ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28445

Part of Holly Ridge, NC

Pop. 10,797·Onslow County·55th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,872/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.2%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

-$60

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28445 · $1,872

More expensive than 54% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,120

1 BR

$1,140

2 BR

$1,370

3 BR

$1,910

4 BR+

$2,310

Research median

$1,370/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 28445 is 0.1% below its high of $1,874 in August 2026, at $1,872 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28445 changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($84,016) is $2,100 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,910); a 4-bedroom is $2,310.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28445. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,464/yr

At $1,872/mo median

Location

CityHolly Ridge

StateNC

CountyOnslow County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.2% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28445 (Holly Ridge, NC) is majority owner-occupied, 45.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

10,797

Median income

$84,016

Median age

41.2

Renters

16.9%

Age distribution

20.7%

18.7%

26.7%

14.3%

19.7%

Under 1820.7%

18–3418.7%

35–5426.7%

55–6414.3%

65+19.7%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

90.9%

White90.9%

Black1.8%

Hispanic3.7%

Asian0.9%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

16.1%

32.2%

45.6%

No HS diploma6.1%

HS diploma16.1%

Some college32.2%

Bachelor's+45.6%

Housing tenure

83.1%

16.9%

Owner83.1%

Renter16.9%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 28445 in Holly Ridge, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,690 → $1,872

up 10.8%

Income

$72,400 → $84,016

up 16.0%

Population

9,162 → 10,797

up 17.8%

Renter share

27.3% → 16.9%

-10.4 pts

Bachelor's+

39.1% → 45.6%

+6.5 pts

Median age

38.9 → 41.2

+2.3 yrs

Rent in ZIP 28445 in Holly Ridge, NC has climbed 10.8% since 2023, going from about $1,690 per month to roughly $1,872 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $72,400 in 2021 to $84,016 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 5.2 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 9,162 to 10,797 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.8% change. About 16.9% of households rent today, against 27.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 39.1% to 45.6%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 28445 in Holly Ridge, NC market of 2023.

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About renting in ZIP 28445

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28445 covers Holly Ridge, NC. The median rent here is $1,872/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,140/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,370/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($84,016/yr), ZIP 28445 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28445?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,872/mo in ZIP 28445. The local median household income is $84,016/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28445?

Rent in ZIP 28445 has risen 5.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.1% below its high of $1,874 in August 2026.

How does ZIP 28445 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28445 is one of the pricier among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #55 of 230 at $1,872/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28445 changed +5.2%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.