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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Leland, NC is $1,691. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Leland cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Leland falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #73 out of 128 cities at $1,691/mo.

When was Leland rent data last updated?

Leland 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 Leland, NC?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Leland, NC at $1,460 per month, which is 14% below the $1,691 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

Leland

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

Pop. 29,607·73rd most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Leland, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,691/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.9%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

-$271

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Leland rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Leland · $1,691

More affordable than 62% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Leland's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,691/mo

Expected by trend

$1,742/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,200

1 BR

$1,320

2 BR

$1,460

3 BR

$2,050

4 BR+

$2,450

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,460/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,691 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

$20,292/yr

At $1,691/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.9% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Leland, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 43.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

29,607

Median income

$91,977

Median age

47.3

Renters

19.4%

Age distribution

16.3%

19.6%

19.8%

15.8%

28.4%

Under 1816.3%

18–3419.6%

35–5419.8%

55–6415.8%

65+28.4%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

83.5%

White83.5%

Black7.8%

Hispanic4.6%

Asian0.7%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

21.5%

32.1%

43.7%

No HS diploma2.7%

HS diploma21.5%

Some college32.1%

Bachelor's+43.7%

Housing tenure

80.6%

19.4%

Owner80.6%

Renter19.4%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Leland, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,649 → $1,691

up 2.5%

Income

$78,884 → $91,977

up 16.6%

Population

22,794 → 29,607

up 29.9%

Renter share

17.9% → 19.4%

+1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

39.1% → 43.7%

+4.6 pts

Median age

46.3 → 47.3

+1.0 yrs

The median rent in Leland, NC stood at $1,649 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,691, reflecting a 2.5% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $78,884 to $91,977 across the same window, up 16.6% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 29.9% since 2021, moving from about 22,794 residents to roughly 29,607. Renters now make up 19.4% of households, compared with 17.9% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 43.7% of adults here, versus 39.1% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Leland, NC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Leland

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View Leland rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Leland on your salary?

At $1,691/mo, how Leland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 22.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 27.9% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 15.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 34.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 38.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Leland rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Leland

About renting in Leland, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Leland is $1,691/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,200/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,320/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,050/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($91,977/yr), Leland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Leland an affordable city for renters?

Leland is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,691/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($91,977/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Leland falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Leland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,691/mo in Leland. The local median household income is $91,977/yr, meaning the typical Leland household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Leland?

Rent in Leland has increased 0.9% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

Leland is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #73 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,691/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Leland?

Wilmington is nearby and more affordable at $1,690/mo, which is $1 less than Leland.

What percentage of Leland residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 19.4% of Leland households are renters, while 80.6% are owner-occupied. Leland leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Leland rent compare to the national average?

Leland's median rent of $1,691/mo is $271 (14%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #73 out of 128 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,691/mo, rent takes ~22% of Leland's median household income ($91,977/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Leland 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Leland affordability calculator →

Nearby cities