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City Report · NC

Lenoir

Pop. 18,299·119th most expensive in North Carolina·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,245/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+2.2%
vs US Median
-$717
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Lenoir · $1,245
More affordable than 91% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
30% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,245/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/yr
Local median income
$49,910/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lenoir's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$730
1 BR
$820
2 BR
$1,030
3 BR
$1,260
4 BR+
$1,750
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,030/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,245 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

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$14,940/yr
At $1,245/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +2.2% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Lenoir, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 21.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,299
Median income
$49,910
Median age
45.7
Renters
35.8%
Age distribution
19.5%
19.4%
23.4%
14.8%
22.9%
Under 1819.5%
18–3419.4%
35–5423.4%
55–6414.8%
65+22.9%
Gender
46%
54%
Male46%
Female54%
Race & ethnicity
74.9%
13.2%
White74.9%
Black10%
Hispanic13.2%
Asian0.9%
Other1%
Education (25+)
14.8%
30.5%
33.5%
21.2%
No HS diploma14.8%
HS diploma30.5%
Some college33.5%
Bachelor's+21.2%
Housing tenure
64.2%
35.8%
Owner64.2%
Renter35.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lenoir, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$42,411 → $49,910
up 17.7%
Population
18,205 → 18,299
up 0.5%
Renter share
38.5% → 35.8%
-2.7 pts
Bachelor's+
16.7% → 21.2%
+4.5 pts
Median age
42.6 → 45.7
+3.1 yrs

Median household income grew from $42,411 to $49,910 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.7% shift. About 35.8% of households rent today, against 38.5% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 16.7% to 21.2%.

Community

Discussions about Lenoir

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View Lenoir rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lenoir on your salary?

At $1,245/mo, how Lenoir rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Lenoir rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lenoir

About renting in Lenoir, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Lenoir is $1,245/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $730/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,260/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($49,910/yr), Lenoir ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lenoir an affordable city for renters?

Lenoir is considered moderate for renters. At $1,245/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($49,910/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lenoir slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Lenoir?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (~$24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,245/mo in Lenoir. The local median household income is $49,910/yr, meaning the typical Lenoir household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lenoir?

Rent in Lenoir has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

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

Lenoir is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #119 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,245/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lenoir?

Newton is nearby and more affordable at $1,236/mo, which is $9 less than Lenoir.

What percentage of Lenoir residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 35.8% of Lenoir households are renters, while 64.2% are owner-occupied. Lenoir leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Lenoir rent compare to the national average?

Lenoir's median rent of $1,245/mo is $717 (37%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #119 out of 128 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
30%
MODERATE

At $1,245/mo, rent takes ~30% of Lenoir's median household income ($49,910/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lenoir 30%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Lenoir affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Lenoir, NC

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