North Carolina Rental Market Trends
Last updated: May 14, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in North Carolina is $1,555, a 0.55% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,563.
Studio Apartments at $1,239 offer the most budget-friendly option with 510 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 748 square feet for $1,372, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $1,579 offer 1,068 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,376 sq ft) for $1,951, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in North Carolina
Last updated: May 14, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $1,555 | 978 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,239 | 510 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $1,372 | 748 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $1,579 | 1,068 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $1,951 | 1,376 sq. ft. |
North Carolina rent trends
What's the typical rent budget in North Carolina?
The largest share of rentals in North Carolina (49%) 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 | $1,319 | 992 sq. ft. |
| Arizona | $1,569 | 864 sq. ft. |
| Arkansas | $1,148 | 896 sq. ft. |
| California | $2,651 | 853 sq. ft. |
| Colorado | $1,824 | 875 sq. ft. |
| Connecticut | $2,150 | 897 sq. ft. |
| Delaware | $1,709 | 921 sq. ft. |
| District of Columbia | $2,476 | 748 sq. ft. |
| Florida | $1,977 | 983 sq. ft. |
| Georgia | $1,640 | 1,026 sq. ft. |
| Idaho | $1,674 | 931 sq. ft. |
| Illinois | $2,050 | 840 sq. ft. |
| Indiana | $1,342 | 909 sq. ft. |
| Iowa | $1,240 | 897 sq. ft. |
| Kansas | $1,326 | 909 sq. ft. |
| Kentucky | $1,330 | 934 sq. ft. |
| Louisiana | $1,246 | 921 sq. ft. |
| Maine | $2,057 | 837 sq. ft. |
| Maryland | $1,887 | 907 sq. ft. |
| Massachusetts | $2,853 | 880 sq. ft. |
| Michigan | $1,414 | 920 sq. ft. |
| Minnesota | $1,659 | 893 sq. ft. |
| Mississippi | $1,328 | 1,011 sq. ft. |
| Missouri | $1,358 | 901 sq. ft. |
| Montana | $1,722 | 888 sq. ft. |
| Nebraska | $1,355 | 933 sq. ft. |
| Nevada | $1,548 | 909 sq. ft. |
| New Hampshire | $2,177 | 877 sq. ft. |
| New Jersey | $2,416 | 871 sq. ft. |
| New Mexico | $1,418 | 837 sq. ft. |
| New York | $2,613 | 874 sq. ft. |
| North Carolina | $1,555 | 978 sq. ft. |
| North Dakota | $1,164 | 964 sq. ft. |
| Ohio | $1,345 | 900 sq. ft. |
| Oklahoma | $1,070 | 859 sq. ft. |
| Oregon | $1,742 | 845 sq. ft. |
| Pennsylvania | $1,807 | 889 sq. ft. |
| Rhode Island | $2,192 | 915 sq. ft. |
| South Carolina | $1,628 | 1,015 sq. ft. |
| South Dakota | $1,206 | 913 sq. ft. |
| Tennessee | $1,537 | 953 sq. ft. |
| Texas | $1,448 | 892 sq. ft. |
| Utah | $1,635 | 930 sq. ft. |
| Virginia | $2,009 | 923 sq. ft. |
| Washington | $2,037 | 829 sq. ft. |
| Wisconsin | $1,626 | 919 sq. ft. |
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Popular Cities in North Carolina
- Apartments in Apex $1,654
- Apartments in Asheville $1,665
- Apartments in Belmont $1,554
- Apartments in Boone $2,495
- Apartments in Burlington $1,361
- Apartments in Cary $1,635
- Apartments in Chapel Hill $1,738
- Apartments in Charlotte $1,659
- Apartments in Clayton $1,574
- Apartments in Concord $1,520
- Apartments in Cornelius $1,696
- Apartments in Durham $1,532
- Apartments in Fayetteville $1,298
- Apartments in Fuquay Varina $1,648
- Apartments in Garner $1,426
- Apartments in Gastonia $1,368
- Apartments in Greensboro $1,332
- Apartments in Greenville $1,378
- Apartments in Hickory $1,464
- Apartments in High Point $1,245
- Apartments in Holly Springs $1,733
- Apartments in Huntersville $1,700
- Apartments in Indian Trail $1,708
- Apartments in Jacksonville $1,234
- Apartments in Kannapolis $1,562
- Apartments in Knightdale $1,557
- Apartments in Lexington $1,239
- Apartments in Monroe $1,518
- Apartments in Mooresville $1,603
- Apartments in Morrisville $1,641
- Apartments in Raeford $1,399
- Apartments in Raleigh $1,567
- Apartments in Rocky Mount $1,190
- Apartments in Salisbury $1,268
- Apartments in Shelby $1,266
- Apartments in Statesville $1,219
- Apartments in Wake Forest $1,613
- Apartments in Wilmington $1,644
- Apartments in Wilson $1,370
- Apartments in Winston - Salem $1,288
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.