ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28532

Part of Havelock, NC

Pop. 20,908·Craven County·152nd most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,542/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.4%

vs US Median

-$390

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28532 · $1,542

More affordable than 70% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,010

1 BR

$1,020

2 BR

$1,340

3 BR

$1,800

4 BR+

$2,250

Research median

$1,340/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 28532 is 0.8% below its high of $1,555 in February 2026, at $1,542 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28532 changed +2.3% 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 ($60,605) is $1,515 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,340); a 3-bedroom is $1,800.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28532. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,504/yr

At $1,542/mo median

Location

CityHavelock

StateNC

CountyCraven County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.3% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28532 (Havelock, NC) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 20.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,908

Median income

$60,605

Median age

30.9

Renters

48%

Age distribution

26.4%

30.9%

22.3%

Under 1826.4%

18–3430.9%

35–5422.3%

55–6411.4%

65+8.9%

Gender

52.6%

47.4%

Male52.6%

Female47.4%

Race & ethnicity

62.4%

18.5%

13.2%

White62.4%

Black18.5%

Hispanic13.2%

Asian3.2%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

29%

42.6%

20.6%

No HS diploma7.9%

HS diploma29%

Some college42.6%

Bachelor's+20.6%

Housing tenure

52%

48%

Owner52%

Renter48%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 28532 in Havelock, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,328 → $1,542

up 16.1%

Income

$57,516 → $60,605

up 5.4%

Population

20,279 → 20,908

up 3.1%

Renter share

50% → 48%

-2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

16.7% → 20.6%

+3.9 pts

Median age

27.8 → 30.9

+3.1 yrs

Since 2023, the typical rent in ZIP 28532 in Havelock, NC has increased from $1,328 to $1,542, a 16.1% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $57,516 to $60,605 across the same window, up 5.4% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.1% since 2021, moving from about 20,279 residents to roughly 20,908. Renters now make up 48% of households, compared with 50% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 20.6% of adults here, versus 16.7% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 28532 in Havelock, NC look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 28532

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28532 covers Havelock, NC. The median rent here is $1,542/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,020/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,340/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($60,605/yr), ZIP 28532 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28532?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,542/mo in ZIP 28532. The local median household income is $60,605/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28532?

Rent in ZIP 28532 has risen 2.3% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.8% below its high of $1,555 in February 2026.

How does ZIP 28532 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28532 is in the middle among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #152 of 230 at $1,542/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28532 changed +2.3%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.