Highest: $1,574
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.88–$32.96 an hour
Lowest: $774 Highest: $1,714
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.46–$35.88 an hour
Lowest: $1,012 Highest: $1,866
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $23.19–$44.19 an hour
Lowest: $1,206 Highest: $2,298
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.58–$59.79 an hour
Lowest: $1,330 Highest: $3,109
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In North Carolina, 49% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
49%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
1,428,852 renter households in North Carolina
- Spend half or more of their income 24%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 25%
- Spend less than 30% 51%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in North Carolina. Highest fair market rent first.
| Buncombe County | $1,866 | $1,362 | $35.88 | 54% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | $1,866 | $1,187 | $35.88 | 48% |
| Madison County | $1,866 | $780 | $35.88 | 41% |
| Mecklenburg County | $1,785 | $1,627 | $34.33 | 49% |
| Union County | $1,785 | $1,496 | $34.33 | 43% |
| Cabarrus County | $1,785 | $1,414 | $34.33 | 50% |
| Gaston County | $1,785 | $1,153 | $34.33 | 51% |
| Durham County | $1,745 | $1,508 | $33.56 | 48% |
| Orange County | $1,745 | $1,496 | $33.56 | 58% |
| Chatham County | $1,745 | $1,180 | $33.56 | 48% |
| New Hanover County | $1,705 | $1,417 | $32.79 | 55% |
| Wake County | $1,689 | $1,623 | $32.48 | 48% |
| Johnston County | $1,689 | $1,146 | $32.48 | 48% |
| Franklin County | $1,689 | $1,083 | $32.48 | 55% |
| Currituck County | $1,667 | $1,162 | $32.06 | 48% |
| Gates County | $1,665 | $1,143 | $32.02 | 26% |
| Brunswick County | $1,574 | $1,351 | $30.27 | 52% |
| Dare County | $1,510 | $1,345 | $29.04 | 48% |
| Cumberland County | $1,476 | $1,222 | $28.38 | 52% |
| Iredell County | $1,429 | $1,252 | $27.48 | 44% |
| Transylvania County | $1,386 | $967 | $26.65 | 48% |
| Camden County | $1,364 | $1,232 | $26.23 | — |
| Alamance County | $1,348 | $1,064 | $25.92 | 47% |
| Forsyth County | $1,332 | $1,098 | $25.62 | 49% |
| Davie County | $1,332 | $867 | $25.62 | 45% |
| Stokes County | $1,332 | $775 | $25.62 | 46% |
| Yadkin County | $1,332 | $766 | $25.62 | 50% |
| Chowan County | $1,331 | $681 | $25.60 | 54% |
| Onslow County | $1,319 | $1,265 | $25.37 | 51% |
| Watauga County | $1,311 | $1,127 | $25.21 | 66% |
| Carteret County | $1,277 | $1,108 | $24.56 | 57% |
| Guilford County | $1,271 | $1,163 | $24.44 | 52% |
| Randolph County | $1,271 | $887 | $24.44 | 44% |
| Rowan County | $1,262 | $1,013 | $24.27 | 47% |
| Wayne County | $1,261 | $965 | $24.25 | 47% |
| Haywood County | $1,250 | $1,067 | $24.04 | 52% |
| Craven County | $1,246 | $1,110 | $23.96 | 46% |
| Moore County | $1,223 | $1,254 | $23.52 | 49% |
| Pasquotank County | $1,220 | $1,170 | $23.46 | 50% |
| Granville County | $1,213 | $1,008 | $23.33 | 44% |
| Pender County | $1,199 | $1,106 | $23.06 | 50% |
| Lee County | $1,179 | $1,017 | $22.67 | 44% |
| Pitt County | $1,167 | $993 | $22.44 | 51% |
| Nash County | $1,167 | $953 | $22.44 | 41% |
| Edgecombe County | $1,167 | $858 | $22.44 | 48% |
| Hoke County | $1,150 | $1,089 | $22.12 | 50% |
| Catawba County | $1,147 | $965 | $22.06 | 41% |
| Burke County | $1,147 | $884 | $22.06 | 37% |
| Alexander County | $1,147 | $764 | $22.06 | 39% |
| Caldwell County | $1,147 | $744 | $22.06 | 40% |
| Anson County | $1,143 | $814 | $21.98 | 40% |
| Lincoln County | $1,138 | $1,015 | $21.88 | 42% |
| Pamlico County | $1,088 | $752 | $20.92 | 48% |
| Davidson County | $1,087 | $901 | $20.90 | 42% |
| Clay County | $1,087 | $804 | $20.90 | — |
| Bertie County | $1,081 | $839 | $20.79 | 45% |
| Wilson County | $1,069 | $953 | $20.56 | 47% |
| Harnett County | $1,051 | $1,112 | $20.21 | 45% |
| Yancey County | $1,050 | $882 | $20.19 | 47% |
| Alleghany County | $1,048 | $675 | $20.15 | 40% |
| Perquimans County | $1,040 | $1,008 | $20.00 | 46% |
| Jackson County | $1,039 | $904 | $19.98 | 42% |
| Duplin County | $1,025 | $865 | $19.71 | 42% |
| Macon County | $1,015 | $803 | $19.52 | 38% |
| Cleveland County | $1,014 | $914 | $19.50 | 50% |
| Hyde County | $1,012 | $1,263 | $19.46 | — |
| Polk County | $1,012 | $1,178 | $19.46 | 52% |
| Vance County | $1,012 | $883 | $19.46 | 57% |
| Beaufort County | $1,012 | $871 | $19.46 | 51% |
| Person County | $1,012 | $864 | $19.46 | 60% |
| Lenoir County | $1,012 | $861 | $19.46 | 46% |
| Stanly County | $1,012 | $861 | $19.46 | 49% |
| Ashe County | $1,012 | $859 | $19.46 | 41% |
| Greene County | $1,012 | $853 | $19.46 | 41% |
| Hertford County | $1,012 | $844 | $19.46 | 63% |
| Sampson County | $1,012 | $834 | $19.46 | 47% |
| Columbus County | $1,012 | $824 | $19.46 | 50% |
| Cherokee County | $1,012 | $813 | $19.46 | 43% |
| Halifax County | $1,012 | $813 | $19.46 | 49% |
| Mitchell County | $1,012 | $813 | $19.46 | 41% |
| Rockingham County | $1,012 | $810 | $19.46 | 51% |
| McDowell County | $1,012 | $806 | $19.46 | 40% |
| Robeson County | $1,012 | $805 | $19.46 | 48% |
| Warren County | $1,012 | $790 | $19.46 | 53% |
| Rutherford County | $1,012 | $783 | $19.46 | 47% |
| Scotland County | $1,012 | $778 | $19.46 | 52% |
| Avery County | $1,012 | $773 | $19.46 | 41% |
| Bladen County | $1,012 | $773 | $19.46 | 51% |
| Montgomery County | $1,012 | $766 | $19.46 | 38% |
| Surry County | $1,012 | $761 | $19.46 | 43% |
| Martin County | $1,012 | $758 | $19.46 | 42% |
| Northampton County | $1,012 | $758 | $19.46 | 51% |
| Jones County | $1,012 | $747 | $19.46 | 40% |
| Washington County | $1,012 | $743 | $19.46 | 50% |
| Swain County | $1,012 | $742 | $19.46 | 38% |
| Caswell County | $1,012 | $727 | $19.46 | 42% |
| Richmond County | $1,012 | $724 | $19.46 | 51% |
| Wilkes County | $1,012 | $723 | $19.46 | 43% |
| Graham County | $1,012 | $676 | $19.46 | 48% |
| Tyrrell County | $1,012 | $644 | $19.46 | 52% |
- Buncombe $1,866$35.88
- Henderson $1,866$35.88
- Madison $1,866$35.88
- Mecklenburg $1,785$34.33
- Union $1,785$34.33
- Cabarrus $1,785$34.33
- Gaston $1,785$34.33
- Durham $1,745$33.56
- Orange $1,745$33.56
- Chatham $1,745$33.56
- New Hanover $1,705$32.79
- Wake $1,689$32.48
- Johnston $1,689$32.48
- Franklin $1,689$32.48
- Currituck $1,667$32.06
- Gates $1,665$32.02
- Brunswick $1,574$30.27
- Dare $1,510$29.04
- Cumberland $1,476$28.38
- Iredell $1,429$27.48
- Transylvania $1,386$26.65
- Camden $1,364$26.23
- Alamance $1,348$25.92
- Forsyth $1,332$25.62
- Davie $1,332$25.62
- Stokes $1,332$25.62
- Yadkin $1,332$25.62
- Chowan $1,331$25.60
- Onslow $1,319$25.37
- Watauga $1,311$25.21
- Carteret $1,277$24.56
- Guilford $1,271$24.44
- Randolph $1,271$24.44
- Rowan $1,262$24.27
- Wayne $1,261$24.25
- Haywood $1,250$24.04
- Craven $1,246$23.96
- Moore $1,223$23.52
- Pasquotank $1,220$23.46
- Granville $1,213$23.33
- Pender $1,199$23.06
- Lee $1,179$22.67
- Pitt $1,167$22.44
- Nash $1,167$22.44
- Edgecombe $1,167$22.44
- Hoke $1,150$22.12
- Catawba $1,147$22.06
- Burke $1,147$22.06
- Alexander $1,147$22.06
- Caldwell $1,147$22.06
- Anson $1,143$21.98
- Lincoln $1,138$21.88
- Pamlico $1,088$20.92
- Davidson $1,087$20.90
- Clay $1,087$20.90
- Bertie $1,081$20.79
- Wilson $1,069$20.56
- Harnett $1,051$20.21
- Yancey $1,050$20.19
- Alleghany $1,048$20.15
- Perquimans $1,040$20.00
- Jackson $1,039$19.98
- Duplin $1,025$19.71
- Macon $1,015$19.52
- Cleveland $1,014$19.50
- Hyde $1,012$19.46
- Polk $1,012$19.46
- Vance $1,012$19.46
- Beaufort $1,012$19.46
- Person $1,012$19.46
- Lenoir $1,012$19.46
- Stanly $1,012$19.46
- Ashe $1,012$19.46
- Greene $1,012$19.46
- Hertford $1,012$19.46
- Sampson $1,012$19.46
- Columbus $1,012$19.46
- Cherokee $1,012$19.46
- Halifax $1,012$19.46
- Mitchell $1,012$19.46
- Rockingham $1,012$19.46
- McDowell $1,012$19.46
- Robeson $1,012$19.46
- Warren $1,012$19.46
- Rutherford $1,012$19.46
- Scotland $1,012$19.46
- Avery $1,012$19.46
- Bladen $1,012$19.46
- Montgomery $1,012$19.46
- Surry $1,012$19.46
- Martin $1,012$19.46
- Northampton $1,012$19.46
- Jones $1,012$19.46
- Washington $1,012$19.46
- Swain $1,012$19.46
- Caswell $1,012$19.46
- Richmond $1,012$19.46
- Wilkes $1,012$19.46
- Graham $1,012$19.46
- Tyrrell $1,012$19.46
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in North Carolina
What North Carolina law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- When must they return my deposit?
- 30 days
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-52
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 10 days
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-3
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 7 days
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14
- Only a court order can remove youN.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-25.6
- Protection from retaliationN.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-37.1(b)
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in North Carolina
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
52 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 23 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in North Carolina is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Buncombe County ($1,866, about $35.88 an hour) and the cheapest Hyde County ($1,012, about $19.46 an hour).
How many households in North Carolina spend too much on rent?
49% of renter households in North Carolina spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 24% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In North Carolina, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,012 to $1,866 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in North Carolina?
123 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in North Carolina; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.