At $984/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above 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 $984 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 Henderson changed +0.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
30% of the median household income ($39,969) is $999 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($770); a 2-bedroom is $1,010.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Henderson. 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
Henderson, NC is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 15.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Henderson, NC has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $36,147 in 2021 to $39,969 more recently. Census counts show Henderson, NC losing about 199 residents over the five-year window, down 1.3% on net. The renter share has risen from 58.9% to 61.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.8% to 15.5% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Henderson on your salary?
At $984/mo, how Henderson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Henderson rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Henderson. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Henderson
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Henderson is $984/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $760/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,010/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,240/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($39,969/yr), Henderson ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Henderson?
How does Henderson rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
At $984/mo, rent takes ~30% of Henderson's median household income ($39,969/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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