State housing atlas

Housing Costs and Affordability Across North Carolina

Compare 49 cities by median rent, home value, household income, owner occupancy and population.

Median city rent$1,395
Median city income$73,836
Median city home value$353,700
Median rent-to-income benchmark22%

How to read this page: state summary values are medians among the 49 included cities, not statewide Census estimates. Figures use 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year data and may lag current listings.

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Housing rankings in North Carolina

Lowest median rents

  1. Thomasville$879
  2. Asheboro$906
  3. Shelby$945
  4. Rocky Mount$957
  5. Wilson$971
  6. Goldsboro$971

Lowest rent-to-income benchmarks

  1. Cary15%
  2. Wake Forest15%
  3. Apex16%
  4. Waxhaw17%
  5. Thomasville17%
  6. Clemmons17%

Highest household incomes

  1. Apex$144,135
  2. Holly Springs$135,578
  3. Cary$134,905
  4. Waxhaw$131,894
  5. Morrisville$125,396
  6. Wake Forest$123,802

Complete directory

Compare all included North Carolina cities

CityMedian RentIncome for 30%Home ValueIncomeOwner RatePopulation
Charlotte $1,612 $64,500 $385,700 $82,068 51% 903,844
Raleigh $1,572 $62,900 $415,800 $85,395 51% 481,031
Greensboro $1,172 $46,900 $244,800 $61,515 50% 301,198
Durham $1,508 $60,300 $392,800 $81,619 52% 291,467
Winston-Salem $1,087 $43,500 $233,800 $59,268 56% 252,037
Fayetteville $1,250 $50,000 $188,000 $58,407 47% 210,815
Cary $1,738 $69,500 $580,200 $134,905 67% 179,306
Wilmington $1,395 $55,800 $383,800 $66,738 48% 120,805
High Point $1,116 $44,600 $235,800 $64,561 58% 116,245
Concord $1,451 $58,000 $353,700 $86,921 65% 108,719
Asheville $1,402 $56,100 $440,000 $71,102 52% 94,535
Greenville $1,007 $40,300 $233,500 $49,748 33% 92,857
Gastonia $1,204 $48,200 $277,600 $64,059 54% 82,884
Jacksonville $1,321 $52,800 $210,100 $57,697 39% 71,279
Apex $1,902 $76,100 $576,100 $144,135 77% 70,630
Huntersville $1,834 $73,400 $472,900 $120,516 72% 63,969
Chapel Hill $1,613 $64,500 $613,700 $85,989 47% 61,607
Burlington $1,051 $42,000 $199,200 $56,880 54% 59,610
Kannapolis $1,319 $52,800 $276,400 $73,836 66% 57,890
Rocky Mount $957 $38,300 $165,700 $55,534 49% 54,297
Wake Forest $1,596 $63,800 $474,500 $123,802 74% 52,844
Mooresville $1,626 $65,000 $390,900 $89,647 58% 52,381
Wilson $971 $38,800 $210,700 $52,485 49% 48,370
Holly Springs $2,021 $80,800 $535,800 $135,578 81% 45,248
Hickory $1,063 $42,500 $278,400 $64,576 55% 44,258
Indian Trail $2,077 $83,100 $385,000 $108,483 78% 42,036
Fuquay-Varina $1,720 $68,800 $451,500 $115,497 74% 40,485
Monroe $1,246 $49,800 $309,100 $72,540 62% 36,759
Salisbury $1,071 $42,800 $242,500 $53,716 52% 35,825
Garner $1,549 $62,000 $355,000 $78,756 63% 34,473
Goldsboro $971 $38,800 $200,400 $48,540 36% 34,383
Cornelius $1,722 $68,900 $559,400 $113,767 70% 32,783
New Bern $1,081 $43,200 $240,100 $61,031 60% 32,734
Sanford $1,052 $42,100 $245,400 $57,586 53% 31,478
Morrisville $1,858 $74,300 $518,800 $125,396 45% 31,422
Matthews $1,764 $70,600 $445,100 $108,611 64% 30,577
Statesville $1,000 $40,000 $248,000 $52,880 52% 29,894
Leland $1,735 $69,400 $398,900 $91,977 81% 29,607
Clayton $1,661 $66,400 $329,600 $78,822 63% 29,320
Kernersville $1,082 $43,300 $290,700 $71,918 60% 27,830
Asheboro $906 $36,200 $188,100 $47,197 45% 27,580
Mint Hill $1,528 $61,100 $428,900 $100,860 83% 27,556
Thomasville $879 $35,200 $179,300 $60,935 62% 27,321
Waxhaw $1,840 $73,600 $549,400 $131,894 83% 22,275
Shelby $945 $37,800 $197,200 $48,376 60% 22,100
Clemmons $1,269 $50,800 $335,800 $87,655 76% 21,871
Carrboro $1,470 $58,800 $539,400 $85,743 44% 21,204
Knightdale $1,674 $67,000 $380,100 $103,220 65% 20,214
Boone $1,111 $44,400 $411,100 $30,065 26% 20,032

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Content last updated 2026-08-07. Latest release checked Aug 01, 2026 at 03:00 UTC. Review the definitions and methodology.