ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28012

Part of Belmont, NC

Pop. 26,556·Gaston County·74th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,779/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$153

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28012 · $1,779

More affordable than 52% 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

$1,290

1 BR

$1,350

2 BR

$1,480

3 BR

$1,820

4 BR+

$2,310

Research median

$1,480/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 28012 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28012 changed +1.5% 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 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($83,391) is $2,085 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,820); a 4-bedroom is $2,310.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 28054, 7 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,483/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28012. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,348/yr

At $1,779/mo median

Location

CityBelmont

StateNC

CountyGaston County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.5% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28012 (Belmont, NC) is majority owner-occupied, 45.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,556

Median income

$83,391

Median age

40.2

Renters

30.4%

Age distribution

20.3%

22.8%

25.1%

14.1%

17.6%

Under 1820.3%

18–3422.8%

35–5425.1%

55–6414.1%

65+17.6%

Gender

46.9%

53.1%

Male46.9%

Female53.1%

Race & ethnicity

80.1%

White80.1%

Black6.8%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian4.2%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

18.9%

28.2%

45.7%

No HS diploma7.3%

HS diploma18.9%

Some college28.2%

Bachelor's+45.7%

Housing tenure

69.6%

30.4%

Owner69.6%

Renter30.4%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 28012 in Belmont, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,501 → $1,779

up 18.5%

Income

$72,273 → $83,391

up 15.4%

Population

25,605 → 26,556

up 3.7%

Renter share

30.1% → 30.4%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

37.4% → 45.7%

+8.3 pts

Median age

38.6 → 40.2

+1.6 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 28012 in Belmont, NC stood at $1,501 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,779, reflecting a 18.5% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $72,273 to $83,391 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.4% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.7% since 2021, moving from about 25,605 residents to roughly 26,556. College-educated residents now make up 45.7% of adults here, versus 37.4% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 28012 in Belmont, NC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 28012

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28012 covers Belmont, NC. The median rent here is $1,779/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,350/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,480/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($83,391/yr), ZIP 28012 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28012?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $71,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,779/mo in ZIP 28012. The local median household income is $83,391/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28012?

Rent in ZIP 28012 has risen 1.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

How does ZIP 28012 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28012 is one of the pricier among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #74 of 230 at $1,779/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28012 changed +1.5%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.