ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 27539

Part of Apex, NC

Pop. 25,878·Wake County·91st most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,729/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$203

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 27539 · $1,729

More affordable than 56% 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

$1,370

1 BR

$1,432

2 BR

$1,570

3 BR

$1,971

4 BR+

$2,633

Research median

$1,570/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

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 27539 usually run 2.4% below trend in December and 2% above it in June, about $76 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 27539 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 27539 changed +4.3% 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 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($145,947) is $3,649 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,420).

Rank in Apex

1st cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Apex.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 27606, 7 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,478/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 27539. 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

$20,748/yr

At $1,729/mo median

Location

CityApex

StateNC

CountyWake County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.3% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 27539 (Apex, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 64% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

25,878

Median income

$145,947

Median age

37.7

Renters

16.9%

Age distribution

30.7%

15.8%

30.1%

13.8%

Under 1830.7%

18–3415.8%

35–5430.1%

55–6413.8%

65+9.5%

Gender

51%

49%

Male51%

Female49%

Race & ethnicity

72.8%

White72.8%

Black8.3%

Hispanic9.7%

Asian3.8%

Other5.4%

Education (25+)

21.4%

64%

No HS diploma4.6%

HS diploma10%

Some college21.4%

Bachelor's+64%

Housing tenure

83.1%

16.9%

Owner83.1%

Renter16.9%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 27539 in Apex, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,589 → $1,729

up 8.8%

Income

$122,110 → $145,947

up 19.5%

Population

26,340 → 25,878

down 1.8%

Renter share

17.5% → 16.9%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

56.6% → 64%

+7.4 pts

Median age

36.5 → 37.7

+1.2 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 27539 in Apex, NC has shifted from $1,589 to $1,729, up 8.8% since 2022. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 27539 in Apex, NC now reports about $145,947, up from $122,110 in 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 27539 in Apex, NC losing about 462 residents over the five-year window, down 1.8% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 56.6% to 64% across the same window. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 27539 in Apex, NC reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 27539

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 27539 covers Apex, NC. The median rent here is $1,729/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,432/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,570/mo.

At 14% of local median household income ($145,947/yr), ZIP 27539 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 27539?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $69,000/year (about $33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,729/mo in ZIP 27539. The local median household income is $145,947/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 27539?

Rent in ZIP 27539 has risen 4.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 27539?

Asking rents in ZIP 27539 are usually lowest in December, about 2.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $76 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 27539 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 27539 is in the middle among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #91 of 230 at $1,729/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 27539 changed +4.3%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.