Rents are 5% below what Denver'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 $1,956 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 Denver is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.
Rent in Denver changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($65,721) is $1,643 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,310); a 3-bedroom is $1,800.
Mooresville, 12 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,675/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Denver. 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
Denver, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 43.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Denver, NC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Denver, NC stood at $1,526 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,956, reflecting a 28.2% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $55,426 in 2021 to $65,721 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 11.7% since 2021, moving from about 2,827 residents to roughly 2,497. Renters now make up 44.8% of households, compared with 34.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 43.6% of adults here, versus 28.4% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Denver, NC market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Denver on your salary?
At $1,956/mo, how Denver rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Denver rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Denver. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Denver
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Denver is $1,956/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,800/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($65,721/yr), Denver ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Denver?
Is rent going up or down in Denver?
How does Denver rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Denver?
At $1,956/mo, rent takes ~36% of Denver's median household income ($65,721/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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