Home/Rankings/Most rent-burdened/North Carolina

Most rent-burdened cities in North Carolina

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

Key findings

Boone ranks first, with rent at 90.2% of median household income.
Across all 64 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,674/mo.
Kinston moved from #14 to #4 compared with a year ago.

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	BooneNC Pop. 20KCompare →	90.2%	$2,259/mo	$30,065	--
02	LexingtonNC Pop. 20KCompare →	41.2%	$1,480/mo	$43,128	↓1 from #1
03	StatesvilleNC Pop. 30KCompare →	40.1%	$1,765/mo	$52,880	↓1 from #2
04	KinstonNC Pop. 20KCompare →	38.4%	$1,181/mo	$36,878	↑10 from #14
05	HendersonvilleNC Pop. 15KCompare →	37.6%	$1,674/mo	$53,449	↓2 from #3
06	GoldsboroNC Pop. 34KCompare →	37.2%	$1,503/mo	$48,540	↓2 from #4
07	SanfordNC Pop. 31KCompare →	36.1%	$1,734/mo	$57,586	↓2 from #5
08	GreenvilleNC Pop. 93KCompare →	35.2%	$1,460/mo	$49,748	↓2 from #6
09	WilsonNC Pop. 48KCompare →	34.2%	$1,494/mo	$52,485	↓2 from #7
10	MorgantonNC Pop. 18KCompare →	33.6%	$1,436/mo	$51,355	--
11	Elizabeth CityNC Pop. 19KCompare →	33.5%	$1,457/mo	$52,141	↓3 from #8
12	AlbemarleNC Pop. 17KCompare →	32.3%	$1,260/mo	$46,881	--
13	HavelockNC Pop. 18KCompare →	31.7%	$1,542/mo	$58,408	↓4 from #9
14	GrahamNC Pop. 18KCompare →	31.5%	$1,476/mo	$56,239	--
15	MonroeNC Pop. 37KCompare →	31.4%	$1,896/mo	$72,540	↓5 from #10
16	SalisburyNC Pop. 36KCompare →	31.1%	$1,393/mo	$53,716	↓5 from #11
17	WilmingtonNC Pop. 121KCompare →	30.8%	$1,713/mo	$66,738	↓2 from #15
18	New BernNC Pop. 33KCompare →	30.6%	$1,555/mo	$61,031	↓5 from #13
19	Hope MillsNC Pop. 18KCompare →	30.5%	$1,673/mo	$65,774	↓7 from #12
20	Winston-SalemNC Pop. 252KCompare →	29.9%	$1,478/mo	$59,268	↓2 from #18
21	JacksonvilleNC Pop. 71KCompare →	29.6%	$1,421/mo	$57,697	↓2 from #19
22	AshevilleNC Pop. 95KCompare →	29.1%	$1,726/mo	$71,102	↓6 from #16
23	ShelbyNC Pop. 22KCompare →	28.8%	$1,160/mo	$48,376	↓6 from #17
24	KernersvilleNC Pop. 28KCompare →	28.5%	$1,706/mo	$71,918	↓3 from #21
25	HickoryNC Pop. 44KCompare →	28.3%	$1,522/mo	$64,576	↓2 from #23
26	GarnerNC Pop. 34KCompare →	28.2%	$1,853/mo	$78,756	↓6 from #20
27	FayettevilleNC Pop. 211KCompare →	28.0%	$1,362/mo	$58,407	↓5 from #22
28	GastoniaNC Pop. 83KCompare →	27.8%	$1,483/mo	$64,059	↓4 from #24
29	BurlingtonNC Pop. 60KCompare →	27.6%	$1,310/mo	$56,880	↓4 from #25
30	ClaytonNC Pop. 29KCompare →	27.4%	$1,797/mo	$78,822	↓4 from #26
31	GreensboroNC Pop. 301KCompare →	27.2%	$1,395/mo	$61,515	↓4 from #27
32	Rocky MountNC Pop. 54KCompare →	27.2%	$1,259/mo	$55,534	↓4 from #28
33	Mount HollyNC Pop. 18KCompare →	26.8%	$1,772/mo	$79,385	↓4 from #29
34	AsheboroNC Pop. 28KCompare →	26.4%	$1,038/mo	$47,197	same
35	High PointNC Pop. 116KCompare →	26.4%	$1,418/mo	$64,561	↓5 from #30
36	ThomasvilleNC Pop. 27KCompare →	25.9%	$1,314/mo	$60,935	↓3 from #33
37	KannapolisNC Pop. 58KCompare →	25.6%	$1,578/mo	$73,836	↓6 from #31
38	CharlotteNC Pop. 904KCompare →	25.3%	$1,729/mo	$82,068	↓6 from #32
39	ConcordNC Pop. 109KCompare →	24.6%	$1,784/mo	$86,921	↓4 from #35
40	ClemmonsNC Pop. 22KCompare →	24.4%	$1,785/mo	$87,655	↓3 from #37
41	Chapel HillNC Pop. 62KCompare →	24.0%	$1,723/mo	$85,989	↓3 from #38
42	DurhamNC Pop. 291KCompare →	23.9%	$1,626/mo	$81,619	↓3 from #39
43	WaxhawNC Pop. 22KCompare →	23.9%	$2,626/mo	$131,894	↓3 from #40
44	Southern PinesNC Pop. 16KCompare →	23.8%	$1,753/mo	$88,535	↓8 from #36
45	BelmontNC Pop. 16KCompare →	23.0%	$1,819/mo	$94,883	↓4 from #41
46	MooresvilleNC Pop. 52KCompare →	22.4%	$1,675/mo	$89,647	↓4 from #42
47	Indian TrailNC Pop. 42KCompare →	22.2%	$2,004/mo	$108,483	same
48	LelandNC Pop. 30KCompare →	22.1%	$1,697/mo	$91,977	↓3 from #45
49	RaleighNC Pop. 481KCompare →	22.1%	$1,572/mo	$85,395	↓5 from #44
50	PinehurstNC Pop. 18KCompare →	22.0%	$2,012/mo	$109,802	↓7 from #43