RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · NC

Mount Airy

Pop. 10,633·126th most expensive in North Carolina·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,095/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-23.4%
vs US Median
-$867
Falling (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Mount Airy rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Mount Airy · $1,095
More affordable than 95% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
33% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,095/mo, rent takes about 33% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$44,000/yr
Local median income
$40,275/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Mount Airy's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$810
1 BR
$850
2 BR
$1,000
3 BR
$1,310
4 BR+
$1,510
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,000/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,095 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
$13,140/yr
At $1,095/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -23.4% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Mount Airy, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 23.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,633
Median income
$40,275
Median age
46
Renters
44.6%
Age distribution
21.2%
17.5%
23%
12.7%
25.6%
Under 1821.2%
18–3417.5%
35–5423%
55–6412.7%
65+25.6%
Gender
46.3%
53.7%
Male46.3%
Female53.7%
Race & ethnicity
80.4%
White80.4%
Black8.6%
Hispanic10%
Asian2.2%
Education (25+)
14.6%
28.9%
33.4%
23.1%
No HS diploma14.6%
HS diploma28.9%
Some college33.4%
Bachelor's+23.1%
Housing tenure
55.4%
44.6%
Owner55.4%
Renter44.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Mount Airy, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$33,773 → $40,275
up 19.3%
Population
10,547 → 10,633
up 0.8%
Renter share
44.7% → 44.6%
-0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
25.2% → 23.1%
-2.1 pts
Median age
45.4 → 46
+0.6 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $40,275 today, compared with $33,773 five years earlier. College-educated residents now make up 23.1% of adults here, versus 25.2% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Mount Airy

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Mount Airy rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Mount Airy on your salary?

At $1,095/mo, how Mount Airy rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Mount Airy rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Mount Airy

About renting in Mount Airy, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Mount Airy is $1,095/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $810/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,000/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $850/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,310/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($40,275/yr), Mount Airy ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Mount Airy an affordable city for renters?

Mount Airy is considered moderate for renters. At $1,095/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($40,275/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Mount Airy slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Mount Airy?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $44,000/year (~$21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,095/mo in Mount Airy. The local median household income is $40,275/yr, meaning the typical Mount Airy household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Mount Airy?

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

How does Mount Airy rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Mount Airy is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #126 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,095/mo.

What percentage of Mount Airy residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 44.6% of Mount Airy households are renters, while 55.4% are owner-occupied. Mount Airy leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Mount Airy rent compare to the national average?

Mount Airy's median rent of $1,095/mo is $867 (44%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #126 out of 128 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
33%
MODERATE

At $1,095/mo, rent takes ~33% of Mount Airy's median household income ($40,275/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Mount Airy 33%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Mount Airy affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Mount Airy
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Mount Airy, NC

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Mount Airy.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google