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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Knightdale, NC is $1,726. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Knightdale cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Knightdale falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #65 out of 128 cities at $1,726/mo.

When was Knightdale rent data last updated?

Knightdale rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Knightdale, NC?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Knightdale, NC at $1,750 per month, which is close to the $1,726 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · NC

Knightdale

Name: Average Rent Prices in Knightdale, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 20,214·65th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Knightdale, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,726/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.5%

Month-over-Month

-1.9%

vs US Median

-$236

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Knightdale · $1,726

More affordable than 59% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

68/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Knightdale's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,726/mo

Expected by trend

$1,900/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,520

1 BR

$1,580

2 BR

$1,750

3 BR

$2,180

4 BR+

$2,940

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,750/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,726 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$20,712/yr

At $1,726/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.5% YoY, -1.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

20,214

Median income

$103,220

Median age

33.6

Renters

35.3%

Age distribution

28.1%

23.5%

28.8%

Under 1828.1%

18–3423.5%

35–5428.8%

55–6410.1%

65+9.5%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

34.7%

44.6%

White34.7%

Black44.6%

Hispanic10.9%

Asian5%

Other4.8%

Education (25+)

15.9%

31.6%

48.9%

No HS diploma3.5%

HS diploma15.9%

Some college31.6%

Bachelor's+48.9%

Housing tenure

64.7%

35.3%

Owner64.7%

Renter35.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Knightdale, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,309 → $1,726

up 31.9%

Income

$72,118 → $103,220

up 43.1%

Population

18,614 → 20,214

up 8.6%

Renter share

30.8% → 35.3%

+4.5 pts

Bachelor's+

44.1% → 48.9%

+4.8 pts

Median age

36 → 33.6

-2.4 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Knightdale, NC has increased by $417 per month, settling near $1,726 after starting the period at $1,309. Census figures show median household income at $103,220 today, compared with $72,118 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 11.2 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.

Community

Discussions about Knightdale

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View Knightdale rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Knightdale on your salary?

At $1,726/mo, how Knightdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 32.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 16% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 35.1% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 38.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 31.5% income

stretched

By apartment size

Knightdale rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Knightdale

About renting in Knightdale, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Knightdale is $1,726/mo as of August 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 3.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Knightdale an affordable city for renters?

Knightdale is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,726/mo, rent takes approximately 20% of the local median household income ($103,220/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Knightdale falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Knightdale?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $69,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,726/mo in Knightdale. The local median household income is $103,220/yr, meaning the typical Knightdale household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Knightdale?

Rent in Knightdale has increased 3.5% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Knightdale is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #65 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,726/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Knightdale?

Raleigh is nearby and more affordable at $1,575/mo, which is $151 less than Knightdale.

What percentage of Knightdale residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 35.3% of Knightdale households are renters, while 64.7% are owner-occupied. Knightdale leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Knightdale rent compare to the national average?

Knightdale's median rent of $1,726/mo is $236 (12%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #65 out of 128 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

20%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,726/mo, rent takes ~20% of Knightdale's median household income ($103,220/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Knightdale 20%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Knightdale affordability calculator →

Nearby cities