Most affordable cities for renters in North Carolina
Cities in North Carolina ranked by lowest median rent. Includes cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Asheboro ranks first, with a median rent of $1,038/mo.
- Across all 65 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,674/mo.
Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
65 cities
| Rank | City | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | AsheboroNC | $1,038/mo | +7.8% | -- | 26.4% | ↑1 from #2 |
| 02 | ShelbyNC | $1,160/mo | +0.9% | -- | 28.8% | ↑1 from #3 |
| 03 | KinstonNC | $1,181/mo | +30.8% | -- | 38.4% | ↓2 from #1 |
| 04 | Rocky MountNC | $1,259/mo | +2.4% | -- | 27.2% | same |
| 05 | AlbemarleNC | $1,260/mo | 0.0% | -- | 32.3% | -- |
| 06 | BurlingtonNC | $1,310/mo | +3.2% | +37.0% | 27.6% | same |
| 07 | ThomasvilleNC | $1,314/mo | +3.9% | -- | 25.9% | ↓2 from #5 |
| 08 | FayettevilleNC | $1,362/mo | +2.3% | +27.2% | 28.0% | ↓1 from #7 |
| 09 | SalisburyNC | $1,393/mo | +2.9% | -- | 31.1% | ↓1 from #8 |
| 10 | GreensboroNC | $1,395/mo | +2.3% | +27.5% | 27.2% | same |
| 11 | High PointNC | $1,418/mo | +3.8% | +35.2% | 26.4% | same |
| 12 | JacksonvilleNC | $1,421/mo | +4.3% | +37.4% | 29.6% | ↓3 from #9 |
| 13 | MorgantonNC | $1,436/mo | 0.0% | -- | 33.6% | -- |
| 14 | Elizabeth CityNC | $1,457/mo | +3.8% | -- | 33.5% | ↓1 from #13 |
| 15 | GreenvilleNC | $1,460/mo | +2.0% | +32.7% | 35.2% | same |
| 16 | GrahamNC | $1,476/mo | 0.0% | -- | 31.5% | -- |
| 17 | Winston-SalemNC | $1,478/mo | +5.0% | +30.3% | 29.9% | ↓3 from #14 |
| 18 | LexingtonNC | $1,480/mo | +6.3% | -- | 41.2% | ↓6 from #12 |
| 19 | GastoniaNC | $1,483/mo | +2.4% | +27.2% | 27.8% | ↓2 from #17 |
| 20 | MebaneNC | $1,493/mo | +3.2% | -- | 21.5% | ↓4 from #16 |
| 21 | WilsonNC | $1,494/mo | +2.3% | -- | 34.2% | ↓3 from #18 |
| 22 | GoldsboroNC | $1,503/mo | +2.2% | -- | 37.2% | ↓2 from #20 |
| 23 | HickoryNC | $1,522/mo | +3.7% | -- | 28.3% | ↓4 from #19 |
| 24 | HavelockNC | $1,542/mo | +2.3% | -- | 31.7% | ↓2 from #22 |
| 25 | New BernNC | $1,555/mo | +4.0% | -- | 30.6% | ↓4 from #21 |
| 26 | CarrboroNC | $1,564/mo | +3.2% | -- | 21.9% | ↓3 from #23 |
| 27 | RaleighNC | $1,572/mo | +1.6% | +12.8% | 22.1% | ↓2 from #25 |
| 28 | KannapolisNC | $1,578/mo | +2.5% | +27.2% | 25.6% | ↓4 from #24 |
| 29 | DurhamNC | $1,626/mo | +3.3% | +17.4% | 23.9% | ↓3 from #26 |
| 30 | MorrisvilleNC | $1,650/mo | +2.6% | +6.7% | 15.8% | ↓3 from #27 |
| 31 | Mint HillNC | $1,650/mo | -1.3% | -- | 19.6% | ↑4 from #35 |
| 32 | Hope MillsNC | $1,673/mo | +3.4% | -- | 30.5% | ↓4 from #28 |
| 33 | HendersonvilleNC | $1,674/mo | +2.5% | -- | 37.6% | ↓3 from #30 |
| 34 | MooresvilleNC | $1,675/mo | +2.1% | +16.7% | 22.4% | ↓2 from #32 |
| 35 | LelandNC | $1,697/mo | +3.6% | -- | 22.1% | ↓4 from #31 |
| 36 | KnightdaleNC | $1,698/mo | +2.5% | +22.5% | 19.7% | ↓2 from #34 |
| 37 | KernersvilleNC | $1,706/mo | +3.5% | +31.9% | 28.5% | ↓4 from #33 |
| 38 | WilmingtonNC | $1,713/mo | +5.0% | +22.4% | 30.8% | ↓9 from #29 |
| 39 | Chapel HillNC | $1,723/mo | +1.5% | +18.4% | 24.0% | ↓2 from #37 |
| 40 | AshevilleNC | $1,726/mo | +0.1% | +16.3% | 29.1% | ↑1 from #41 |
| 41 | CharlotteNC | $1,729/mo | +1.2% | +15.7% | 25.3% | ↓3 from #38 |
| 42 | SanfordNC | $1,734/mo | +1.3% | -- | 36.1% | ↓3 from #39 |
| 43 | MatthewsNC | $1,736/mo | -0.5% | +8.7% | 19.2% | ↑3 from #46 |
| 44 | Southern PinesNC | $1,753/mo | -1.1% | -- | 23.8% | ↑4 from #48 |
| 45 | StatesvilleNC | $1,765/mo | +4.8% | -- | 40.1% | ↓9 from #36 |
| 46 | CaryNC | $1,768/mo | +1.8% | +13.2% | 15.7% | ↓3 from #43 |
| 47 | Mount HollyNC | $1,772/mo | +3.4% | -- | 26.8% | ↓7 from #40 |
| 48 | ConcordNC | $1,784/mo | +2.4% | +20.7% | 24.6% | ↓3 from #45 |
| 49 | ClemmonsNC | $1,785/mo | +2.9% | -- | 24.4% | ↓7 from #42 |
| 50 | CorneliusNC | $1,796/mo | +1.0% | +14.2% | 18.9% | same |