ZIP 28278
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in ZIP 28278 usually run 1.4% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in September, about $43 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 28278 is 2.3% below its high of $1,920 in May 2025, at $1,875 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 28278 changed -1.7% 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 28278 rose 35.9% while median household income rose 33.6% ($93,938 to $125,470). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 28278 is 31.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 3 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($125,470) is $3,137 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,560); a 4-bedroom is $3,250.
16th cheapest of 23 ZIP codes in Charlotte.
ZIP 28273, 4 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,609/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28278. 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 28278 (Charlotte, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 58.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 28278 in Charlotte, NC has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 28278 in Charlotte, NC has increased by $300 per month, settling near $1,875 after starting the period at $1,575. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 28278 in Charlotte, NC now reports about $125,470, up from $107,998 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 34,272 to 37,420 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.2% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 50% to 58.2%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 28278 in Charlotte, NC reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 28278
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 28278 covers Charlotte, NC. The median rent here is $1,875/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,900/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,080/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($125,470/yr), ZIP 28278 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 28278 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?
How does ZIP 28278 compare to the rest of Charlotte?
At $1,875/mo, rent takes ~18% of ZIP 28278's median household income ($125,470/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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