Most expensive cities for renters in North Carolina
Cities in North Carolina ranked by highest median rent. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Waxhaw ranks first, with a median rent of $2,626/mo.
- Across all 65 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,674/mo.
- Statesville moved from #26 to #21 compared with a year ago.
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 | WaxhawNC | $2,626/mo | +5.6% | +26.7% | 23.9% | ↑1 from #2 |
| 02 | HarrisburgNC | $2,520/mo | +0.1% | -- | 20.4% | ↓1 from #1 |
| 03 | BooneNC | $2,259/mo | 0.0% | -- | 90.2% | -- |
| 04 | DavidsonNC | $2,107/mo | +0.1% | +23.9% | 15.2% | ↓1 from #3 |
| 05 | PinehurstNC | $2,012/mo | +0.5% | -- | 22.0% | ↓1 from #4 |
| 06 | Indian TrailNC | $2,004/mo | +4.7% | +21.4% | 22.2% | same |
| 07 | ApexNC | $1,947/mo | +0.8% | +11.6% | 16.2% | ↓2 from #5 |
| 08 | HuntersvilleNC | $1,903/mo | +1.0% | +16.9% | 18.9% | ↓1 from #7 |
| 09 | MonroeNC | $1,896/mo | +2.6% | +28.8% | 31.4% | ↓1 from #8 |
| 10 | Holly SpringsNC | $1,890/mo | +2.8% | +19.5% | 16.7% | ↓1 from #9 |
| 11 | Fuquay VarinaNC | $1,875/mo | +2.1% | +16.1% | -- | ↓1 from #10 |
| 12 | GarnerNC | $1,853/mo | +0.9% | +16.8% | 28.2% | ↓1 from #11 |
| 13 | BelmontNC | $1,819/mo | +2.4% | -- | 23.0% | same |
| 14 | Wake ForestNC | $1,798/mo | +3.3% | +16.9% | 17.4% | ↑4 from #18 |
| 15 | ClaytonNC | $1,797/mo | +2.3% | +17.4% | 27.4% | same |
| 16 | CorneliusNC | $1,796/mo | +1.0% | +14.2% | 18.9% | ↓4 from #12 |
| 17 | ClemmonsNC | $1,785/mo | +2.9% | -- | 24.4% | ↑3 from #20 |
| 18 | ConcordNC | $1,784/mo | +2.4% | +20.7% | 24.6% | ↓1 from #17 |
| 19 | Mount HollyNC | $1,772/mo | +3.4% | -- | 26.8% | ↑3 from #22 |
| 20 | CaryNC | $1,768/mo | +1.8% | +13.2% | 15.7% | ↓1 from #19 |
| 21 | StatesvilleNC | $1,765/mo | +4.8% | -- | 40.1% | ↑5 from #26 |
| 22 | Southern PinesNC | $1,753/mo | -1.1% | -- | 23.8% | ↓8 from #14 |
| 23 | MatthewsNC | $1,736/mo | -0.5% | +8.7% | 19.2% | ↓7 from #16 |
| 24 | SanfordNC | $1,734/mo | +1.3% | -- | 36.1% | ↓1 from #23 |
| 25 | CharlotteNC | $1,729/mo | +1.2% | +15.7% | 25.3% | ↓1 from #24 |
| 26 | AshevilleNC | $1,726/mo | +0.1% | +16.3% | 29.1% | ↓5 from #21 |
| 27 | Chapel HillNC | $1,723/mo | +1.5% | +18.4% | 24.0% | ↓2 from #25 |
| 28 | WilmingtonNC | $1,713/mo | +5.0% | +22.4% | 30.8% | ↑5 from #33 |
| 29 | KernersvilleNC | $1,706/mo | +3.5% | +31.9% | 28.5% | same |
| 30 | KnightdaleNC | $1,698/mo | +2.5% | +22.5% | 19.7% | ↓2 from #28 |
| 31 | LelandNC | $1,697/mo | +3.6% | -- | 22.1% | same |
| 32 | MooresvilleNC | $1,675/mo | +2.1% | +16.7% | 22.4% | ↓2 from #30 |
| 33 | HendersonvilleNC | $1,674/mo | +2.5% | -- | 37.6% | ↓1 from #32 |
| 34 | Hope MillsNC | $1,673/mo | +3.4% | -- | 30.5% | same |
| 35 | MorrisvilleNC | $1,650/mo | +2.6% | +6.7% | 15.8% | same |
| 36 | Mint HillNC | $1,650/mo | -1.3% | -- | 19.6% | ↓9 from #27 |
| 37 | DurhamNC | $1,626/mo | +3.3% | +17.4% | 23.9% | ↓1 from #36 |
| 38 | KannapolisNC | $1,578/mo | +2.5% | +27.2% | 25.6% | same |
| 39 | RaleighNC | $1,572/mo | +1.6% | +12.8% | 22.1% | ↓2 from #37 |
| 40 | CarrboroNC | $1,564/mo | +3.2% | -- | 21.9% | ↓1 from #39 |
| 41 | New BernNC | $1,555/mo | +4.0% | -- | 30.6% | same |
| 42 | HavelockNC | $1,542/mo | +2.3% | -- | 31.7% | ↓2 from #40 |
| 43 | HickoryNC | $1,522/mo | +3.7% | -- | 28.3% | same |
| 44 | GoldsboroNC | $1,503/mo | +2.2% | -- | 37.2% | ↓2 from #42 |
| 45 | WilsonNC | $1,494/mo | +2.3% | -- | 34.2% | ↓1 from #44 |
| 46 | MebaneNC | $1,493/mo | +3.2% | -- | 21.5% | same |
| 47 | GastoniaNC | $1,483/mo | +2.4% | +27.2% | 27.8% | ↓2 from #45 |
| 48 | LexingtonNC | $1,480/mo | +6.3% | -- | 41.2% | ↑2 from #50 |
| 49 | Winston-SalemNC | $1,478/mo | +5.0% | +30.3% | 29.9% | ↓1 from #48 |
| 50 | GrahamNC | $1,476/mo | 0.0% | -- | 31.5% | -- |