At $1,985/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,985 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 Hampstead is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in Hampstead changed +8.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,745) is $2,294 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,050); a 4-bedroom is $2,450.
Wilmington, 19 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,713/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hampstead. 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
Hampstead, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 38.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hampstead, NC has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Hampstead, NC paid around $1,805 a month. That figure now sits near $1,985, up 10.0% from the 2023 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $91,745 today, compared with $102,366 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Hampstead, NC adding about 2,255 residents over the five-year window, up 32.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 23.2% to 27.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 43.5% to 38.3% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Hampstead on your salary?
At $1,985/mo, how Hampstead rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hampstead rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hampstead. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hampstead
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Hampstead is $1,985/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,320/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,050/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($91,745/yr), Hampstead ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Hampstead?
Is rent going up or down in Hampstead?
How does Hampstead rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hampstead?
At $1,985/mo, rent takes ~26% of Hampstead's median household income ($91,745/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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