The North Carolina rental market
North Carolina tracks median rent across 129 cities, ranging from Henderson at $984/mo to Waxhaw at $2,626/mo. The state average of $1,683/mo runs about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across North Carolina cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +3.4% over the past year. 27 of 142 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 115 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 5 of 129 North Carolina cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
44 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Waxhaw ($2,626/mo) costs 2.5 times as much as Asheboro ($1,038/mo).
Across 34 North Carolina cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 27 of 28 North Carolina cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for North Carolina cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
North Carolina rent questions
What is the average rent in North Carolina?
The average median rent across 129 tracked cities in North Carolina is $1,683/mo, about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which North Carolina city has the highest rent?
Waxhaw has the highest median rent in North Carolina at $2,626/mo.
Which North Carolina city has the most affordable rent?
Henderson is the most affordable tracked city in North Carolina, with a median rent of $984/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in North Carolina?
Across North Carolina cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +3.4% over the past year.
How does North Carolina rent compare to the rest of the country?
27 of 142 tracked North Carolina cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 115 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in North Carolina?
By population, the largest rental markets in North Carolina are Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.