City Report · NC

Beaufort

Pop. 4,689·42nd most expensive in North Carolina·Rents have been falling, good time to negotiate
Median rent (all units)
$1,800/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-3.7%
vs US Median
-$132
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Beaufort · $1,800
More affordable than 53% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
41% of income
STRETCHED
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,800/mo, rent takes about 41% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$72,000/yr
Local median income
$53,321/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Beaufort's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$820
1 BR
$820
2 BR
$1,080
3 BR
$1,400
4 BR+
$1,770
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,080/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,800 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($53,321) is $1,333 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,080); a 3-bedroom is $1,400.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Beaufort. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$21,600/yr
At $1,800/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -3.7% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Beaufort, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 40.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
4,689
Median income
$53,321
Median age
55
Renters
46.6%
Age distribution
14.5%
15.6%
19.9%
14.8%
35.2%
Under 1814.5%
18–3415.6%
35–5419.9%
55–6414.8%
65+35.2%
Gender
46.4%
53.6%
Male46.4%
Female53.6%
Race & ethnicity
82.7%
White82.7%
Black10.1%
Hispanic1.6%
Other5.6%
Education (25+)
17.1%
34.3%
40.2%
No HS diploma8.4%
HS diploma17.1%
Some college34.3%
Bachelor's+40.2%
Housing tenure
53.4%
46.6%
Owner53.4%
Renter46.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Beaufort, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$39,472 → $53,321
up 35.1%
Population
4,464 → 4,689
up 5.0%
Renter share
54.4% → 46.6%
-7.8 pts
Bachelor's+
29.8% → 40.2%
+10.4 pts
Median age
51.1 → 55
+3.9 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $53,321 today, compared with $39,472 five years earlier. Census counts show Beaufort, NC adding about 225 residents over the five-year window, up 5.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 54.4% to 46.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 29.8% to 40.2% across the same window.

Community

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View Beaufort rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Beaufort on your salary?

At $1,800/mo, how Beaufort rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Beaufort rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Beaufort. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Beaufort

About renting in Beaufort, NC

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Beaufort is $1,800/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $820/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,080/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,400/mo.

At 41% of local median household income ($53,321/yr), Beaufort ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Beaufort?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,800/mo in Beaufort. The local median household income is $53,321/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Beaufort?

Rent in Beaufort has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Beaufort rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Beaufort is one of the pricier among North Carolina cities for rent, ranking #42 of 129 tracked cities at $1,800/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Beaufort?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Beaufort ($1,800/mo) include Havelock ($1,542/mo), Newport ($1,696/mo), and Fairfield Harbour ($1,788/mo).
Income Affordability
41%
STRETCHED

At $1,800/mo, rent takes ~41% of Beaufort's median household income ($53,321/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Beaufort 41%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Beaufort affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Beaufort, NC

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