Rents are 9% below what Burlington'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 $1,310 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
November. Asking rents in Burlington usually run 0.7% below trend in November and 0.6% above it in August, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Burlington is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2021.
Rent in Burlington changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($56,880) is $1,422 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,190); a 3-bedroom is $1,500.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Burlington. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Burlington, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 29.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Burlington, NC has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Burlington, NC has shifted from $1,066 to $1,310, up 22.9% since 2022. Census figures show median household income at $56,880 today, compared with $47,158 five years earlier. Census counts show Burlington, NC adding about 3,047 residents over the five-year window, up 5.4% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.2% to 29.6% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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At $1,310/mo, how Burlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Burlington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Burlington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Burlington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Burlington is $1,310/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $855/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,190/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,075/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,500/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($56,880/yr), Burlington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Burlington rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
At $1,310/mo, rent takes ~28% of Burlington's median household income ($56,880/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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