North Carolina Affordable Communities to Rent
Legend for Rent/Income ratios
*Low Vacancy 28% or less 29-30% 31‑32% 33‑34% 35% or more
2023 Median Rent to Income by Communities in North Carolina
We have organized the results by most affordable communities regardless of size. You can compare the cost of living along with availability of housing and employment in each community. Conditions may change in the economy and housing market of a local community since the census data we use is from the latest five year community survey from 2023. Use the information for ideas on where to look and investigate further for communities in North Carolina that maybe of interest to you. We are showing you monthly figures for median rent to renters median household income.
*We do not display counties where the vacancy rate is below 1.5% or in very few cases where renter household income is not available.
2023 United States Median Rent
| Location | Monthly Rent | Household Income | Rent / Income | Vacancy | **2023 Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $1,348 | $4,283 | 31.5% | 5.5% | 3.6% |
Source: US Census Bureau - ACS 5 Yr 2023
**Bureau of Labor Statistics - Annual Unemployment Average for 2023
**Bureau of Labor Statistics - Annual Unemployment Average for 2023
2023 North Carolina Median Rent
| Location | Monthly Rent | Household Income | Rent / Income | Vacancy | **2023 Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $1,162 | $3,831 | 30.3% | 6.9% | 3.5% |
Source: US Census Bureau - ACS 5 Yr 2023
**Bureau of Labor Statistics - Annual Unemployment Average for 2023
**Bureau of Labor Statistics - Annual Unemployment Average for 2023
Communities in North Carolina
| Rank | State | County | Population | Monthly Rent | Household Income | Rent / Income | Vacancy | **2023 Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NC | Alexander | 36,440 | $745 | $3,539 | 21.1% | 1.7% | 3.2% |
| 2 | NC | Gates | 10,437 | $940 | $4,057 | 23.2% | 3.0% | 3.3% |
| 3 | NC | Swain | 14,065 | $715 | $3,049 | 23.4% | 7.9% | 2.9% |
| 4 | NC | Avery | 17,643 | $791 | $3,381 | 23.4% | 9.7% | 3.0% |
| 5 | NC | McDowell | 44,679 | $741 | $3,169 | 23.4% | 4.3% | 3.2% |
| 6 | NC | Wilkes | 65,983 | $715 | $2,934 | 24.4% | 2.1% | 3.7% |
| 7 | NC | Caldwell | 80,618 | $735 | $3,009 | 24.4% | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| 8 | NC | Nash | 95,451 | $924 | $3,729 | 24.8% | 3.4% | 4.6% |
| 9 | NC | Martin | 21,773 | $729 | $2,919 | 25.0% | 6.1% | 4.4% |
| 10 | NC | Chatham | 78,319 | $1,066 | $4,266 | 25.0% | 6.3% | 3.0% |
| 11 | NC | Davie | 43,526 | $889 | $3,542 | 25.1% | 6.3% | 3.1% |
| 12 | NC | Montgomery | 25,874 | $753 | $2,964 | 25.4% | 4.8% | 3.6% |
| 13 | NC | Graham | 8,041 | $581 | $2,281 | 25.5% | 13.7% | 4.4% |
| 14 | NC | Greene | 20,421 | $845 | $3,304 | 25.6% | 4.9% | 2.9% |
| 15 | NC | Dare | 37,534 | $1,307 | $5,066 | 25.8% | 64.6% | 4.0% |
| 16 | NC | Catawba | 162,051 | $891 | $3,444 | 25.9% | 5.5% | 3.3% |
| 17 | NC | Iredell | 191,800 | $1,183 | $4,533 | 26.1% | 3.6% | 3.2% |
| 18 | NC | Davidson | 171,063 | $863 | $3,268 | 26.4% | 3.9% | 3.4% |
| 19 | NC | Rutherford | 64,850 | $748 | $2,799 | 26.7% | 9.7% | 4.6% |
| 20 | NC | Burke | 87,863 | $805 | $3,017 | 26.7% | 2.9% | 3.3% |
| 21 | NC | Lincoln | 90,359 | $977 | $3,645 | 26.8% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| 22 | NC | Cherokee | 29,197 | $800 | $2,955 | 27.1% | 4.9% | 3.9% |
| 23 | NC | Currituck | 29,612 | $1,126 | $4,154 | 27.1% | 49.1% | 3.1% |
| 24 | NC | Lee | 64,565 | $962 | $3,556 | 27.1% | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| 25 | NC | Johnston | 226,623 | $1,007 | $3,691 | 27.3% | 3.9% | 3.2% |
| 26 | NC | Duplin | 49,053 | $815 | $2,954 | 27.6% | 4.3% | 3.3% |
| 27 | NC | Randolph | 145,322 | $857 | $3,107 | 27.6% | 2.9% | 3.6% |
| 28 | NC | Sampson | 59,245 | $811 | $2,918 | 27.8% | 5.4% | 3.5% |
| 29 | NC | Jackson | 43,089 | $855 | $3,065 | 27.9% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| 30 | NC | Union | 244,975 | $1,390 | $4,957 | 28.0% | 2.4% | 3.0% |
| 31 | NC | Stanly | 63,557 | $830 | $2,951 | 28.1% | 3.5% | 3.0% |
| 32 | NC | Wayne | 117,606 | $932 | $3,314 | 28.1% | 1.6% | 3.7% |
| 33 | NC | Surry | 71,407 | $741 | $2,632 | 28.2% | 6.5% | 3.2% |
| 34 | NC | Yadkin | 37,419 | $734 | $2,587 | 28.4% | 8.9% | 3.1% |
| 35 | NC | Alamance | 174,286 | $1,007 | $3,543 | 28.4% | 5.4% | 3.4% |
| 36 | NC | Anson | 21,903 | $849 | $2,954 | 28.7% | 1.5% | 4.0% |
| 37 | NC | Granville | 61,439 | $1,008 | $3,506 | 28.8% | 5.3% | 3.0% |
| 38 | NC | Pitt | 172,279 | $971 | $3,365 | 28.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| 39 | NC | Cabarrus | 231,262 | $1,303 | $4,447 | 29.3% | 9.0% | 3.2% |
| 40 | NC | Franklin | 71,962 | $988 | $3,361 | 29.4% | 2.6% | 3.5% |
| 41 | NC | Harnett | 136,503 | $1,080 | $3,656 | 29.5% | 8.0% | 3.9% |
| 42 | NC | Wake | 1,151,009 | $1,508 | $5,115 | 29.5% | 9.2% | 3.0% |
| 43 | NC | Macon | 37,533 | $791 | $2,670 | 29.6% | 5.8% | 3.2% |
| 44 | NC | Columbus | 50,453 | $775 | $2,618 | 29.6% | 7.5% | 4.0% |
| 45 | NC | Lenoir | 54,917 | $814 | $2,741 | 29.7% | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| 46 | NC | Cleveland | 100,170 | $835 | $2,801 | 29.8% | 5.4% | 3.5% |
| 47 | NC | Gaston | 231,485 | $1,085 | $3,642 | 29.8% | 5.0% | 3.4% |
| 48 | NC | Alleghany | 11,075 | $755 | $2,529 | 29.9% | 2.9% | 4.5% |
| 49 | NC | Forsyth | 386,740 | $1,046 | $3,499 | 29.9% | 8.4% | 3.5% |
| 50 | NC | Henderson | 117,387 | $1,120 | $3,731 | 30.0% | 6.2% | 2.9% |
| 51 | NC | Guilford | 542,987 | $1,108 | $3,677 | 30.1% | 6.3% | 3.9% |
| 52 | NC | Moore | 102,840 | $1,181 | $3,912 | 30.2% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| 53 | NC | Mecklenburg | 1,130,906 | $1,521 | $5,018 | 30.3% | 7.2% | 3.4% |
| 54 | NC | Pender | 63,475 | $1,072 | $3,527 | 30.4% | 9.7% | 3.2% |
| 55 | NC | Rockingham | 91,585 | $789 | $2,592 | 30.4% | 3.3% | 4.0% |
| 56 | NC | Wilson | 78,648 | $915 | $2,977 | 30.7% | 6.7% | 4.9% |
| 57 | NC | Durham | 329,405 | $1,415 | $4,603 | 30.7% | 6.3% | 3.1% |
| 58 | NC | Transylvania | 33,243 | $909 | $2,918 | 31.2% | 2.6% | 3.2% |
| 59 | NC | Onslow | 208,537 | $1,198 | $3,829 | 31.3% | 7.8% | 4.0% |
| 60 | NC | Cumberland | 336,749 | $1,156 | $3,696 | 31.3% | 6.1% | 4.7% |
| 61 | NC | Craven | 101,074 | $1,100 | $3,502 | 31.4% | 6.5% | 3.5% |
| 62 | NC | Haywood | 62,432 | $1,052 | $3,252 | 32.3% | 3.4% | 3.0% |
| 63 | NC | Jones | 9,245 | $725 | $2,238 | 32.4% | 9.9% | 3.2% |
| 64 | NC | Rowan | 148,487 | $990 | $3,052 | 32.4% | 5.1% | 3.4% |
| 65 | NC | Bladen | 29,591 | $752 | $2,294 | 32.8% | 4.5% | 4.2% |
| 66 | NC | Hoke | 53,102 | $1,047 | $3,192 | 32.8% | 2.1% | 4.4% |
| 67 | NC | Brunswick | 145,889 | $1,267 | $3,861 | 32.8% | 24.1% | 4.2% |
| 68 | NC | Hertford | 20,492 | $806 | $2,450 | 32.9% | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| 69 | NC | Edgecombe | 48,777 | $818 | $2,464 | 33.2% | 3.2% | 5.7% |
| 70 | NC | Beaufort | 44,597 | $859 | $2,579 | 33.3% | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| 71 | NC | Carteret | 68,652 | $1,062 | $3,191 | 33.3% | 1.6% | 3.2% |
| 72 | NC | Pasquotank | 40,830 | $1,146 | $3,418 | 33.5% | 6.1% | 4.1% |
| 73 | NC | Perquimans | 13,146 | $1,061 | $3,125 | 34.0% | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| 74 | NC | Buncombe | 271,790 | $1,281 | $3,773 | 34.0% | 12.9% | 2.7% |
| 75 | NC | New Hanover | 231,214 | $1,343 | $3,942 | 34.1% | 6.7% | 3.1% |
| 76 | NC | Robeson | 116,858 | $784 | $2,264 | 34.6% | 4.3% | 5.0% |
| 77 | NC | Orange | 147,292 | $1,387 | $3,992 | 34.7% | 5.7% | 2.9% |
| 78 | NC | Tyrrell | 3,376 | $612 | $1,694 | 36.1% | 8.5% | 5.1% |
| 79 | NC | Bertie | 17,482 | $824 | $2,283 | 36.1% | 2.6% | 4.4% |
| 80 | NC | Polk | 19,689 | $1,089 | $2,994 | 36.4% | 5.9% | 3.3% |
| 81 | NC | Richmond | 42,818 | $744 | $1,851 | 40.2% | 3.1% | 4.6% |
| 82 | NC | Washington | 10,905 | $829 | $1,948 | 42.6% | 10.1% | 4.8% |
| 83 | NC | Watauga | 54,607 | $1,066 | $2,408 | 44.3% | 1.5% | 3.0% |
| 84 | NC | Hyde | 4,625 | $1,237 | $2,286 | 54.1% | 18.9% | 5.8% |
Source: US Census Bureau - ACS 5 Yr 2023
**Bureau of Labor Statistics - Annual Unemployment Average for 2023
**Bureau of Labor Statistics - Annual Unemployment Average for 2023
