City Report · NC

Whitsett

Pop. 569·49th most expensive in North Carolina·Whitsett rents are up 5.4% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,769/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.4%
Month-over-Month
-1.2%
vs US Median
-$163
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Whitsett · $1,769
More affordable than 55% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
25% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,769/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$71,000/yr
Local median income
$83,393/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Whitsett's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,120
1 BR
$1,170
2 BR
$1,290
3 BR
$1,640
4 BR+
$1,850
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,290/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,769 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in Whitsett changed +5.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.9%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($83,393) is $2,085 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,850).

Cheaper nearby

Burlington, 11 miles away, rents for 26% less ($1,310/mo), about $5,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Whitsett. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$21,228/yr
At $1,769/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (5.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.4% YoY, -1.2% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Whitsett, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 23.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
569
Median income
$83,393
Median age
56.5
Renters
9.5%
Age distribution
14.8%
21.3%
26.9%
27.4%
Under 1814.8%
18–349.7%
35–5421.3%
55–6426.9%
65+27.4%
Gender
51.8%
48.2%
Male51.8%
Female48.2%
Race & ethnicity
73.1%
16%
White73.1%
Black5.8%
Hispanic16%
Asian2.3%
Other2.8%
Education (25+)
12.8%
26.9%
37.1%
23.2%
No HS diploma12.8%
HS diploma26.9%
Some college37.1%
Bachelor's+23.2%
Housing tenure
90.5%
Owner90.5%
Renter9.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Whitsett, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$69,583 → $83,393
up 19.8%
Population
574 → 569
down 0.9%
Renter share
15.3% → 9.5%
-5.8 pts
Bachelor's+
22.4% → 23.2%
+0.8 pts

Median household income rose from $69,583 to $83,393 between 2021 and 2024, a 19.8% shift. Renters now make up 9.5% of households, compared with 15.3% five years ago.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Whitsett on your salary?

At $1,769/mo, how Whitsett rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Whitsett rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Whitsett

About renting in Whitsett, NC

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Whitsett is $1,769/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,120/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,290/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,640/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($83,393/yr), Whitsett ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Whitsett?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $71,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,769/mo in Whitsett. The local median household income is $83,393/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Whitsett?

Rent in Whitsett has risen 5.4% over the past year.

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

Whitsett is in the middle among North Carolina cities for rent, ranking #49 of 129 tracked cities at $1,769/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Whitsett changed +5.4%, against a typical +2.9% across the 94 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Whitsett?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Whitsett ($1,769/mo) include Burlington ($1,310/mo), Browns Summit ($1,389/mo), and Elon ($1,522/mo).
Income Affordability
25%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,769/mo, rent takes ~25% of Whitsett's median household income ($83,393/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Whitsett 25%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Whitsett affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Whitsett
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Whitsett, NC

Recent submissions

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