Rents are 5% above what Holly Ridge's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $1,826 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 Holly Ridge is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2022.
Rent in Holly Ridge changed +6.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($104,788) is $2,620 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,250).
Midway Park, 21 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,396/mo), about $5,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Holly Ridge. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Holly Ridge, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Holly Ridge, NC has climbed by $212 per month, settling near $1,826 after starting the period at $1,614. 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 17.1 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.
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Can you afford rent in Holly Ridge on your salary?
At $1,826/mo, how Holly Ridge rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Holly Ridge rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Holly Ridge. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Holly Ridge
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Holly Ridge is $1,826/mo as of October 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 6.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Holly Ridge?
Is rent going up or down in Holly Ridge?
How does Holly Ridge rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Holly Ridge?
At $1,826/mo, rent takes ~21% of Holly Ridge's median household income ($104,788/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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