Rents are 3% below what Goldsboro'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 $1,503 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 Goldsboro is 1.2% below its high of $1,522 in June 2026, at $1,503 as of September 2026.
Rent in Goldsboro changed +2.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($48,540) is $1,214 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($930); a 2-bedroom is $1,220.
Kinston, 28 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,181/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Goldsboro. 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
Goldsboro, NC is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 21% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Goldsboro, NC has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Goldsboro, NC has increased from $1,307 to $1,503, a 15.0% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $39,562 in 2021 to $48,540 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 3.5% since 2021, moving from about 33,214 residents to roughly 34,383. Renters now make up 63.7% of households, compared with 59.3% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Goldsboro, NC market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Goldsboro on your salary?
At $1,503/mo, how Goldsboro rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Goldsboro rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Goldsboro. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Goldsboro
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Goldsboro is $1,503/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $925/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,220/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $930/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,495/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($48,540/yr), Goldsboro ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Goldsboro?
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How does Goldsboro rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
At $1,503/mo, rent takes ~37% of Goldsboro's median household income ($48,540/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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