North Carolina Rental Market Trends
Last updated: August 01, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in North Carolina is $1,571, a 0.2% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,574.
Studio Apartments at $1,286 offer the most budget-friendly option with 514 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 749 square feet for $1,384, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $1,595 offer 1,069 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,383 sq ft) for $1,980, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in North Carolina
Last updated: August 01, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $1,571 | 979 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,286 | 514 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $1,384 | 749 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $1,595 | 1,069 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $1,980 | 1,383 sq. ft. |
North Carolina rent trends
What's the typical rent budget in North Carolina?
The largest share of rentals in North Carolina (47%) fall between $1,001-$1,500 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in North Carolina?
1,428,852 or 33% of the households in North Carolina are renter-occupied while 2,853,493 or 67% are owner-occupied.
How North Carolina Compares to Other States
| State | Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,333 | 994 sq. ft. |
| Arizona | $1,574 | 868 sq. ft. |
| Arkansas | $1,159 | 894 sq. ft. |
| California | $2,672 | 854 sq. ft. |
| Colorado | $1,846 | 878 sq. ft. |
| Connecticut | $2,200 | 899 sq. ft. |
| Delaware | $1,724 | 929 sq. ft. |
| District of Columbia | $2,446 | 746 sq. ft. |
| Florida | $1,989 | 986 sq. ft. |
| Georgia | $1,650 | 1,029 sq. ft. |
| Idaho | $1,690 | 938 sq. ft. |
| Illinois | $2,066 | 841 sq. ft. |
| Indiana | $1,351 | 911 sq. ft. |
| Iowa | $1,258 | 898 sq. ft. |
| Kansas | $1,339 | 909 sq. ft. |
| Kentucky | $1,350 | 937 sq. ft. |
| Louisiana | $1,248 | 917 sq. ft. |
| Maine | $2,094 | 830 sq. ft. |
| Maryland | $1,897 | 908 sq. ft. |
| Massachusetts | $2,865 | 883 sq. ft. |
| Michigan | $1,432 | 920 sq. ft. |
| Minnesota | $1,666 | 895 sq. ft. |
| Mississippi | $1,334 | 1,013 sq. ft. |
| Missouri | $1,377 | 903 sq. ft. |
| Montana | $1,747 | 897 sq. ft. |
| Nebraska | $1,375 | 933 sq. ft. |
| Nevada | $1,568 | 912 sq. ft. |
| New Hampshire | $2,230 | 887 sq. ft. |
| New Jersey | $2,453 | 875 sq. ft. |
| New Mexico | $1,439 | 840 sq. ft. |
| New York | $2,521 | 888 sq. ft. |
| North Carolina | $1,571 | 979 sq. ft. |
| North Dakota | $1,193 | 965 sq. ft. |
| Ohio | $1,363 | 903 sq. ft. |
| Oklahoma | $1,079 | 859 sq. ft. |
| Oregon | $1,746 | 844 sq. ft. |
| Pennsylvania | $1,823 | 890 sq. ft. |
| Rhode Island | $2,219 | 922 sq. ft. |
| South Carolina | $1,648 | 1,017 sq. ft. |
| South Dakota | $1,214 | 911 sq. ft. |
| Tennessee | $1,555 | 957 sq. ft. |
| Texas | $1,452 | 894 sq. ft. |
| Utah | $1,656 | 935 sq. ft. |
| Virginia | $2,017 | 924 sq. ft. |
| Washington | $2,051 | 831 sq. ft. |
| Wisconsin | $1,648 | 927 sq. ft. |
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Popular Cities in North Carolina
- Apartments in Apex $1,702
- Apartments in Asheville $1,676
- Apartments in Boone $2,272
- Apartments in Burlington $1,382
- Apartments in Cary $1,698
- Apartments in Chapel Hill $1,792
- Apartments in Charlotte $1,672
- Apartments in Clayton $1,590
- Apartments in Concord $1,533
- Apartments in Cornelius $1,860
- Apartments in Durham $1,546
- Apartments in Fayetteville $1,288
- Apartments in Fuquay Varina $1,637
- Apartments in Garner $1,439
- Apartments in Gastonia $1,359
- Apartments in Goldsboro $1,355
- Apartments in Greensboro $1,336
- Apartments in Greenville $1,399
- Apartments in Hickory $1,467
- Apartments in High Point $1,252
- Apartments in Holly Springs $1,737
- Apartments in Huntersville $1,780
- Apartments in Indian Trail $1,766
- Apartments in Jacksonville $1,288
- Apartments in Kannapolis $1,541
- Apartments in Kinston $899
- Apartments in Knightdale $1,593
- Apartments in Lexington $1,266
- Apartments in Monroe $1,501
- Apartments in Mooresville $1,611
- Apartments in Morrisville $1,664
- Apartments in Mount Airy $1,244
- Apartments in Raeford $1,442
- Apartments in Raleigh $1,584
- Apartments in Rocky Mount $1,205
- Apartments in Salisbury $1,244
- Apartments in Sanford $1,323
- Apartments in Statesville $1,192
- Apartments in Wake Forest $1,625
- Apartments in Wilmington $1,651
- Apartments in Wilson $1,369
- Apartments in Winston - Salem $1,282
Where this data comes from
The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.
Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all North Carolina apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.
Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.