Can A Carpenter Afford Rent in Lenoir, NC?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 25.5% of gross income.

Lenoir rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (North Carolina state estimate).

Lenoir median rent
$1,218/mo
Carpenter salary (North Carolina)
$57,284/yr
Rent as % of income
25.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,774, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,432/mo in rent. Lenoir's median rent of $1,218 leaves roughly $214/mo of headroom under that threshold. A carpenter works roughly 44.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a carpenter salary

Carpenter pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. Union carpenters in high-cost cities often earn well above the BLS mean. At the national-average carpenter salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,524 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These North Carolina cities have lower median rent than Lenoir, which improves the affordability math on a carpenter salary:

Salisbury, NC
$1,215/mo (25.5% of income)
Thomasville, NC
$1,212/mo (25.4% of income)
Rocky Mount, NC
$1,209/mo (25.3% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lenoir

View full rent data for Lenoir, NC

Frequently asked questions

Can a carpenter afford rent in Lenoir, NC?

Median rent in Lenoir is $1,218 a month. A typical carpenter in North Carolina earns about $57,284 a year, which makes that rent 25.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a carpenter afford in Lenoir?

Using the 30% rule, a carpenter salary in North Carolina (~$57,284/yr) supports up to $1,432 a month in rent. Lenoir's current median rent is $1,218/mo, which leaves a $214/mo buffer.

How many hours does a carpenter work to cover rent in Lenoir?

At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a carpenter in North Carolina works roughly 44.2 hours a month to cover Lenoir's median rent of $1,218.

Where is rent cheaper than Lenoir for a carpenter?

Nearby North Carolina cities with lower median rent include Salisbury ($1,215/mo), Thomasville ($1,212/mo), Rocky Mount ($1,209/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a carpenter salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived North Carolina state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Lenoir, NC. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.