How much does it cost to rent in Kannapolis, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Kannapolis, NC is $1,667. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Kannapolis cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Kannapolis falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #76 out of 126 cities at $1,667/mo.

When was Kannapolis rent data last updated?

Kannapolis 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

Kannapolis

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

Pop. 57,890·76th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Kannapolis, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,667/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.6%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$298

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Kannapolis · $1,667

More affordable than 64% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

72/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% below what Kannapolis's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,667/mo

Expected by trend

$1,871/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Kannapolis's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,185

1 BR

$1,220

2 BR

$1,390

3 BR

$1,750

4 BR+

$2,225

Research median

$1,390/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

$20,004/yr

At $1,667/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.6% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Kannapolis, NC is majority owner-occupied, 29.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

57,890

Median income

$73,836

Median age

36.9

Renters

34.4%

Age distribution

22.3%

23.4%

27.5%

12.2%

14.5%

Under 1822.3%

18–3423.4%

35–5427.5%

55–6412.2%

65+14.5%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

57%

22.7%

13.4%

White57%

Black22.7%

Hispanic13.4%

Asian3.2%

Other3.7%

Education (25+)

27%

33.5%

29.7%

No HS diploma9.7%

HS diploma27%

Some college33.5%

Bachelor's+29.7%

Housing tenure

65.6%

34.4%

Owner65.6%

Renter34.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Kannapolis, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,221 → $1,667

up 36.5%

Income

$58,084 → $73,836

up 27.1%

Population

52,173 → 57,890

up 11.0%

Renter share

37.8% → 34.4%

-3.4 pts

Bachelor's+

25.1% → 29.7%

+4.6 pts

Rent in Kannapolis, NC has increased 36.5% since 2021, going from about $1,221 per month to roughly $1,667 today. Median household income grew from $58,084 to $73,836 between 2021 and 2024, a 27.1% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 9.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 52,173 to 57,890 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.0% change. About 34.4% of households rent today, against 37.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 25.1% to 29.7%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Kannapolis, NC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Kannapolis

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View Kannapolis rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Kannapolis on your salary?

At $1,667/mo, how Kannapolis rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 22.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 27.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 15.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 33.9% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 37.5% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 30.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Kannapolis rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Kannapolis

About renting in Kannapolis, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Kannapolis is $1,667/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,185/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,220/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,750/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($73,836/yr), Kannapolis ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Kannapolis an affordable city for renters?

Kannapolis is considered affordable for renters. At $1,667/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($73,836/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Kannapolis falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Kannapolis?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (~$32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,667/mo in Kannapolis. The local median household income is $73,836/yr, meaning the typical Kannapolis household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Kannapolis?

Rent in Kannapolis has increased 4.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Kannapolis neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Kannapolis are 28083 ($1,663/mo), and 28081 ($1,675/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Kannapolis is $1,667/mo.

How does Kannapolis rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Kannapolis is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #76 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,667/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kannapolis?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Kannapolis ($1,667/mo): Mooresville ($1,621/mo), China Grove ($1,640/mo).

What percentage of Kannapolis residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 34.4% of Kannapolis households are renters, while 65.6% are owner-occupied. Kannapolis leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Kannapolis rent compare to the national average?

Kannapolis's median rent of $1,667/mo is $298 (15%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #76 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,667/mo, rent takes ~27% of Kannapolis's median household income ($73,836/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Kannapolis 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Kannapolis affordability calculator →

Nearby cities