ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 27896

Part of Wilson, NC

Pop. 19,455·Wilson County·100th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,698/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$234

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 27896 · $1,698

More affordable than 58% 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

$900

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,170

3 BR

$1,490

4 BR+

$1,760

Research median

$1,170/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($75,696) is $1,892 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,760).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 27893, 8 miles away, rents for 31% less ($1,172/mo), about $6,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 27896. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$20,376/yr

At $1,698/mo median

Location

CityWilson

StateNC

CountyWilson County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 27896 (Wilson, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 36.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,455

Median income

$75,696

Median age

44.6

Renters

27.7%

Age distribution

19.4%

18.9%

27.7%

14%

20.1%

Under 1819.4%

18–3418.9%

35–5427.7%

55–6414%

65+20.1%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

61.1%

23.8%

White61.1%

Black23.8%

Hispanic8.9%

Asian2.9%

Other3.3%

Education (25+)

27.5%

28.7%

36.2%

No HS diploma7.6%

HS diploma27.5%

Some college28.7%

Bachelor's+36.2%

Housing tenure

72.3%

27.7%

Owner72.3%

Renter27.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 27896 in Wilson, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$61,077 → $75,696

up 23.9%

Population

19,123 → 19,455

up 1.7%

Renter share

26.3% → 27.7%

+1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

30.7% → 36.2%

+5.5 pts

Median age

42.9 → 44.6

+1.7 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 27896 in Wilson, NC now reports about $75,696, up from $61,077 in 2021. Census counts show ZIP 27896 in Wilson, NC adding about 332 residents over the five-year window, up 1.7% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 30.7% to 36.2% across the same window.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 27896

About renting in ZIP 27896

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 27896 covers Wilson, NC. The median rent here is $1,698/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $900/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,170/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($75,696/yr), ZIP 27896 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 27896?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (about $33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,698/mo in ZIP 27896. The local median household income is $75,696/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.