Rents are 8% below what Knightdale's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,698 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
February. Asking rents in Knightdale usually run 1.3% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in June, about $37 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Knightdale is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2020.
Rent in Knightdale changed +2.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($103,220) is $2,581 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,180); a 4-bedroom is $2,940.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Knightdale. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Knightdale, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 48.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Knightdale, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Knightdale, NC has increased by $414 per month, settling near $1,698 after starting the period at $1,284. Census figures show median household income at $103,220 today, compared with $72,118 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 10.9 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 18,614 to 20,214 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.6% change. About 35.3% of households rent today, against 30.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 44.1% to 48.9%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,698/mo, how Knightdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Knightdale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Knightdale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Knightdale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Knightdale is $1,698/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,520/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,750/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,580/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,180/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($103,220/yr), Knightdale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Knightdale?
At $1,698/mo, rent takes ~20% of Knightdale's median household income ($103,220/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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