ZIP 28203
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Rent by unit size
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
January. Asking rents in ZIP 28203 usually run 1.5% below trend in January and 1.8% above it in July, about $68 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 28203 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2015.
Rent in ZIP 28203 changed +3.1% 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 28203 rose 29% while median household income rose 18.9% ($88,039 to $104,696). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 28203 is 30% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($104,696) is $2,617 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,530); a 3-bedroom is $3,120.
21st cheapest of 23 ZIP codes in Charlotte.
ZIP 28204, 2 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,671/mo), about $4,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28203. 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 28203 (Charlotte, NC) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 81.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 28203 in Charlotte, NC has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 28203 in Charlotte, NC has increased from $1,593 to $2,051, a 28.8% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 28203 in Charlotte, NC now reports about $104,696, up from $91,567 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 8.4% since 2021, moving from about 17,358 residents to roughly 18,823. College-educated residents now make up 81.1% of adults here, versus 77.5% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 28203 in Charlotte, NC reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about ZIP 28203
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Tips for renters in ZIP 28203
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 28203 covers Charlotte, NC. The median rent here is $2,051/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,727/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,891/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($104,696/yr), ZIP 28203 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28203?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28203?
When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 28203?
Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 28203?
How does ZIP 28203 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?
How does ZIP 28203 compare to the rest of Charlotte?
At $2,051/mo, rent takes ~24% of ZIP 28203's median household income ($104,696/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.
No discussions yet.