ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 27518

Part of Cary, NC

Pop. 19,735·Wake County·131st most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,609/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$323

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 27518 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 27518 · $1,609

More affordable than 65% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,277

1 BR

$1,331

2 BR

$1,462

3 BR

$1,831

4 BR+

$2,455

Research median

$1,462/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 27518 usually run 2.3% below trend in January and 2.6% above it in August, about $79 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 27518 is 2.2% below its high of $1,646 in March 2023, at $1,609 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 27518 changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($123,488) is $3,087 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,380); a 4-bedroom is $3,190.

Rank in Cary

1st cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Cary.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 27518. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,308/yr

At $1,609/mo median

Location

CityCary

StateNC

CountyWake County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.4% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 27518 (Cary, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 71.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,735

Median income

$123,488

Median age

46.9

Renters

33.9%

Age distribution

18%

20.2%

22.3%

16.1%

23.4%

Under 1818%

18–3420.2%

35–5422.3%

55–6416.1%

65+23.4%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

76.1%

White76.1%

Black6.6%

Hispanic4.2%

Asian9.9%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

17.5%

71.8%

No HS diploma2.8%

HS diploma7.8%

Some college17.5%

Bachelor's+71.8%

Housing tenure

66.1%

33.9%

Owner66.1%

Renter33.9%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 27518 in Cary, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,572 → $1,609

up 2.4%

Income

$107,509 → $123,488

up 14.9%

Population

19,674 → 19,735

up 0.3%

Renter share

35.4% → 33.9%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

73.6% → 71.8%

-1.8 pts

Median age

45.4 → 46.9

+1.5 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 27518 in Cary, NC stood at $1,572 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,609, reflecting a 2.4% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $123,488 today, compared with $107,509 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. Renters now make up 33.9% of households, compared with 35.4% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 27518

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 27518

About renting in ZIP 27518

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 27518 covers Cary, NC. The median rent here is $1,609/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,331/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,462/mo.

At 16% of local median household income ($123,488/yr), ZIP 27518 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 27518?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,609/mo in ZIP 27518. The local median household income is $123,488/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 27518?

Rent in ZIP 27518 has risen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 2.2% below its high of $1,646 in March 2023.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 27518?

Asking rents in ZIP 27518 are usually lowest in January, about 2.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 2.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $79 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 27518 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 27518 is in the middle among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #131 of 230 at $1,609/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 27518 changed +1.4%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.