Rents are right about where Mebane's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,493 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
Rent in Mebane is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in Mebane changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($83,174) is $2,079 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,850); a 4-bedroom is $2,260.
Burlington, 10 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,310/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mebane. 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
Mebane, NC is majority owner-occupied, 40.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mebane, NC has changed in 5 years
Rent in Mebane, NC has increased 9.2% since 2023, going from about $1,367 per month to roughly $1,493 today. Household income in the area moved from $69,947 to $83,174 across the same window, up 18.9% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 9.7 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 17,192 to 19,538 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.6% change. About 39.5% of households rent today, against 41% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 37.2% to 40.4%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mebane, NC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Mebane on your salary?
At $1,493/mo, how Mebane rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mebane rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mebane. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mebane
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mebane is $1,493/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,250/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,470/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,280/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,850/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($83,174/yr), Mebane ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Mebane?
Is rent going up or down in Mebane?
How does Mebane rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mebane?
At $1,493/mo, rent takes ~22% of Mebane's median household income ($83,174/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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