Rents are 3% below what Mount Holly's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,772 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 Mount Holly is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in Mount Holly changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,385) is $1,985 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,760); a 4-bedroom is $2,240.
Gastonia, 10 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,483/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mount Holly. 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
Mount Holly, NC is majority owner-occupied, 36.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mount Holly, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Mount Holly, NC has increased by $299 per month, settling near $1,772 after starting the period at $1,473. Census figures show median household income at $79,385 today, compared with $64,742 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 17,315 to 18,208 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.2% change. About 31.2% of households rent today, against 33.4% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Mount Holly on your salary?
At $1,772/mo, how Mount Holly rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mount Holly rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mount Holly. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mount Holly
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mount Holly is $1,772/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,240/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,430/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,290/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,760/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($79,385/yr), Mount Holly ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Mount Holly?
Is rent going up or down in Mount Holly?
How does Mount Holly rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mount Holly?
At $1,772/mo, rent takes ~27% of Mount Holly's median household income ($79,385/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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