Rents are 5% below what Salisbury'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 $1,393 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 Salisbury is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Salisbury changed +2.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($53,716) is $1,343 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,257); a 3-bedroom is $1,653.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Salisbury, 28144 ($1,581/mo), costs 35% more than the cheapest, 28147 ($1,170/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Salisbury. 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
Salisbury, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 29.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Salisbury, NC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Salisbury, NC stood at $1,128 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,393, reflecting a 23.5% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $44,656 to $53,716 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.3% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 35,258 residents to roughly 35,825. Renters now make up 48.2% of households, compared with 50.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 29.9% of adults here, versus 25.9% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Salisbury, NC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Salisbury on your salary?
At $1,393/mo, how Salisbury rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Salisbury rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Salisbury. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Salisbury
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Salisbury is $1,393/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,020/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,257/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,027/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,653/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($53,716/yr), Salisbury ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Salisbury rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
At $1,393/mo, rent takes ~31% of Salisbury's median household income ($53,716/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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