How much does it cost to rent in Carrboro, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Carrboro, NC is $1,480. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Carrboro cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Carrboro is among the more affordable cities in North Carolina, ranking #96 out of 126 cities at $1,480/mo.

When was Carrboro rent data last updated?

Carrboro rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Carrboro a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Carrboro is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 3.3% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · NC

Carrboro

Name: Average Rent Prices in Carrboro, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 21,204·96th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Carrboro, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,480/mo

Year-over-Year

-3.3%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$485

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Carrboro · $1,480

More affordable than 77% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

21% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,480/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$59,000/yr

Local median income

$85,743/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Carrboro's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,144

1 BR

$1,211

2 BR

$1,384

3 BR

$1,725

4 BR+

$2,077

Research median

$1,384/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,760/yr

At $1,480/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 3.3% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-3.3% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Carrboro, NC is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 69.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,204

Median income

$85,743

Median age

33.4

Renters

56.5%

Age distribution

21.2%

31%

28.4%

Under 1821.2%

18–3431%

35–5428.4%

55–648.9%

65+10.4%

Gender

50.2%

49.8%

Male50.2%

Female49.8%

Race & ethnicity

63.3%

13.3%

13.6%

White63.3%

Black13.3%

Hispanic13.6%

Asian7.2%

Other2.5%

Education (25+)

16.3%

69.9%

No HS diploma5.7%

HS diploma8%

Some college16.3%

Bachelor's+69.9%

Housing tenure

43.5%

56.5%

Owner43.5%

Renter56.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Carrboro, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$76,599 → $85,743

up 11.9%

Population

21,237 → 21,204

down 0.2%

Renter share

58% → 56.5%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

68.6% → 69.9%

+1.3 pts

Median age

32.6 → 33.4

+0.8 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $76,599 in 2021 to $85,743 more recently. The renter share has eased from 58% to 56.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about Carrboro

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View Carrboro rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Carrboro on your salary?

At $1,480/mo, how Carrboro rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 20% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 28.2% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 24.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 13.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 10.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 33.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 27% income

affordable

By apartment size

Carrboro rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Carrboro

About renting in Carrboro, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Carrboro is $1,480/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,144/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,384/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,211/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,725/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($85,743/yr), Carrboro ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Carrboro an affordable city for renters?

Carrboro is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,480/mo, rent takes approximately 21% of the local median household income ($85,743/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Carrboro falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Carrboro?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,480/mo in Carrboro. The local median household income is $85,743/yr, meaning the typical Carrboro household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Carrboro?

Rent in Carrboro has decreased 3.3% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which Carrboro neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Carrboro are 27510 ($1,480/mo), and 27516 ($2,272/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Carrboro is $1,480/mo.

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

Carrboro is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #96 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,480/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Carrboro?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Carrboro ($1,480/mo): Graham ($1,382/mo), Hillsborough ($1,454/mo).

What percentage of Carrboro residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 56.5% of Carrboro households are renters, while 43.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Carrboro has a strong rental market.

How does Carrboro rent compare to the national average?

Carrboro's median rent of $1,480/mo is $485 (25%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #96 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

21%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,480/mo, rent takes ~21% of Carrboro's median household income ($85,743/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Carrboro 21%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Carrboro affordability calculator →

Nearby cities