ZIP 27603
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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
December. Asking rents in ZIP 27603 usually run 1% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in July, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 27603 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2016.
Rent in ZIP 27603 changed +2.6% 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 27603 rose 30.6% while median household income rose 31.4% ($68,851 to $90,484). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 27603 is 31.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($90,484) is $2,262 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,100); a 4-bedroom is $2,800.
11th cheapest of 15 ZIP codes in Raleigh.
ZIP 27606, 6 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,478/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 27603. 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 27603 (Raleigh, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 50.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 27603 in Raleigh, NC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 27603 in Raleigh, NC stood at $1,310 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,694, reflecting a 29.3% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 27603 in Raleigh, NC now reports about $90,484, up from $74,737 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 38.6% of households, compared with 40.5% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 50.7% of adults here, versus 45.3% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 27603 in Raleigh, NC reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 27603
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 27603 covers Raleigh, NC. The median rent here is $1,694/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,520/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,670/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($90,484/yr), ZIP 27603 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 27603 compare to the rest of Raleigh?
At $1,694/mo, rent takes ~22% of ZIP 27603's median household income ($90,484/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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