ZIP 27520
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in ZIP 27520 usually run 0.6% below trend in February and 0.3% above it in November, about $16 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 27520 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in ZIP 27520 changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 27520 rose 36.7% while median household income rose 21.6% ($71,008 to $86,322). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 27520 is 39.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($86,322) is $2,158 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,050); a 4-bedroom is $2,730.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 27520. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 27520 (Clayton, NC) is majority owner-occupied, 33.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 27520 in Clayton, NC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 27520 in Clayton, NC stood at $1,402 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,767, reflecting a 26.0% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $76,104 to $86,322 across the same window, up 13.4% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 6.3% since 2021, moving from about 45,166 residents to roughly 48,014. College-educated residents now make up 33.4% of adults here, versus 25.9% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 27520 in Clayton, NC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 27520
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 27520 covers Clayton, NC. The median rent here is $1,767/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,490/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,630/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($86,322/yr), ZIP 27520 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in ZIP 27520?
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How does ZIP 27520 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?
How does ZIP 27520 compare to the rest of Clayton?
At $1,767/mo, rent takes ~25% of ZIP 27520's median household income ($86,322/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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