ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28205

Part of Charlotte, NC

Pop. 51,806·Mecklenburg County·76th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,771/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

-$161

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28205 · $1,771

More affordable than 53% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,410

1 BR

$1,480

2 BR

$1,620

3 BR

$2,000

4 BR+

$2,530

Research median

$1,620/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 28205 usually run 1% below trend in January and 0.8% above it in July, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 28205 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28205 changed +3.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 28205 rose 38.5% while median household income rose 43.3% ($52,766 to $75,622). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 28205 is 38.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($75,622) is $1,891 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,620); a 3-bedroom is $2,000.

Rank in Charlotte

14th cheapest of 23 ZIP codes in Charlotte.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 28206, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,573/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28205. 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

$21,252/yr

At $1,771/mo median

Location

CityCharlotte

StateNC

CountyMecklenburg County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.1% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28205 (Charlotte, NC) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 47.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

51,806

Median income

$75,622

Median age

34.2

Renters

57.5%

Age distribution

20.1%

32.1%

29.8%

Under 1820.1%

18–3432.1%

35–5429.8%

55–649.2%

65+8.9%

Gender

51.5%

48.5%

Male51.5%

Female48.5%

Race & ethnicity

46.5%

24.2%

21.9%

White46.5%

Black24.2%

Hispanic21.9%

Asian5.2%

Other2.3%

Education (25+)

15.5%

16.7%

20%

47.8%

No HS diploma15.5%

HS diploma16.7%

Some college20%

Bachelor's+47.8%

Housing tenure

42.5%

57.5%

Owner42.5%

Renter57.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28205 in Charlotte, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,363 → $1,771

up 29.9%

Income

$61,525 → $75,622

up 22.9%

Population

51,418 → 51,806

up 0.8%

Renter share

57.7% → 57.5%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

43.3% → 47.8%

+4.5 pts

Median age

33.1 → 34.2

+1.1 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 28205 in Charlotte, NC has increased by $408 per month, settling near $1,771 after starting the period at $1,363. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $61,525 in 2021 to $75,622 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 43.3% to 47.8%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 28205 in Charlotte, NC market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 28205

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28205 covers Charlotte, NC. The median rent here is $1,771/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,480/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,620/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($75,622/yr), ZIP 28205 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28205?

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 $1,771/mo in ZIP 28205. The local median household income is $75,622/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28205?

Rent in ZIP 28205 has risen 3.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 28205?

Asking rents in ZIP 28205 are usually lowest in January, about 1% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $32 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 28205?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 28205 rose 38.5% while median household income rose 43.3%, from $52,766 to $75,622. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 28205 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28205 is one of the pricier among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #76 of 230 at $1,771/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28205 changed +3.1%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.