Home · Rent-to-income · North Carolina
Watauga County leads North Carolina at 44.83% of renter median income, on a median rent of $1,127 and a renter median household income of $30,164. Census median rent as a share of renter household income, beside the official HUD income limits for each county.
| 1 | Watauga County | $1,127 | $85 | $30,164 | $4,886 | 44.83% | $44,800 | $71,700 |
| 2 | Hyde County | $1,263 | $129 | $37,500 | $24,653 | 40.42% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 3 | Yancey County | $882 | $83 | $26,205 | $9,649 | 40.39% | $42,650 | $68,250 |
| 4 | Hertford County | $844 | $36 | $26,250 | $2,380 | 38.58% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 5 | Polk County | $1,178 | $119 | $36,681 | $6,963 | 38.54% | $46,650 | $74,650 |
| 6 | Person County | $864 | $46 | $27,013 | $4,547 | 38.38% | $42,700 | $68,300 |
| 7 | Northampton County | $758 | $63 | $24,059 | $5,214 | 37.81% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 8 | Halifax County | $813 | $44 | $25,964 | $3,232 | 37.58% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 9 | Bladen County | $773 | $73 | $25,118 | $4,668 | 36.93% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 10 | Orange County | $1,496 | $41 | $49,216 | $3,201 | 36.48% | $63,550 | $101,700 |
| 11 | Washington County | $743 | $256 | $25,355 | $11,824 | 35.16% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 12 | Ashe County | $859 | $59 | $29,625 | $10,207 | 34.79% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 13 | Warren County | $790 | $54 | $27,298 | $5,369 | 34.73% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 14 | New Hanover County | $1,417 | $32 | $49,019 | $2,829 | 34.69% | $54,600 | $87,350 |
| 15 | Scotland County | $778 | $24 | $27,008 | $4,871 | 34.57% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 16 | Buncombe County | $1,362 | $42 | $47,419 | $3,146 | 34.47% | $51,200 | $81,900 |
| 17 | Chowan County | $681 | $40 | $23,729 | $5,290 | 34.44% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 18 | Franklin County | $1,083 | $36 | $37,819 | $4,730 | 34.36% | $66,150 | $105,850 |
| 19 | Carteret County | $1,108 | $48 | $38,857 | $5,218 | 34.22% | $51,750 | $82,800 |
| 20 | Hoke County | $1,089 | $59 | $38,394 | $2,484 | 34.04% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 21 | Perquimans County | $1,008 | $134 | $36,156 | $13,643 | 33.46% | $45,200 | $72,300 |
| 22 | Robeson County | $805 | $22 | $29,006 | $1,958 | 33.30% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 23 | Brunswick County | $1,351 | $52 | $48,968 | $3,548 | 33.11% | $49,600 | $79,350 |
| 24 | Pasquotank County | $1,170 | $80 | $42,431 | $5,817 | 33.09% | $42,150 | $67,450 |
| 25 | Richmond County | $724 | $45 | $26,774 | $6,169 | 32.45% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 26 | Haywood County | $1,067 | $50 | $39,711 | $5,013 | 32.24% | $43,350 | $69,350 |
| 27 | Beaufort County | $871 | $41 | $32,432 | $5,755 | 32.23% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 28 | Rockingham County | $810 | $31 | $30,283 | $4,915 | 32.10% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 29 | Moore County | $1,254 | $79 | $46,970 | $5,696 | 32.04% | $53,150 | $85,050 |
| 30 | Edgecombe County | $858 | $30 | $32,185 | $3,654 | 31.99% | $40,100 | $64,150 |
| 31 | Bertie County | $839 | $55 | $31,523 | $11,890 | 31.94% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 32 | Cumberland County | $1,222 | $15 | $46,059 | $1,518 | 31.84% | $40,950 | $65,500 |
| 33 | Durham County | $1,508 | $31 | $57,287 | $1,955 | 31.59% | $63,550 | $101,700 |
| 34 | Lenoir County | $861 | $28 | $33,070 | $2,034 | 31.24% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 35 | Cleveland County | $914 | $50 | $35,120 | $3,691 | 31.23% | $41,400 | $66,250 |
| 36 | Onslow County | $1,265 | $40 | $48,623 | $2,296 | 31.22% | $42,700 | $68,300 |
| 37 | Mecklenburg County | $1,627 | $14 | $62,675 | $1,277 | 31.15% | $58,700 | $93,900 |
| 38 | Guilford County | $1,163 | $14 | $45,099 | $1,466 | 30.95% | $45,750 | $73,200 |
| 39 | Henderson County | $1,187 | $55 | $46,217 | $4,837 | 30.82% | $51,200 | $81,900 |
| 40 | Forsyth County | $1,098 | $20 | $43,013 | $1,657 | 30.63% | $47,650 | $76,250 |
| 41 | Stanly County | $861 | $32 | $33,732 | $1,988 | 30.63% | $41,950 | $67,150 |
| 42 | Craven County | $1,110 | $39 | $43,609 | $3,008 | 30.54% | $43,500 | $69,600 |
| 43 | Pitt County | $993 | $21 | $39,307 | $3,562 | 30.32% | $44,400 | $71,050 |
| 44 | Wake County | $1,623 | $16 | $65,172 | $1,743 | 29.88% | $66,150 | $105,850 |
| 45 | Transylvania County | $967 | $144 | $38,932 | $2,975 | 29.81% | $44,500 | $71,200 |
| 46 | Wilson County | $953 | $35 | $38,438 | $3,765 | 29.75% | $42,000 | $67,200 |
| 47 | Gaston County | $1,153 | $22 | $46,859 | $2,637 | 29.53% | $58,700 | $93,900 |
| 48 | Vance County | $883 | $42 | $36,074 | $7,282 | 29.37% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 49 | Sampson County | $834 | $30 | $34,163 | $5,773 | 29.29% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 50 | Alleghany County | $675 | $135 | $27,955 | $3,684 | 28.98% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 51 | Cabarrus County | $1,414 | $42 | $58,854 | $2,658 | 28.83% | $58,700 | $93,900 |
| 52 | Harnett County | $1,112 | $46 | $46,507 | $4,549 | 28.69% | $44,150 | $70,650 |
| 53 | Alamance County | $1,064 | $25 | $44,589 | $2,818 | 28.63% | $44,300 | $70,900 |
| 54 | Wayne County | $965 | $30 | $40,456 | $2,537 | 28.62% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 55 | Lincoln County | $1,015 | $67 | $42,821 | $4,823 | 28.44% | $52,800 | $84,500 |
| 56 | Columbus County | $824 | $40 | $34,801 | $3,777 | 28.41% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 57 | Granville County | $1,008 | $57 | $42,692 | $4,554 | 28.33% | $43,900 | $70,250 |
| 58 | Currituck County | $1,162 | $133 | $49,314 | $10,392 | 28.28% | $53,850 | $86,150 |
| 59 | Surry County | $761 | $23 | $32,551 | $3,606 | 28.05% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 60 | Gates County | $1,143 | $207 | $48,910 | $8,029 | 28.04% | $44,300 | $70,900 |
| 61 | Randolph County | $887 | $35 | $37,979 | $2,067 | 28.03% | $45,750 | $73,200 |
| 62 | Anson County | $814 | $49 | $34,969 | $7,358 | 27.93% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 63 | Johnston County | $1,146 | $76 | $49,305 | $5,124 | 27.89% | $66,150 | $105,850 |
| 64 | Rutherford County | $783 | $19 | $34,112 | $3,313 | 27.54% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 65 | Cherokee County | $813 | $141 | $35,419 | $4,580 | 27.54% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 66 | Rowan County | $1,013 | $35 | $44,167 | $5,838 | 27.52% | $41,700 | $66,700 |
| 67 | Union County | $1,496 | $74 | $65,360 | $6,662 | 27.47% | $58,700 | $93,900 |
| 68 | Yadkin County | $766 | $47 | $33,546 | $5,794 | 27.40% | $47,650 | $76,250 |
| 69 | Lee County | $1,017 | $46 | $44,546 | $3,955 | 27.40% | $42,000 | $67,200 |
| 70 | Iredell County | $1,252 | $51 | $55,159 | $5,394 | 27.24% | $53,650 | $85,850 |
| 71 | Pender County | $1,106 | $105 | $48,925 | $9,923 | 27.13% | $54,800 | $87,650 |
| 72 | Pamlico County | $752 | $113 | $33,376 | $3,301 | 27.04% | $45,350 | $72,550 |
| 73 | Graham County | $676 | $179 | $30,060 | $8,574 | 26.99% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 74 | Mitchell County | $813 | $64 | $36,339 | $10,752 | 26.85% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 75 | Catawba County | $965 | $41 | $43,271 | $4,215 | 26.76% | $42,600 | $68,150 |
| 76 | Duplin County | $865 | $49 | $38,804 | $3,081 | 26.75% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 77 | Jackson County | $904 | $55 | $40,804 | $4,916 | 26.59% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 78 | McDowell County | $806 | $45 | $37,178 | $2,883 | 26.02% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 79 | Jones County | $747 | $47 | $34,500 | $19,929 | 25.98% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 80 | Chatham County | $1,180 | $99 | $54,771 | $5,793 | 25.85% | $63,550 | $101,700 |
| 81 | Davidson County | $901 | $33 | $41,958 | $2,408 | 25.77% | $43,000 | $68,800 |
| 82 | Madison County | $780 | $64 | $36,602 | $6,438 | 25.57% | $51,200 | $81,900 |
| 83 | Montgomery County | $766 | $38 | $36,033 | $5,082 | 25.51% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 84 | Wilkes County | $723 | $37 | $34,176 | $4,419 | 25.39% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 85 | Martin County | $758 | $76 | $36,032 | $3,955 | 25.24% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 86 | Greene County | $853 | $29 | $40,655 | $7,844 | 25.18% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 87 | Burke County | $884 | $47 | $42,241 | $5,701 | 25.11% | $42,600 | $68,150 |
| 88 | Caldwell County | $744 | $24 | $35,595 | $3,051 | 25.08% | $42,600 | $68,150 |
| 89 | Davie County | $867 | $51 | $42,121 | $5,416 | 24.70% | $47,650 | $76,250 |
| 90 | Nash County | $953 | $29 | $47,292 | $3,849 | 24.18% | $40,100 | $64,150 |
| 91 | Stokes County | $775 | $31 | $38,578 | $2,759 | 24.11% | $47,650 | $76,250 |
| 92 | Avery County | $773 | $106 | $39,118 | $8,932 | 23.71% | $44,400 | $71,050 |
| 93 | Macon County | $803 | $56 | $40,837 | $7,230 | 23.60% | $39,550 | $63,300 |
| 94 | Dare County | $1,345 | $85 | $68,881 | $7,430 | 23.43% | $55,100 | $88,150 |
| 95 | Tyrrell County | $644 | $210 | $33,009 | $12,962 | 23.41% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 96 | Alexander County | $764 | $29 | $39,361 | $5,480 | 23.29% | $42,600 | $68,150 |
| 97 | Caswell County | $727 | $28 | $37,639 | $14,640 | 23.18% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 98 | Swain County | $742 | $53 | $39,222 | $3,698 | 22.70% | $39,150 | $62,650 |
| 99 | Camden County | $1,232 | $132 | $65,568 | $15,987 | 22.55% | $52,750 | $84,400 |
| 100 | Clay County | $804 | $238 | $48,243 | $23,146 | 20.00% | $43,150 | $69,050 |
Rent-to-income equals Census median gross rent (ACS table B25064) times 12, divided by renter median household income (ACS table B25119, renter-occupied column). The percent shown is that ratio rounded half up to the nearest 0.01 percentage point. HUD columns are the FY2026 4-person Very Low (50%) limit and the 4-person Low (80%) limit, plus the HUD area median family income on the same row. When every town row in a county publishes the same three figures, the page stores them once under the county name. When they differ, each town row is stored. A county is left out when median rent or renter income is missing or not positive. Rank is the unrounded ratio, then the county name.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 5-year, tables B25064 and B25119, as of 2024-07-01 (data years 2020-2024), retrieved 2026-10-09, https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2024.B25064, and HUD FY2026 Section 8 income limits effective 2026-05-01, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html.
Watauga County at 44.83%. Median gross rent is $1,127 (margin of error $85). Renter median household income is $30,164 (margin of error $4,886).
Clay County at 20.00%. Median gross rent is $804 (margin of error $238). Renter median household income is $48,243 (margin of error $23,146).
30.69%. Median gross rent is $1,228 (margin of error $5). Renter median household income is $48,010 (margin of error $418).