ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 27217

Part of Burlington, NC

Pop. 41,406·Alamance County·208th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,306/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

-$626

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 27217 · $1,306

More affordable than 86% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$870

1 BR

$1,070

2 BR

$1,180

3 BR

$1,460

4 BR+

$1,730

Research median

$1,180/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 27217 changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($51,950) is $1,299 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,180); a 3-bedroom is $1,460.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 27217. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,672/yr

At $1,306/mo median

Location

CityBurlington

StateNC

CountyAlamance County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 27217 (Burlington, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 15.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

41,406

Median income

$51,950

Median age

35.5

Renters

39.8%

Age distribution

26.9%

22.6%

24.1%

14.9%

Under 1826.9%

18–3422.6%

35–5424.1%

55–6411.6%

65+14.9%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

41.3%

28.2%

29.2%

White41.3%

Black28.2%

Hispanic29.2%

Other1.1%

Education (25+)

18.9%

35.5%

30%

15.5%

No HS diploma18.9%

HS diploma35.5%

Some college30%

Bachelor's+15.5%

Housing tenure

60.2%

39.8%

Owner60.2%

Renter39.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 27217 in Burlington, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$45,821 → $51,950

up 13.4%

Population

38,575 → 41,406

up 7.3%

Renter share

36.8% → 39.8%

+3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

13.6% → 15.5%

+1.9 pts

Median age

36.7 → 35.5

-1.2 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $45,821 to $51,950 across the same window, up 13.4% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 38,575 to 41,406 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.3% change. About 39.8% of households rent today, against 36.8% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 27217

About renting in ZIP 27217

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 27217 covers Burlington, NC. The median rent here is $1,306/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,070/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,180/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($51,950/yr), ZIP 27217 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 27217?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,306/mo in ZIP 27217. The local median household income is $51,950/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 27217?

Rent in ZIP 27217 has risen 1.8% over the past year.

How does ZIP 27217 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 27217 is one of the more affordable among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #208 of 230 at $1,306/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 27217 changed +1.8%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.