Best rent-to-income cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Davidson ranks first, with rent at 15.2% of median household income.
Across all 64 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,674/mo.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

64 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	DavidsonNC Pop. 16KCompare →	15.2%	$2,107/mo	$166,556	same
02	CaryNC Pop. 179KCompare →	15.7%	$1,768/mo	$134,905	↑1 from #3
03	MorrisvilleNC Pop. 31KCompare →	15.8%	$1,650/mo	$125,396	↓1 from #2
04	ApexNC Pop. 71KCompare →	16.2%	$1,947/mo	$144,135	same
05	Holly SpringsNC Pop. 45KCompare →	16.7%	$1,890/mo	$135,578	same
06	Wake ForestNC Pop. 53KCompare →	17.4%	$1,798/mo	$123,802	same
07	CorneliusNC Pop. 33KCompare →	18.9%	$1,796/mo	$113,767	same
08	HuntersvilleNC Pop. 64KCompare →	18.9%	$1,903/mo	$120,516	same
09	MatthewsNC Pop. 31KCompare →	19.2%	$1,736/mo	$108,611	↑1 from #10
10	Mint HillNC Pop. 28KCompare →	19.6%	$1,650/mo	$100,860	↑1 from #11
11	KnightdaleNC Pop. 20KCompare →	19.7%	$1,698/mo	$103,220	↓2 from #9
12	HarrisburgNC Pop. 20KCompare →	20.4%	$2,520/mo	$148,254	same
13	MebaneNC Pop. 20KCompare →	21.5%	$1,493/mo	$83,174	same
14	CarrboroNC Pop. 21KCompare →	21.9%	$1,564/mo	$85,743	↑1 from #15
15	PinehurstNC Pop. 18KCompare →	22.0%	$2,012/mo	$109,802	↑3 from #18
16	RaleighNC Pop. 481KCompare →	22.1%	$1,572/mo	$85,395	↑1 from #17
17	LelandNC Pop. 30KCompare →	22.1%	$1,697/mo	$91,977	↓1 from #16
18	Indian TrailNC Pop. 42KCompare →	22.2%	$2,004/mo	$108,483	↓4 from #14
19	MooresvilleNC Pop. 52KCompare →	22.4%	$1,675/mo	$89,647	same
20	BelmontNC Pop. 16KCompare →	23.0%	$1,819/mo	$94,883	same
21	Southern PinesNC Pop. 16KCompare →	23.8%	$1,753/mo	$88,535	↑4 from #25
22	WaxhawNC Pop. 22KCompare →	23.9%	$2,626/mo	$131,894	↓1 from #21
23	DurhamNC Pop. 291KCompare →	23.9%	$1,626/mo	$81,619	↓1 from #22
24	Chapel HillNC Pop. 62KCompare →	24.0%	$1,723/mo	$85,989	↓1 from #23
25	ClemmonsNC Pop. 22KCompare →	24.4%	$1,785/mo	$87,655	↓1 from #24
26	ConcordNC Pop. 109KCompare →	24.6%	$1,784/mo	$86,921	same
27	CharlotteNC Pop. 904KCompare →	25.3%	$1,729/mo	$82,068	↑2 from #29
28	KannapolisNC Pop. 58KCompare →	25.6%	$1,578/mo	$73,836	↑2 from #30
29	ThomasvilleNC Pop. 27KCompare →	25.9%	$1,314/mo	$60,935	↓1 from #28
30	High PointNC Pop. 116KCompare →	26.4%	$1,418/mo	$64,561	↑1 from #31
31	AsheboroNC Pop. 28KCompare →	26.4%	$1,038/mo	$47,197	↓4 from #27
32	Mount HollyNC Pop. 18KCompare →	26.8%	$1,772/mo	$79,385	same
33	Rocky MountNC Pop. 54KCompare →	27.2%	$1,259/mo	$55,534	same
34	GreensboroNC Pop. 301KCompare →	27.2%	$1,395/mo	$61,515	same
35	ClaytonNC Pop. 29KCompare →	27.4%	$1,797/mo	$78,822	same
36	BurlingtonNC Pop. 60KCompare →	27.6%	$1,310/mo	$56,880	same
37	GastoniaNC Pop. 83KCompare →	27.8%	$1,483/mo	$64,059	same
38	FayettevilleNC Pop. 211KCompare →	28.0%	$1,362/mo	$58,407	↑1 from #39
39	GarnerNC Pop. 34KCompare →	28.2%	$1,853/mo	$78,756	↑2 from #41
40	HickoryNC Pop. 44KCompare →	28.3%	$1,522/mo	$64,576	↓2 from #38
41	KernersvilleNC Pop. 28KCompare →	28.5%	$1,706/mo	$71,918	↓1 from #40
42	ShelbyNC Pop. 22KCompare →	28.8%	$1,160/mo	$48,376	↑2 from #44
43	AshevilleNC Pop. 95KCompare →	29.1%	$1,726/mo	$71,102	↑2 from #45
44	JacksonvilleNC Pop. 71KCompare →	29.6%	$1,421/mo	$57,697	↓2 from #42
45	Winston-SalemNC Pop. 252KCompare →	29.9%	$1,478/mo	$59,268	↓2 from #43
46	Hope MillsNC Pop. 18KCompare →	30.5%	$1,673/mo	$65,774	↑3 from #49
47	New BernNC Pop. 33KCompare →	30.6%	$1,555/mo	$61,031	↑1 from #48
48	WilmingtonNC Pop. 121KCompare →	30.8%	$1,713/mo	$66,738	↓2 from #46
49	SalisburyNC Pop. 36KCompare →	31.1%	$1,393/mo	$53,716	↑1 from #50
50	MonroeNC Pop. 37KCompare →	31.4%	$1,896/mo	$72,540	↑1 from #51