Rent Trends / NC
Rent Trends in North Carolina: 2015 to 2026
Yearly Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for 151 cities in North Carolina. The average across tracked cities is $1,738/month in 2026, up from $951 in 2015 (+82.8%). That sits $227 below (-11.6% vs) the U.S. typical rent of $1,965.
Last updated: July 19, 2026
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · Jan snapshots for 2015–2025; 2026 column = June 2026 release · U.S. typical rent $1,965 (June 2026)
What the North Carolina rent trend shows
This page follows market rents in North Carolina from 2015 through mid-2026 using the same Zillow ZORI vintage for every city in the table. State figures below are simple averages of the tracked cities — useful for comparing places inside North Carolina and stacking the state against the published U.S. typical rent ($1,965/month in June 2026, up from $1,362 in January 2019 on our national series).
Since 2023, the tracked-city average in North Carolina has risen from about $1,558 to $1,738 (+11.6%). That is the post-spike path — not a full reset to mid-2010s rents. The latest year step (2025 → 2026) is +6.0% ($1,640 → $1,738).
Within the state, long-run winners and losers split by city. The largest percentage increase from the earliest reading to 2026 is Gastonia (+108.2%, $732 → $1,524). 20 of 151 tracked cities are higher than their 2015 (or earliest) level.
For the national rent story, see the Rent Index. Statewide maps live on Rent by State. Full city database: Rent by City.
City-level breakdown in North Carolina
Lowest 2026 rents
- Henderson — $972
- Laurinburg — $995
- Tarboro — $1,033
- Asheboro — $1,069
- Kinston — $1,076
Highest 2026 rents
- Moyock — $2,899
- Mills River — $2,863
- Summerfield — $2,800
- Carolina Beach — $2,691
- Fairview — $2,688
Full list with every year from 2015–2026 is in the sortable table below.
All North Carolina cities — yearly rent table
| City | Metro | '15 | '16 | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25 | '26 | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $1,003 | $1,059 | $1,112 | $1,179 | $1,254 | $1,294 | $1,339 | $1,569 | $1,679 | $1,696 | $1,707 | $1,746 | +74.1% | |
| Raleigh | $986 | $1,032 | $1,061 | $1,112 | $1,156 | $1,224 | $1,247 | $1,456 | $1,546 | $1,553 | $1,558 | $1,579 | +60.1% | |
| Greensboro | $763 | $791 | $812 | $836 | $884 | $936 | $994 | $1,155 | $1,259 | $1,302 | $1,350 | $1,415 | +85.5% | |
| Durham | $1,021 | $1,065 | $1,125 | $1,172 | $1,222 | $1,267 | $1,296 | $1,510 | $1,621 | $1,636 | $1,638 | $1,700 | +66.5% | |
| Winston-Salem | $805 | $827 | $854 | $892 | $944 | $980 | $1,075 | $1,238 | $1,328 | $1,386 | $1,443 | $1,537 | +90.9% | |
| Fayetteville | $738 | $748 | $759 | $778 | $815 | $848 | $960 | $1,153 | $1,241 | $1,280 | $1,340 | $1,401 | +89.8% | |
| Wilmington | $885 | $915 | $956 | $1,006 | $1,105 | $1,156 | $1,232 | $1,474 | $1,593 | $1,590 | $1,607 | $1,694 | +91.4% | |
| Cary | $1,172 | $1,195 | $1,234 | $1,276 | $1,302 | $1,350 | $1,365 | $1,631 | $1,723 | $1,714 | $1,707 | $1,775 | +51.5% | |
| Concord | $969 | $1,035 | $1,057 | $1,110 | $1,166 | $1,230 | $1,325 | $1,537 | $1,645 | $1,671 | $1,735 | $1,805 | +86.3% | |
| Asheville | $937 | $1,000 | $1,034 | $1,117 | $1,176 | $1,198 | $1,273 | $1,546 | $1,642 | $1,673 | $1,695 | $1,688 | +80.1% | |
| High Point | $742 | $763 | $785 | $805 | $853 | $886 | $929 | $1,139 | $1,217 | $1,282 | $1,353 | $1,401 | +88.8% | |
| Jacksonville | $767 | $762 | $761 | $779 | $841 | $879 | $953 | $1,100 | $1,218 | $1,272 | $1,333 | $1,395 | +81.9% | |
| Greenville | $703 | $731 | $756 | $797 | $828 | $890 | $928 | $1,032 | $1,164 | $1,236 | $1,282 | $1,346 | +91.5% | |
| Chapel Hill | — | $1,123 | $1,136 | $1,168 | $1,229 | $1,276 | $1,371 | $1,526 | $1,633 | $1,692 | $1,755 | $1,763 | +57.0% | |
| Gastonia | $732 | $765 | $809 | $908 | $948 | $1,009 | $1,096 | $1,260 | $1,357 | $1,424 | $1,470 | $1,524 | +108.2% | |
| Apex | $1,315 | $1,370 | $1,387 | $1,429 | $1,512 | $1,500 | $1,574 | $1,847 | $1,921 | $1,903 | $1,981 | $2,017 | +53.4% | |
| Mooresville | $953 | $1,007 | $1,020 | $1,058 | $1,092 | $1,153 | $1,258 | $1,444 | $1,517 | $1,544 | $1,552 | $1,621 | +70.1% | |
| Wake Forest | — | $1,170 | $1,177 | $1,229 | $1,274 | $1,339 | $1,392 | $1,637 | $1,736 | $1,738 | $1,782 | $1,813 | +55.0% | |
| Lexington | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,614 | $1,638 | +1.5% | |
| Salisbury | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $979 | $1,060 | $1,116 | $1,159 | $1,206 | +23.2% | |
| Sanford | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,506 | $1,648 | $1,696 | $1,812 | +20.3% | |
| Clayton | $1,138 | $1,165 | $1,186 | $1,250 | $1,315 | $1,358 | $1,463 | $1,666 | $1,740 | $1,815 | $1,859 | $1,862 | +63.6% | |
| Statesville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,412 | $1,456 | $1,577 | $1,670 | +18.3% | |
| Huntersville | $1,149 | $1,197 | $1,240 | $1,291 | $1,320 | $1,376 | $1,461 | $1,677 | $1,773 | $1,801 | $1,864 | $1,891 | +64.6% | |
| Hickory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,194 | $1,307 | $1,313 | $1,368 | $1,463 | +22.5% | |
| Goldsboro | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,169 | $1,221 | $1,274 | $1,388 | +18.7% | |
| Hendersonville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,605 | $1,635 | $1,730 | +7.8% | |
| Wilson | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,336 | $1,386 | $1,458 | +9.1% | |
| Kernersville | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,239 | $1,403 | $1,525 | $1,591 | $1,678 | $1,797 | +45.0% | |
| Burlington | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,037 | $1,122 | $1,181 | $1,259 | $1,298 | +25.2% | |
| Monroe | — | $1,053 | $1,094 | $1,148 | $1,198 | $1,251 | $1,384 | $1,554 | $1,695 | $1,798 | $1,840 | $1,934 | +83.7% | |
| Asheboro | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $966 | $1,001 | $1,069 | +10.7% | |
| Garner | — | — | $1,190 | $1,254 | $1,266 | $1,351 | $1,462 | $1,678 | $1,783 | $1,804 | $1,867 | $1,898 | +59.5% | |
| Rocky Mount | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,099 | $1,159 | $1,238 | $1,300 | +18.3% | |
| New Bern | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,224 | $1,392 | $1,413 | $1,521 | $1,605 | +31.1% | |
| Morganton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,341 | +0.0% | |
| Fuquay Varina | — | $1,233 | $1,241 | $1,291 | $1,368 | $1,411 | $1,548 | $1,744 | $1,827 | $1,868 | $1,904 | $1,963 | +59.2% | |
| Kannapolis | — | — | $884 | $958 | $1,003 | $1,089 | $1,192 | $1,357 | $1,500 | $1,544 | $1,582 | $1,667 | +88.6% | |
| Lumberton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,181 | +0.0% | |
| Thomasville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,066 | $1,161 | $1,180 | +10.7% | |
| Raeford | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,409 | $1,519 | $1,557 | $1,658 | $1,745 | +23.8% | |
| Lenoir | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,218 | +0.0% | |
| Holly Springs | — | — | — | — | $1,358 | $1,406 | $1,497 | $1,706 | $1,744 | $1,857 | $1,842 | $1,903 | +40.1% | |
| Indian Trail | — | — | $1,271 | $1,321 | $1,359 | $1,418 | $1,536 | $1,721 | $1,877 | $1,912 | $1,978 | $2,021 | +59.0% | |
| Lincolnton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,191 | $1,305 | +9.6% | |
| Elizabeth City | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,317 | $1,385 | $1,501 | $1,607 | +22.0% | |
| Henderson | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $972 | +0.0% | |
| Kinston | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,076 | +0.0% | |
| Morrisville | $1,226 | $1,231 | $1,251 | $1,251 | $1,312 | $1,359 | $1,392 | $1,652 | $1,747 | $1,729 | $1,684 | $1,714 | +39.8% | |
| Mebane | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,512 | $1,511 | $1,591 | $1,635 | +8.1% | |
| Hope Mills | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,488 | $1,559 | $1,604 | $1,716 | +15.3% | |
| Shelby | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,051 | $1,046 | $1,108 | +5.4% | |
| Waxhaw | — | — | $1,537 | $1,576 | $1,661 | $1,686 | $1,814 | $2,053 | $2,227 | $2,284 | $2,317 | $2,438 | +58.6% | |
| Clemmons | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,612 | $1,712 | $1,753 | $1,851 | +14.8% | |
| Knightdale | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,295 | $1,489 | $1,669 | $1,693 | $1,742 | $1,759 | +35.8% | |
| Boone | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,997 | +0.0% | |
| Marion | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,310 | +0.0% | |
| Matthews | — | — | — | $1,237 | $1,306 | $1,354 | $1,502 | $1,650 | $1,748 | $1,731 | $1,757 | $1,756 | +42.0% | |
| Zebulon | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,807 | $1,902 | $1,910 | $1,989 | +10.1% | |
| Cornelius | $1,023 | $1,073 | $1,131 | $1,171 | $1,209 | $1,244 | $1,365 | $1,625 | $1,692 | $1,720 | $1,683 | $1,778 | +73.8% | |
| Waynesville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,559 | +0.0% | |
| Candler | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,892 | +0.0% | |
| Albemarle | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,501 | +0.0% | |
| Newton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,421 | +0.0% | |
| Smithfield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,699 | $1,832 | +7.8% | |
| Graham | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,382 | +0.0% | |
| Winterville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,540 | $1,594 | $1,638 | +6.4% | |
| Mocksville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,575 | +0.0% | |
| Kings Mountain | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,793 | +0.0% | |
| Lillington | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,648 | +0.0% | |
| Belmont | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,621 | $1,764 | $1,851 | $1,945 | $1,959 | +20.9% | |
| Hillsborough | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,435 | $1,529 | $1,454 | +1.3% | |
| Spring Lake | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,119 | $1,226 | $1,285 | $1,343 | $1,420 | +26.9% | |
| Mount Holly | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,481 | $1,582 | $1,616 | $1,740 | $1,789 | +20.8% | |
| Mint Hill | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,719 | $1,785 | $1,873 | +9.0% | |
| Hampstead | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,771 | $1,838 | $1,816 | $1,904 | +7.5% | |
| Wendell | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,906 | $1,963 | $1,919 | +0.7% | |
| Cameron | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,773 | $1,921 | $2,011 | $2,137 | +20.5% | |
| Denver | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,657 | $1,649 | $1,790 | $1,788 | +7.9% | |
| Harrisburg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,286 | $2,399 | +4.9% | |
| Pittsboro | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,844 | $1,910 | $1,985 | +7.6% | |
| Arden | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,422 | $1,685 | $1,609 | $1,592 | $1,547 | +8.8% | |
| Weaverville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,682 | $1,685 | +0.2% | |
| Leland | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,626 | $1,655 | $1,642 | $1,671 | +2.8% | |
| Newport | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,754 | +0.0% | |
| Brevard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,912 | +0.0% | |
| Angier | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,894 | $1,942 | +2.5% | |
| Havelock | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,145 | $1,206 | $1,289 | +12.6% | |
| Willow Spring | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,920 | +0.0% | |
| Richlands | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,544 | $1,779 | +15.2% | |
| Davidson | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,531 | $1,589 | $1,782 | $1,946 | $1,841 | +20.2% | |
| Fletcher | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,084 | +0.0% | |
| Youngsville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,921 | +0.0% | |
| Dallas | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,575 | $1,705 | +8.3% | |
| Canton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,475 | +0.0% | |
| Sylva | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,544 | +0.0% | |
| Siler City | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,500 | +0.0% | |
| Mount Olive | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,248 | +0.0% | |
| Summerfield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,800 | +0.0% | |
| China Grove | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,640 | +0.0% | |
| Benson | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,613 | +0.0% | |
| Franklinton | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,340 | +0.0% | |
| Creedmoor | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,650 | +0.0% | |
| Carthage | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,041 | +0.0% | |
| Hubert | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,316 | $1,406 | $1,464 | $1,554 | +18.1% | |
| Gibsonville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,948 | +0.0% | |
| Pinehurst | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,901 | $1,929 | $2,040 | +7.3% | |
| Nashville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,260 | +0.0% | |
| Carrboro | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,424 | $1,480 | +3.9% | |
| Cherryville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,100 | +0.0% | |
| Morehead City | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,583 | $1,638 | +3.5% | |
| Black Mountain | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,761 | +0.0% | |
| Aberdeen | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,772 | $1,799 | +1.5% | |
| Southern Pines | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,679 | $1,763 | $1,799 | $1,770 | +5.4% | |
| Leicester | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,900 | +0.0% | |
| Stallings | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,451 | +0.0% | |
| Troutman | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,672 | $1,727 | $1,908 | +14.1% | |
| Flat Rock | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,807 | +0.0% | |
| Laurinburg | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $995 | +0.0% | |
| Fairview | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,688 | +0.0% | |
| Moyock | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,899 | +0.0% | |
| Shallotte | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,704 | +0.0% | |
| Pineville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,715 | $1,752 | $1,771 | $1,829 | +6.6% | |
| Rural Hall | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,748 | +0.0% | |
| Sneads Ferry | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,788 | $1,965 | +9.9% | |
| Swannanoa | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,830 | +0.0% | |
| Jamestown | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,130 | +0.0% | |
| Archdale | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,391 | +0.0% | |
| Bolivia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,744 | $1,811 | $1,774 | +1.7% | |
| Whittier | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,800 | +0.0% | |
| Whitsett | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,693 | $1,924 | +13.6% | |
| Castle Hayne | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,169 | +0.0% | |
| Midway Park | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,349 | $1,469 | +8.9% | |
| Carolina Beach | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,691 | +0.0% | |
| Tarboro | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,033 | +0.0% | |
| Calabash | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,049 | +0.0% | |
| Mills River | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,863 | +0.0% | |
| Sherrills Ford | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,006 | +0.0% | |
| Vass | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,133 | +0.0% | |
| Maggie Valley | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,000 | +0.0% | |
| Holly Ridge | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,616 | $1,670 | $1,673 | $1,801 | +11.4% | |
| Coats | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,323 | +0.0% | |
| New Hill | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,363 | +0.0% | |
| Lake Park | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,395 | +0.0% | |
| Locust | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,555 | +0.0% | |
| Fairfield Harbour | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,500 | +0.0% | |
| Midland | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,030 | +0.0% | |
| Belville | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,802 | +0.0% | |
| Ranlo | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,930 | +0.0% | |
| Terrell | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $1,748 | +0.0% | |
| Surf City | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | $2,014 | $2,265 | +12.5% |
Click any column header to sort · % Chg uses earliest available year → 2026
Frequently asked questions — North Carolina rent
Is North Carolina cheap to rent in 2026?
Yes — relative to the national market. The average rent across 151 tracked North Carolina cities is about $1,738/month, which is $227 below (-11.6% vs) the U.S. typical rent of $1,965. That is a city-average in our sample, not a single statewide ZORI print, but it is a clear signal that North Carolina screens cheaper than the U.S. typical $1,965.
What city in North Carolina has the cheapest rent?
Among cities in our ZORI sample, Henderson is the lowest at about $972/month (2026). Other lower-rent cities include Laurinburg ($995), Tarboro ($1,033), Asheboro ($1,069).
What city in North Carolina has the most expensive rent?
Moyock leads our sample at about $2,899/month in 2026, followed by Mills River ($2,863) and Summerfield ($2,800).
How much have rents in North Carolina changed since 2015?
Across tracked cities, the average moved from about $951 in 2015 to $1,738 in 2026 (+82.8%). 20 of 151 cities are higher than their earliest reading in this series; the largest percentage jump is Gastonia (+108.2%).
Are rents in North Carolina still rising year over year?
From 2025 to 2026, the average across tracked North Carolina cities went from about $1,640 to $1,738 (+6.0%). Since 2023 ($1,558), that is +11.6%. Individual cities can diverge — sort by % Chg or compare the '25 and '26 columns.