ZIP Code · NC

ZIP 28645

Part of Lenoir, NC

Pop. 45,997·Caldwell County·192nd most expensive ZIP in North Carolina

Median rent (all units)

$1,364/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

-$568

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 28645 · $1,364

More affordable than 82% 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

$790

1 BR

$910

2 BR

$1,150

3 BR

$1,400

4 BR+

$1,930

Research median

$1,150/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($51,650) is $1,291 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,150); a 3-bedroom is $1,400.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 28645. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$16,368/yr

At $1,364/mo median

Location

CityLenoir

StateNC

CountyCaldwell County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 28645 (Lenoir, NC) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 17.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

45,997

Median income

$51,650

Median age

46.4

Renters

29.1%

Age distribution

19.4%

18.3%

24.2%

16%

22.1%

Under 1819.4%

18–3418.3%

35–5424.2%

55–6416%

65+22.1%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

82.5%

White82.5%

Black5.7%

Hispanic8.4%

Asian0.7%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

16.2%

34.8%

31.3%

17.7%

No HS diploma16.2%

HS diploma34.8%

Some college31.3%

Bachelor's+17.7%

Housing tenure

70.9%

29.1%

Owner70.9%

Renter29.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 28645 in Lenoir, NC has changed in 5 years

Income

$44,563 → $51,650

up 15.9%

Population

46,214 → 45,997

down 0.5%

Renter share

28% → 29.1%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

15.1% → 17.7%

+2.6 pts

Median age

45.6 → 46.4

+0.8 yrs

Median household income climbed from $44,563 to $51,650 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.9% shift. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 15.1% to 17.7% across the same window.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 28645

About renting in ZIP 28645

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 28645 covers Lenoir, NC. The median rent here is $1,364/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $910/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,150/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($51,650/yr), ZIP 28645 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 28645?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (about $26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,364/mo in ZIP 28645. The local median household income is $51,650/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.