ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28544

Part of Midway Park, NC

Pop. 4,386·Onslow County·199th most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,338/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.7%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$594

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28544 · $1,338

More affordable than 84% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$890

1 BR

$890

2 BR

$1,120

3 BR

$1,560

4 BR+

$1,880

Research median

$1,120/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

Past year vs. the rest of North Carolina

Rent in ZIP 28544 changed +3.7% 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 ($52,354) is $1,309 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,120); a 3-bedroom is $1,560.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28544. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,056/yr

At $1,338/mo median

Location

CityMidway Park

StateNC

CountyOnslow County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.7% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28544 (Midway Park, NC) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 15.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

4,386

Median income

$52,354

Median age

26.6

Renters

65.4%

Age distribution

26.1%

44.1%

15.7%

Under 1826.1%

18–3444.1%

35–5415.7%

55–644.5%

65+9.6%

Gender

53.8%

46.2%

Male53.8%

Female46.2%

Race & ethnicity

47.6%

22%

18.4%

White47.6%

Black22%

Hispanic18.4%

Asian1%

Other11%

Education (25+)

18.3%

41.7%

24.3%

15.7%

No HS diploma18.3%

HS diploma41.7%

Some college24.3%

Bachelor's+15.7%

Housing tenure

34.6%

65.4%

Owner34.6%

Renter65.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28544 in Midway Park, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$60,000 → $52,354

down 12.7%

Population

5,691 → 4,386

down 22.9%

Renter share

75.3% → 65.4%

-9.9 pts

Bachelor's+

18.9% → 15.7%

-3.2 pts

Median age

24.9 → 26.6

+1.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $60,000 to $52,354 across the same window, down 12.7% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 5,691 to 4,386 between 2021 and 2024, a 22.9% change. About 65.4% of households rent today, against 75.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 18.9% to 15.7%.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 28544

About renting in ZIP 28544

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28544 covers Midway Park, NC. The median rent here is $1,338/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $890/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,120/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($52,354/yr), ZIP 28544 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28544?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,338/mo in ZIP 28544. The local median household income is $52,354/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 28544?

Rent in ZIP 28544 has risen 3.7% over the past year.

How does ZIP 28544 compare to other ZIPs in North Carolina?

ZIP 28544 is one of the more affordable among North Carolina ZIP codes for rent, ranking #199 of 230 at $1,338/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 28544 changed +3.7%, against a typical +2.6% across the 190 North Carolina ZIP codes Zillow tracks.