Studio Rent · July 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Morganton, NC

$1,290/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Morganton, North Carolina as of July 2026. That's +4% lower than the citywide median of $1,341 and in line with the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$1,290
July 2026
vs city overall
-4%
$1,341 city median
vs national
0%
$1,290 US median
North Carolina rank
#79
of 118 cities

Income needed for a studio in Morganton

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$51,600
Monthly gross
$4,300
Hourly (full-time)
$24.81

Rent by apartment size in Morganton

Compare Morganton's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$1,290
1-Bedroom
$1,350
2-Bedroom
$1,520
3-Bedroom
$1,950
4+ Bedroom
$2,570

Cheapest cities for a studio in North Carolina

#CityStudio rent
1Waynesville$675
2Albemarle$690
3Shelby$700
4Lumberton$720
5Lenoir$730
6Henderson$760
7Lillington$770
8Marion$790
9Aberdeen$800
10Kings Mountain$800
11Raeford$810
12Graham$840
13Kinston$840
14Jacksonville$845
15Lexington$850

Most expensive cities for a studio in North Carolina

#CityStudio rent
1Harrisburg$2,380
2Holly Springs$1,870
3Waxhaw$1,860
4Apex$1,827
5Davidson$1,800
6Cornelius$1,770
7Chapel Hill$1,725
8Pineville$1,720
9Cary$1,685
10Mint Hill$1,650
11Fuquay Varina$1,580
12Raleigh$1,579
13Wake Forest$1,560
14Huntersville$1,521
15Knightdale$1,520

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Morganton.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Morganton
Marion, NC20.1 mi$790$-500 (-39%)
Lenoir, NC20.4 mi$730$-560 (-43%)
Hickory, NC27.2 mi$870$-420 (-33%)
Boone, NC32.1 mi$880$-410 (-32%)
Cherryville, NC34.6 mi$940$-350 (-27%)
Newton, NC36.5 mi$890$-400 (-31%)
Shelby, NC37.4 mi$700$-590 (-46%)
Black Mountain, NC39 mi$1,290
Lincolnton, NC39.2 mi$980$-310 (-24%)
Kings Mountain, NC44.1 mi$800$-490 (-38%)
Gaffney, SC45 mi$740$-550 (-43%)
Swannanoa, NC46.2 mi$1,290

Studio rent in Morganton — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Morganton?

As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Morganton, North Carolina is $1,290 per month. This is +4% below the citywide median of $1,341.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Morganton?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $51,600 ($4,300/month gross), which works out to roughly $24.81/hour at a full-time job.

Is Morganton expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Morganton's studio median of $1,290 is right at the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 50th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Morganton rank for studio rent in North Carolina?

Among the 118 cities in North Carolina with studio data, Morganton ranks #79 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Morganton?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Marion ($790), Lenoir ($730), Hickory ($870).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Morganton, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (July 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.