North Carolina Rental Market Trends
Last updated: November 12, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in North Carolina is $1,563, a 0.41% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,557.
One-bedroom apartments provide 748 square feet for $1,387, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-beedroom units at $1,587 offer 1,065 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,360 sq ft) for $1,949, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in North Carolina
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $1,563 | 975 sq. ft. |
| Studio | n/a | n/a |
| 1 Bed | $1,387 | 748 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $1,587 | 1,065 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $1,949 | 1,360 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?
1,408,252 or 34% of the households in North Carolina are renter-occupied while 2,778,672 or 66% are owner-occupied.
How North Carolina Compares to Other States
| State | Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,316 | 992 sq. ft. |
| Arizona | $1,588 | 860 sq. ft. |
| Arkansas | $1,119 | 893 sq. ft. |
| California | $2,633 | 854 sq. ft. |
| Colorado | $1,874 | 875 sq. ft. |
| Connecticut | $2,106 | 893 sq. ft. |
| Delaware | $1,662 | 916 sq. ft. |
| District of Columbia | $2,552 | 747 sq. ft. |
| Florida | $1,989 | 980 sq. ft. |
| Georgia | $1,650 | 1,024 sq. ft. |
| Idaho | $1,671 | 927 sq. ft. |
| Illinois | $2,037 | 837 sq. ft. |
| Indiana | $1,315 | 907 sq. ft. |
| Iowa | $1,251 | 903 sq. ft. |
| Kansas | $1,297 | 909 sq. ft. |
| Kentucky | $1,332 | 934 sq. ft. |
| Louisiana | $1,265 | 919 sq. ft. |
| Maryland | $1,901 | 906 sq. ft. |
| Massachusetts | $2,914 | 883 sq. ft. |
| Michigan | $1,398 | 919 sq. ft. |
| Minnesota | $1,618 | 891 sq. ft. |
| Mississippi | $1,314 | 1,009 sq. ft. |
| Missouri | $1,322 | 901 sq. ft. |
| Montana | $1,867 | 888 sq. ft. |
| Nebraska | $1,344 | 934 sq. ft. |
| Nevada | $1,547 | 907 sq. ft. |
| New Hampshire | $2,204 | 876 sq. ft. |
| New Jersey | $2,425 | 865 sq. ft. |
| New Mexico | $1,417 | 832 sq. ft. |
| New York | $2,274 | 897 sq. ft. |
| North Carolina | $1,563 | 975 sq. ft. |
| North Dakota | $1,146 | 965 sq. ft. |
| Ohio | $1,335 | 901 sq. ft. |
| Oklahoma | $1,065 | 859 sq. ft. |
| Oregon | $1,773 | 844 sq. ft. |
| Pennsylvania | $1,777 | 891 sq. ft. |
| Rhode Island | $2,193 | 924 sq. ft. |
| South Carolina | $1,620 | 1,013 sq. ft. |
| South Dakota | $1,175 | 913 sq. ft. |
| Tennessee | $1,535 | 950 sq. ft. |
| Texas | $1,463 | 889 sq. ft. |
| Utah | $1,630 | 923 sq. ft. |
| Virginia | $1,993 | 923 sq. ft. |
| Washington | $2,050 | 829 sq. ft. |
| Wisconsin | $1,586 | 918 sq. ft. |
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.