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City Report · NC

Lillington

Pop. 4,709·78th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Lillington, NC
Median rent (all units)
$1,679/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+1.9%
vs US Median
-$283
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Lillington · $1,679
More affordable than 63% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
25% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,679/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$67,000/yr
Local median income
$81,760/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lillington's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$770
1 BR
$780
2 BR
$1,020
3 BR
$1,430
4 BR+
$1,720
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,020/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,679 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
$20,148/yr
At $1,679/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, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Lillington, NC is majority owner-occupied, 19.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
4,709
Median income
$81,760
Median age
37.2
Renters
36.9%
Age distribution
22.2%
22.4%
31.5%
14.5%
Under 1822.2%
18–3422.4%
35–5431.5%
55–649.4%
65+14.5%
Gender
57.6%
42.4%
Male57.6%
Female42.4%
Race & ethnicity
51.1%
29.4%
15.9%
White51.1%
Black29.4%
Hispanic15.9%
Asian1.3%
Other2.3%
Education (25+)
14.5%
33.8%
32.4%
19.3%
No HS diploma14.5%
HS diploma33.8%
Some college32.4%
Bachelor's+19.3%
Housing tenure
63.1%
36.9%
Owner63.1%
Renter36.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lillington, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$52,643 → $81,760
up 55.3%
Population
4,389 → 4,709
up 7.3%
Renter share
45% → 36.9%
-8.1 pts
Bachelor's+
17% → 19.3%
+2.3 pts
Median age
35.5 → 37.2
+1.7 yrs

Median household income rose from $52,643 to $81,760 between 2021 and 2024, a 55.3% shift. The population has grown by 7.3% since 2021, moving from about 4,389 residents to roughly 4,709. Renters now make up 36.9% of households, compared with 45% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 19.3% of adults here, versus 17% in 2021.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Lillington on your salary?

At $1,679/mo, how Lillington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Lillington rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lillington

About renting in Lillington, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Lillington is $1,679/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,020/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $780/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,430/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($81,760/yr), Lillington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lillington an affordable city for renters?

Lillington is considered affordable for renters. At $1,679/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($81,760/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lillington falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Lillington?

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 $1,679/mo in Lillington. The local median household income is $81,760/yr, meaning the typical Lillington household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lillington?

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

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

Lillington is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #78 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,679/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lillington?

Spring Lake is nearby and more affordable at $1,425/mo, which is $254 less than Lillington.

What percentage of Lillington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 36.9% of Lillington households are renters, while 63.1% are owner-occupied. Lillington leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Lillington rent compare to the national average?

Lillington's median rent of $1,679/mo is $283 (14%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #78 out of 128 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
25%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,679/mo, rent takes ~25% of Lillington's median household income ($81,760/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lillington 25%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Lillington affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Lillington, NC

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