ZIP 28226
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 28226 usually run 1.5% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in July, about $44 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 28226 is 2.3% below its high of $1,677 in January 2025, at $1,638 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 28226 changed +1.1% 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 28226 rose 43.3% while median household income rose 22.9% ($96,487 to $118,606). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 28226 is 39% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($118,606) is $2,965 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,690).
10th cheapest of 23 ZIP codes in Charlotte.
ZIP 28210, 3 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,406/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28226. 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 28226 (Charlotte, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 65.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 28226 in Charlotte, NC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 28226 in Charlotte, NC stood at $1,247 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,638, reflecting a 31.4% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 28226 in Charlotte, NC now reports about $118,606, up from $107,603 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 2.7% since 2021, moving from about 38,347 residents to roughly 39,381. Renters now make up 32.4% of households, compared with 29.7% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 65.1% of adults here, versus 62.4% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 28226 in Charlotte, NC reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about ZIP 28226
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Tips for renters in ZIP 28226
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 28226 covers Charlotte, NC. The median rent here is $1,638/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,570/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,720/mo.
At 17% of local median household income ($118,606/yr), ZIP 28226 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28226?
Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28226?
When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 28226?
Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 28226?
How does ZIP 28226 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?
How does ZIP 28226 compare to the rest of Charlotte?
At $1,638/mo, rent takes ~17% of ZIP 28226's median household income ($118,606/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.