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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Garner, NC is $1,884. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Garner cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Garner is one of the pricier cities in North Carolina, ranking #35 out of 128 cities tracked at $1,884/mo.

When was Garner rent data last updated?

Garner rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Garner, NC?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Garner, NC at $1,690 per month, which is 10% below the $1,884 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · NC

Garner

Name: Average Rent Prices in Garner, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 34,473·35th most expensive in North Carolina·Garner rents are up 7.1% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,884/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.1%

Month-over-Month

-0.7%

vs US Median

-$78

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Garner · $1,884

More expensive than 51% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

61/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what Garner's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,884/mo

Expected by trend

$1,999/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Garner's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,470

1 BR

$1,530

2 BR

$1,690

3 BR

$2,100

4 BR+

$2,840

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,690/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,884 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$22,608/yr

At $1,884/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (7.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.1% YoY, -0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Garner, NC is majority owner-occupied, 46.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

34,473

Median income

$78,756

Median age

37.7

Renters

36.8%

Age distribution

19.6%

25.6%

27.2%

16.4%

Under 1819.6%

18–3425.6%

35–5427.2%

55–6411.3%

65+16.4%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

54.7%

25.2%

13.2%

White54.7%

Black25.2%

Hispanic13.2%

Asian3.4%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

20.5%

27.7%

46.5%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma20.5%

Some college27.7%

Bachelor's+46.5%

Housing tenure

63.2%

36.8%

Owner63.2%

Renter36.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Garner, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,436 → $1,884

up 31.2%

Income

$70,007 → $78,756

up 12.5%

Population

30,859 → 34,473

up 11.7%

Renter share

34.8% → 36.8%

+2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

43.6% → 46.5%

+2.9 pts

Median age

36.8 → 37.7

+0.9 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in Garner, NC has climbed from $1,436 to $1,884, a 31.2% change over five years. Median household income rose from $70,007 to $78,756 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.5% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 11.7% since 2021, moving from about 30,859 residents to roughly 34,473. Renters now make up 36.8% of households, compared with 34.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 46.5% of adults here, versus 43.6% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Garner, NC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Garner

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View Garner rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Garner on your salary?

At $1,884/mo, how Garner rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 25.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 35.9% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 31.1% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 17.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 42.4% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 34.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Garner rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Garner

About renting in Garner, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Garner is $1,884/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,470/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,690/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,530/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,100/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($78,756/yr), Garner ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Garner an affordable city for renters?

Garner is considered affordable for renters. At $1,884/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($78,756/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Garner falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Garner?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (~$36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,884/mo in Garner. The local median household income is $78,756/yr, meaning the typical Garner household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Garner?

Rent in Garner has increased 7.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Garner is one of the pricier cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #35 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,884/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Garner?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Garner ($1,884/mo): Raleigh ($1,575/mo), Knightdale ($1,726/mo), Clayton ($1,835/mo).

What percentage of Garner residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 36.8% of Garner households are renters, while 63.2% are owner-occupied. Garner leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Garner rent compare to the national average?

Garner's median rent of $1,884/mo is $78 (4%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #35 out of 128 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,884/mo, rent takes ~29% of Garner's median household income ($78,756/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Garner 29%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Garner affordability calculator →

Nearby cities