Rents are 4% below what Belmont's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,819 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Belmont is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in Belmont changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($94,883) is $2,372 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,970); a 4-bedroom is $2,500.
Gastonia, 8 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,483/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Belmont. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Belmont, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 51.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Belmont, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Belmont, NC has climbed by $312 per month, settling near $1,819 after starting the period at $1,507. Census figures show median household income at $94,883 today, compared with $76,156 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 3.9 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 14,442 to 15,546 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.6% change. About 29.3% of households rent today, against 31.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 43.8% to 51.1%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Belmont on your salary?
At $1,819/mo, how Belmont rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Belmont rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Belmont. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Belmont
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Belmont is $1,819/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,390/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,600/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,970/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($94,883/yr), Belmont ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Belmont?
Is rent going up or down in Belmont?
How does Belmont rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Belmont?
At $1,819/mo, rent takes ~23% of Belmont's median household income ($94,883/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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