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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Mebane, NC is $1,464. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Mebane cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Mebane is among the more affordable cities in North Carolina, ranking #99 out of 128 cities at $1,464/mo.

When was Mebane rent data last updated?

Mebane 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 Mebane, NC?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Mebane, NC at $1,470 per month, which is close to the $1,464 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

Mebane

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

Pop. 19,538·99th most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Mebane, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,464/mo

Year-over-Year

-3.6%

Month-over-Month

-10.5%

vs US Median

-$498

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Mebane · $1,464

More affordable than 78% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

21% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,464/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$59,000/yr

Local median income

$83,174/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Mebane's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,250

1 BR

$1,280

2 BR

$1,470

3 BR

$1,850

4 BR+

$2,260

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,470/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,464 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

$17,568/yr

At $1,464/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 3.6% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-3.6% YoY, -10.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Mebane, NC is majority owner-occupied, 40.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,538

Median income

$83,174

Median age

38.5

Renters

39.5%

Age distribution

23.5%

21.5%

29.2%

15.4%

Under 1823.5%

18–3421.5%

35–5429.2%

55–6410.5%

65+15.4%

Gender

44.2%

55.8%

Male44.2%

Female55.8%

Race & ethnicity

56.7%

23%

White56.7%

Black23%

Hispanic8.7%

Asian4.5%

Other7.1%

Education (25+)

20.4%

31.9%

40.4%

No HS diploma7.3%

HS diploma20.4%

Some college31.9%

Bachelor's+40.4%

Housing tenure

60.5%

39.5%

Owner60.5%

Renter39.5%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Mebane, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,515 → $1,464

down 3.4%

Income

$69,947 → $83,174

up 18.9%

Population

17,192 → 19,538

up 13.6%

Renter share

41% → 39.5%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

37.2% → 40.4%

+3.2 pts

Median age

35.8 → 38.5

+2.7 yrs

Rent in Mebane, NC has declined 3.4% since 2023, going from about $1,515 per month to roughly $1,464 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 22.3 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.

Community

Discussions about Mebane

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View Mebane rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Mebane on your salary?

At $1,464/mo, how Mebane rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 19.8% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 27.9% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 24.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 13.5% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 10.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 29.8% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 33% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 26.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Mebane rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Mebane

About renting in Mebane, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Mebane is $1,464/mo as of August 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 21% of local median household income ($83,174/yr), Mebane ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Mebane an affordable city for renters?

Mebane is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,464/mo, rent takes approximately 21% of the local median household income ($83,174/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Mebane falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Mebane?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,464/mo in Mebane. The local median household income is $83,174/yr, meaning the typical Mebane household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Mebane?

Rent in Mebane has decreased 3.6% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

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

Mebane is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #99 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,464/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mebane?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Mebane ($1,464/mo): Graham ($1,295/mo), Burlington ($1,321/mo).

What percentage of Mebane residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.5% of Mebane households are renters, while 60.5% are owner-occupied. Mebane leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Mebane rent compare to the national average?

Mebane's median rent of $1,464/mo is $498 (25%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #99 out of 128 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

21%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,464/mo, rent takes ~21% of Mebane's median household income ($83,174/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Mebane 21%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Mebane affordability calculator →

Nearby cities