Rents are 7% below what Southern Pines'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 $1,753 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 Southern Pines is 2.5% below its high of $1,798 in August 2024, at $1,753 as of September 2026.
Rent in Southern Pines changed -1.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($88,535) is $2,213 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,950).
Spring Lake, 24 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,430/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Southern Pines. 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
Southern Pines, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 52.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Southern Pines, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Southern Pines, NC has increased by $121 per month, settling near $1,753 after starting the period at $1,632. On the earnings side, the typical household in Southern Pines, NC now reports about $88,535, up from $69,792 in 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 19.5 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 15,156 to 16,420 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.3% change. About 43.4% of households rent today, against 40.4% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Southern Pines, NC reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Southern Pines on your salary?
At $1,753/mo, how Southern Pines rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Southern Pines rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Southern Pines. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Southern Pines
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Southern Pines is $1,753/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,160/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,630/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($88,535/yr), Southern Pines ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Southern Pines?
Is rent going up or down in Southern Pines?
How does Southern Pines rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Southern Pines?
At $1,753/mo, rent takes ~24% of Southern Pines's median household income ($88,535/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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