ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28451

Part of Leland, NC

Pop. 46,933·Brunswick County·117th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,658/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$274

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28451 · $1,658

More affordable than 61% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,410

1 BR

$1,480

2 BR

$1,620

3 BR

$2,250

4 BR+

$2,720

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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 28451 is 1.5% below its high of $1,684 in August 2024, at $1,658 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28451 changed +3.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($81,481) is $2,037 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,620); a 3-bedroom is $2,250.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28451. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,896/yr

At $1,658/mo median

Location

CityLeland

StateNC

CountyBrunswick County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.6% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28451 (Leland, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 36% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

46,933

Median income

$81,481

Median age

44.4

Renters

18%

Age distribution

17.1%

21.1%

21.5%

15.1%

25.1%

Under 1817.1%

18–3421.1%

35–5421.5%

55–6415.1%

65+25.1%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

74.1%

White74.1%

Black11.2%

Hispanic9.9%

Asian0.6%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

23.1%

34.1%

36%

No HS diploma6.9%

HS diploma23.1%

Some college34.1%

Bachelor's+36%

Housing tenure

82%

18%

Owner82%

Renter18%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 28451 in Leland, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,591 → $1,658

up 4.2%

Income

$67,224 → $81,481

up 21.2%

Population

38,490 → 46,933

up 21.9%

Renter share

19% → 18%

-1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

33.2% → 36%

+2.8 pts

Median age

45.1 → 44.4

-0.7 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 28451 in Leland, NC stood at $1,591 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,658, reflecting a 4.2% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $67,224 in 2021 to $81,481 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 21.9% since 2021, moving from about 38,490 residents to roughly 46,933. College-educated residents now make up 36% of adults here, versus 33.2% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 28451 in Leland, NC market of 2023.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 28451

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28451 covers Leland, NC. The median rent here is $1,658/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 24% of local median household income ($81,481/yr), ZIP 28451 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28451?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,658/mo in ZIP 28451. The local median household income is $81,481/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28451?

Rent in ZIP 28451 has risen 3.6% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.5% below its high of $1,684 in August 2024.

How does ZIP 28451 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28451 is in the middle among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #117 of 230 at $1,658/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28451 changed +3.6%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.