How much does it cost to rent in Holly Ridge, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Holly Ridge, NC is $1,801. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Holly Ridge cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Holly Ridge falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #46 out of 126 cities at $1,801/mo.

When was Holly Ridge rent data last updated?

Holly Ridge rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NC

Holly Ridge

Name: Average Rent Prices in Holly Ridge, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 4,904·46th most expensive in North Carolina·Holly Ridge rents are up 7.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,801/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.3%

Month-over-Month

+2.5%

vs US Median

-$164

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Holly Ridge · $1,801

More affordable than 54% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

21% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,801/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$72,000/yr

Local median income

$104,788/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Holly Ridge's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,010

1 BR

$1,090

2 BR

$1,340

3 BR

$1,880

4 BR+

$2,250

Research median

$1,340/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$21,612/yr

At $1,801/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.3% YoY, +2.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Holly Ridge, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 51.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

4,904

Median income

$104,788

Median age

38.1

Renters

11.4%

Age distribution

20.7%

24.6%

27.9%

14.7%

12.1%

Under 1820.7%

18–3424.6%

35–5427.9%

55–6414.7%

65+12.1%

Gender

51.6%

48.4%

Male51.6%

Female48.4%

Race & ethnicity

89.6%

White89.6%

Black1.9%

Hispanic4.8%

Asian1.5%

Other2.2%

Education (25+)

12.9%

29.3%

51.4%

No HS diploma6.3%

HS diploma12.9%

Some college29.3%

Bachelor's+51.4%

Housing tenure

88.6%

Owner88.6%

Renter11.4%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Holly Ridge, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,649 → $1,801

up 9.2%

Income

$80,492 → $104,788

up 30.2%

Population

3,888 → 4,904

up 26.1%

Renter share

22.6% → 11.4%

-11.2 pts

Bachelor's+

44.3% → 51.4%

+7.1 pts

Median age

35.6 → 38.1

+2.5 yrs

Compared with 2023, rent in Holly Ridge, NC has climbed by $152 per month, settling near $1,801 after starting the period at $1,649. Household income in the area moved from $80,492 to $104,788 across the same window, up 30.2% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 21.0 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 3,888 to 4,904 between 2021 and 2024, a 26.1% change. About 11.4% of households rent today, against 22.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 44.3% to 51.4%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Holly Ridge, NC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Holly Ridge

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View Holly Ridge rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Holly Ridge on your salary?

At $1,801/mo, how Holly Ridge rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 24.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 34.3% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 29.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 36.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 40.5% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 32.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Holly Ridge rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Holly Ridge

About renting in Holly Ridge, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Holly Ridge is $1,801/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,340/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,880/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($104,788/yr), Holly Ridge ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Holly Ridge an affordable city for renters?

Holly Ridge is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,801/mo, rent takes approximately 21% of the local median household income ($104,788/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Holly Ridge falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Holly Ridge?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (~$35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,801/mo in Holly Ridge. The local median household income is $104,788/yr, meaning the typical Holly Ridge household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Holly Ridge?

Rent in Holly Ridge has increased 7.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Holly Ridge rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Holly Ridge is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #46 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,801/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Holly Ridge?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Holly Ridge ($1,801/mo): Jacksonville ($1,395/mo), Midway Park ($1,469/mo).

What percentage of Holly Ridge residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 11.4% of Holly Ridge households are renters, while 88.6% are owner-occupied. Holly Ridge leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Holly Ridge rent compare to the national average?

Holly Ridge's median rent of $1,801/mo is $164 (8%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #46 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

21%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,801/mo, rent takes ~21% of Holly Ridge's median household income ($104,788/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Holly Ridge 21%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Holly Ridge affordability calculator →

Nearby cities