Rental markets / Raleigh

Raleigh fair market rents

Look up HUD rent benchmarks by bedroom and ZIP code, then estimate cash flow with your own price and costs.

HUD rent dataRaleigh-Cary, NC MSA

3-bedroom gross-rent benchmark

$2,196 / month

+0.2% from FY2025.

FY2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025

Includes tenant-paid utilities. A benchmark, not an approved rent or property-specific estimate.

Published rent benchmarks

FY2025
$2,192
FY2026
$2,196
FY2027
$2,103

HUD schedules for the selected bedroom count. Changes are not a rent forecast.

Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA · Monthly gross rents
Bedroom countFY2025FY2026 · currentFY2027 · upcoming
Studio$1,533$1,524$1,489
1 bedroom$1,592$1,596$1,552
2 bedrooms$1,763$1,750$1,689
3 bedrooms$2,192$2,196$2,103
4 bedrooms$2,961$2,936$2,823

FY2026 HUD area coverage: Franklin County, NC; Johnston County, NC; Wake County, NC. ZIP schedules may cover portions of this area.

Compare rents by ZIP code

Monthly HUD gross-rent benchmarks, including tenant-paid utilities. Choose 2–4 ZIPs to compare.

86 ZIP codes across published schedules

ZIP rent table
FY2026 monthly gross rents by ZIP.
ZIPStudio1 bedroom2 bedrooms3 bedrooms4 bedrooms
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,860$1,950$2,140$2,690$3,590
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,410$1,480$1,620$2,030$2,720
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,670$1,750$1,920$2,410$3,220
$1,660$1,730$1,900$2,380$3,190
$1,950$2,040$2,240$2,810$3,740
$1,420$1,490$1,630$2,050$2,730
$1,200$1,260$1,400$1,830$2,200
$1,820$1,920$2,110$2,640$3,470
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,580$1,650$1,830$2,330$3,070
$1,660$1,740$1,910$2,400$3,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,450$1,510$1,660$2,080$2,780
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,780$1,860$2,040$2,560$3,420
$1,840$1,920$2,110$2,650$3,540
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,560$1,630$1,790$2,250$3,000
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,930$2,020$2,230$2,790$3,660
$1,750$1,830$2,020$2,530$3,350
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,530$1,600$1,750$2,210$2,930
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,530$1,600$1,750$2,210$2,930
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,300$1,360$1,490$1,870$2,500
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,210$1,260$1,390$1,740$2,310
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,600$1,680$1,840$2,310$3,090
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,450$1,520$1,670$2,100$2,800
$1,500$1,570$1,720$2,160$2,890
$1,680$1,760$1,930$2,420$3,240
$1,520$1,600$1,750$2,200$2,940
$1,550$1,620$1,780$2,230$2,990
$1,530$1,610$1,760$2,210$2,950
$1,590$1,660$1,820$2,280$3,050
$1,340$1,400$1,540$1,930$2,580
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,790$1,880$2,060$2,580$3,460
$1,520$1,590$1,740$2,180$2,910
$1,620$1,700$1,860$2,330$3,120
$1,720$1,800$1,970$2,470$3,300
$1,590$1,660$1,820$2,280$3,050
$1,750$1,830$2,010$2,520$3,360
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,550$1,620$1,780$2,230$2,990
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,580$1,650$1,810$2,270$3,040
$1,450$1,540$1,750$2,160$2,550
$1,570$1,670$1,900$2,350$2,760
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200
$1,170$1,190$1,350$1,660$2,200

Choose up to four ZIPs.

Local rental households

2020–2024 ACS 5-year. Figures cover the selected county, which may be only part of the current HUD rental area.

Franklin County, North Carolina

Rental households

Rental households
6,109
Share of occupied homes rented
21.4%

Rent burden

Spend 30%+ of income on rent
54.6%
Spend 50%+ of income on rent
30.5%

Among renter households with a calculated rent-to-income ratio.

Rental housing types

Single-unit homes
47.0%
Buildings with 2–4 units
8.8%
Buildings with 5+ units
10.8%
Other rental homes
33.4%
Estimates & margins of error
Franklin County, North Carolina · 2020–2024 ACS 5-year · 90% margins of error
MeasureEstimateMargin of error
Rental households6,109±625
Share of occupied homes rented21.4%±2.2 percentage points
Spend 30%+ of income on rent54.6%±6.2 percentage points
Spend 50%+ of income on rent30.5%±6.3 percentage points
Single-unit homes47.0%±5.0 percentage points
Buildings with 2–4 units8.8%±3.6 percentage points
Buildings with 5+ units10.8%±3.5 percentage points
Other rental homes33.4%±5.6 percentage points

These are survey estimates. Margins of error for percentages follow Census guidance; small differences may not be meaningful.

Johnston County, North Carolina

Rental households

Rental households
20,499
Share of occupied homes rented
23.9%

Rent burden

Spend 30%+ of income on rent
48.2%
Spend 50%+ of income on rent
23.7%

Among renter households with a calculated rent-to-income ratio.

Rental housing types

Single-unit homes
50.7%
Buildings with 2–4 units
12.3%
Buildings with 5+ units
19.0%
Other rental homes
18.0%
Estimates & margins of error
Johnston County, North Carolina · 2020–2024 ACS 5-year · 90% margins of error
MeasureEstimateMargin of error
Rental households20,499±1,263
Share of occupied homes rented23.9%±1.5 percentage points
Spend 30%+ of income on rent48.2%±4.9 percentage points
Spend 50%+ of income on rent23.7%±4.4 percentage points
Single-unit homes50.7%±4.2 percentage points
Buildings with 2–4 units12.3%±2.5 percentage points
Buildings with 5+ units19.0%±3.7 percentage points
Other rental homes18.0%±2.4 percentage points

These are survey estimates. Margins of error for percentages follow Census guidance; small differences may not be meaningful.

Wake County, North Carolina

Rental households

Rental households
165,106
Share of occupied homes rented
35.9%

Rent burden

Spend 30%+ of income on rent
48.3%
Spend 50%+ of income on rent
22.0%

Among renter households with a calculated rent-to-income ratio.

Rental housing types

Single-unit homes
30.8%
Buildings with 2–4 units
8.8%
Buildings with 5+ units
57.4%
Other rental homes
3.0%
Estimates & margins of error
Wake County, North Carolina · 2020–2024 ACS 5-year · 90% margins of error
MeasureEstimateMargin of error
Rental households165,106±3,068
Share of occupied homes rented35.9%±0.6 percentage points
Spend 30%+ of income on rent48.3%±1.5 percentage points
Spend 50%+ of income on rent22.0%±0.9 percentage points
Single-unit homes30.8%±1.0 percentage points
Buildings with 2–4 units8.8%±0.7 percentage points
Buildings with 5+ units57.4%±1.5 percentage points
Other rental homes3.0%±0.4 percentage points

These are survey estimates. Margins of error for percentages follow Census guidance; small differences may not be meaningful.

Census sources & definitions

2020–2024 ACS 5-year combines five years of survey responses. These describe the survey period, not today’s market. Rental households are renter-occupied homes. Housing types refer to the building containing each rental; “other” includes mobile homes, boats, RVs and similar housing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, tables B25003, B25070 and B25032. Statistical guidance. Data checked Sep 22, 2026. Rental Wire is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Census Bureau.

Download county data & margins of error

Does a property work at that rent?

Start with the HUD benchmark or enter your expected lease rent. Price and cost defaults are examples, not local estimates.

$/mo
$/mo
$
%
%
years
$
Ownership costs & reserves

Percentage costs use scheduled rent. Enter your property taxes, insurance and any utilities you pay.

%
%
%
%
$/yr
$/yr
$/mo
%
$

Monthly cash flow before income tax

$293

Based on example price and costs. Edit them for your property.

Lease rent used
$2,046
Upfront cash
$53,500
Sources, dates & coverage

Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. HUD area ID: METRO39580M39580. Coverage: Franklin County, NC; Johnston County, NC; Wake County, NC.

HUD gross-rent benchmarks include tenant-paid basic utilities, excluding phone, cable and internet. They are not asking-rent quotes, approved Section 8 rents or housing-authority payment standards.

FY2025 area source (effective Oct 1, 2024; source version Apr 28, 2025) · FY2026 area source (effective Oct 1, 2025; source version May 21, 2026) · FY2027 area source (effective Oct 1, 2026).

ZIP schedules: FY2025 · FY2026 · FY2027. SAFMR methodology.

HUD data checked Sep 22, 2026. Changes can reflect methodology and geographic coverage as well as rents. Missing data and figures that cannot be compared are marked unavailable. Future schedules are labelled upcoming.

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. HUD public-domain reuse policy, section 1.D. Rental Wire is not affiliated with or endorsed by HUD. Retain the source, geography and fiscal year when sharing data.

Calculation assumptions

Cash flow is rent less vacancy, operating costs, replacement reserves and fixed-rate mortgage payments, including principal. Tax deductions, sale proceeds and appreciation are outside this first-year calculation. The target price uses the same rent, expense amounts, mortgage rate, down-payment percentage and closing-cost percentage. Property taxes and lender terms may change with the actual purchase price.

When using a HUD benchmark, we subtract tenant-paid utilities to estimate lease rent. Custom rent is used as entered. Add utilities you pay to operating costs. This does not determine a voucher subsidy or a housing authority's approved rent.

Other markets in the region