ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28208

Pop. 40,197·Mecklenburg County·136th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina
Median rent (all units)
$1,587/mo
Year-over-Year
+0.7%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$345
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss 28208 rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 28208 · $1,587
More affordable than 66% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,280
1 BR
$1,340
2 BR
$1,470
3 BR
$1,810
4 BR+
$2,300
Research median
$1,470/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

March. Asking rents in ZIP 28208 usually run 0.6% below trend in March and 0.7% above it in August, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 28208 is 0.3% below its high of $1,591 in December 2024, at $1,587 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28208 changed +0.7% 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 28208 rose 47.6% while median household income rose 53.7% ($36,062 to $55,431). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 28208 is 41.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($55,431) is $1,386 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,340); a 2-bedroom is $1,470.

Rank in Charlotte

7th cheapest of 23 ZIP codes in Charlotte.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 28210, 7 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,406/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28208. 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
$19,044/yr
At $1,587/mo median
Location
StateNC
CountyMecklenburg County
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.7% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28208 (Charlotte, NC) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 26.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
40,197
Median income
$55,431
Median age
34
Renters
60.6%
Age distribution
22.5%
29.3%
23.6%
13%
Under 1822.5%
18–3429.3%
35–5423.6%
55–6411.5%
65+13%
Gender
49.4%
50.6%
Male49.4%
Female50.6%
Race & ethnicity
18.6%
60.3%
14.1%
White18.6%
Black60.3%
Hispanic14.1%
Asian4.6%
Other2.4%
Education (25+)
17%
31.5%
24.6%
26.8%
No HS diploma17%
HS diploma31.5%
Some college24.6%
Bachelor's+26.8%
Housing tenure
39.4%
60.6%
Owner39.4%
Renter60.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28208 in Charlotte, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,235 → $1,587
up 28.5%
Income
$44,711 → $55,431
up 24.0%
Population
40,885 → 40,197
down 1.7%
Renter share
60.6% → 60.6%
+0.0 pts
Bachelor's+
20.6% → 26.8%
+6.2 pts
Median age
32.7 → 34
+1.3 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 28208 in Charlotte, NC has shifted from $1,235 to $1,587, up 28.5% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $44,711 in 2021 to $55,431 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 28208 in Charlotte, NC losing about 688 residents over the five-year window, down 1.7% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 20.6% to 26.8% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 28208 in Charlotte, NC market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 28208

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 28208

About renting in ZIP 28208

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28208 covers Charlotte, NC. The median rent here is $1,587/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,340/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,470/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($55,431/yr), ZIP 28208 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28208?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,587/mo in ZIP 28208. The local median household income is $55,431/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28208?

Rent in ZIP 28208 has risen 0.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $1,591 in December 2024.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 28208?

Asking rents in ZIP 28208 are usually lowest in March, about 0.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $21 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 28208?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 28208 rose 47.6% while median household income rose 53.7%, from $36,062 to $55,431. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 28208 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28208 is in the middle among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #136 of 230 at $1,587/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28208 changed +0.7%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 28208 compare to the rest of Charlotte?

At $1,587/mo, ZIP 28208 is $142 below the Charlotte citywide median of $1,729/mo. It is the 7th cheapest of 23 ZIP codes in Charlotte.
Income Affordability
34%
MODERATE

At $1,587/mo, rent takes ~34% of ZIP 28208's median household income ($55,431/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 28208 34%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 28208 (Charlotte, NC)

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for this ZIP.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.