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City Report · NC

Washington

Pop. 9,726·123rd most expensive in North Carolina·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,184/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-3.4%
vs US Median
-$778
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Washington · $1,184
More affordable than 93% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
35% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,184/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$47,000/yr
Local median income
$40,186/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Washington's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$840
1 BR
$840
2 BR
$1,040
3 BR
$1,420
4 BR+
$1,770
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,040/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,184 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

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$14,208/yr
At $1,184/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, -3.4% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Washington, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 24% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
9,726
Median income
$40,186
Median age
46.8
Renters
53.6%
Age distribution
17.8%
19%
22.2%
15.5%
25.6%
Under 1817.8%
18–3419%
35–5422.2%
55–6415.5%
65+25.6%
Gender
46%
54%
Male46%
Female54%
Race & ethnicity
48.2%
43.5%
White48.2%
Black43.5%
Hispanic5.3%
Other2.7%
Education (25+)
32%
34.1%
24%
No HS diploma10%
HS diploma32%
Some college34.1%
Bachelor's+24%
Housing tenure
46.4%
53.6%
Owner46.4%
Renter53.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Washington, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$38,843 → $40,186
up 3.5%
Population
9,754 → 9,726
down 0.3%
Renter share
48.7% → 53.6%
+4.9 pts
Bachelor's+
23.7% → 24%
+0.3 pts
Median age
46.3 → 46.8
+0.5 yrs

Median household income rose from $38,843 to $40,186 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.5% shift. Renters now make up 53.6% of households, compared with 48.7% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Washington

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View Washington rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Washington on your salary?

At $1,184/mo, how Washington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Washington rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Washington

About renting in Washington, NC

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Washington is $1,184/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,040/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,420/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($40,186/yr), Washington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Washington an affordable city for renters?

Washington is considered moderate for renters. At $1,184/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($40,186/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Washington slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Washington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $47,000/year (~$23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,184/mo in Washington. The local median household income is $40,186/yr, meaning the typical Washington household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Washington?

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

How does Washington rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Washington is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #123 out of 128 tracked cities at $1,184/mo.

What percentage of Washington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.6% of Washington households are renters, while 46.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Washington has a strong rental market.

How does Washington rent compare to the national average?

Washington's median rent of $1,184/mo is $778 (40%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #123 out of 128 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
35%
MODERATE

At $1,184/mo, rent takes ~35% of Washington's median household income ($40,186/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Washington 35%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Washington affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Washington, NC

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