State rental market reference · Data updated October 18, 2026
North Carolina rental market for DSCR investors: rent, taxes and insurance by county
What a rental in North Carolina rents for, what it costs to carry, and whether it stays rented, from official data for all 100 counties. Read it before you price a deal here.
North Carolina at a glance
What does a rental rent for?
$1,476 a month
HUD's FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent where most of North Carolina's renters live, from $1,012 (Robeson County) to $1,866 (Madison County). It is the government figure for a modest 2-bedroom unit, utilities included, not the rent for a house.
What will property taxes cost?
0.66% of value a year
Homeowners in North Carolina pay a median $1,896 a year on a median home value of $288,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024). A rental can be taxed at a different rate than an owner's home; the local tax bill is the real number.
What will insurance cost?
$1,210 a year
The median that homeowners with a mortgage in North Carolina report paying for homeowners insurance (Census ACS 2020–2024). It is not a landlord quote: a rental policy usually costs more, and flood cover is extra.
Will it stay rented?
7.1% rental vacancy
Share of North Carolina's rental homes vacant and for rent (Census ACS 2020–2024), across 1,428,852 renter households. Lower means rentals fill faster.
Are jobs growing?
Employment down 0.5% in a year
Employed residents in August 2026 against a year earlier; unemployment 3.6% (BLS, not seasonally adjusted, so compare the same month a year apart).
Is new supply coming?
86,167 homes permitted in 2025
About 20.1 new homes per 1,000 households; 76% single-family (Census Building Permits Survey). More new homes means more competition for tenants and buyers.
How often does it flood?
51,631 flood claims since 2005
National Flood Insurance Program claims on properties in North Carolina since 2005, $1.6 billion paid (FEMA). Claims show where water has reached insured buildings; they are not a flood map, so check the FEMA flood zone for the address.
What it means for a DSCR rental in North Carolina
A lender's DSCR is the monthly rent divided by the full monthly payment: principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues. Many lenders accept 1.00x; 1.20x leaves a cushion.
Take a home at North Carolina's median value of $288,900, bought with 25% down on a 7.5% 30-year loan, with the state's typical tax rate and insurance:
- Principal and interest ($216,675 loan)
- $1,515
- Property taxes
- $159
- Insurance
- $101
- Full monthly payment
- $1,775
- Rent for a 1.20x DSCR
- $2,130 a month
The government 2-bedroom figure where most of North Carolina's renters live is $1,476 a month, below the $2,130 that home needs. A house usually rents for more than a 2-bedroom unit, so price the house you are looking at with its own rent. The last column of the table below gives the same figure for each county.
Rules and costs a landlord faces in North Carolina
Each line quotes the official source it comes from and the date it was last checked. These are general rules, not legal advice; local rules can add to them.
- How long before you can file to evict for unpaid rent?
10 calendar days' notice for unpaid rent before an eviction can be filed.
there shall be implied a forfeiture of the term upon failure to pay the rent within 10 days after a demand is made by the lessor or his agent on said lessee for all past-due rent
North Carolina General Assembly, checked October 19, 2026
- How large a security deposit can you take?
Up to 2 months' rent.
The security deposit shall not exceed an amount equal to two weeks' rent if a tenancy is week to week, one and one-half months' rent if a tenancy is month to month, and two months' rent for terms greater than month to month.
North Carolina General Assembly, checked October 19, 2026
- How fast must the deposit come back?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
In either case the landlord in writing shall itemize any damage and mail or deliver same to the tenant, together with the balance of the security deposit, no later than 30 days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession of the premises to the landlord.
North Carolina General Assembly, checked October 19, 2026
- Can rents be capped?
State law bars cities and counties from capping rents.
No county or city as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple unit residential or commercial rental property.
North Carolina General Assembly, checked October 19, 2026
- What does the state charge to record a purchase?
State tax: $1.00 per $500.00.
An excise tax is levied on each instrument by which any interest in real property is conveyed to another person. The tax rate is one dollar ($1.00) on each five hundred dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof of the consideration or value of the interest conveyed.
North Carolina General Assembly, checked October 19, 2026
Market hubs in North Carolina
Each hub makes a monthly call on the market: the rent, the price that still works at 1.20x, and where to start.
Other tracked markets in North Carolina
Each screen shows a typical house's DSCR and the price that clears 1.20x, from the county figures on this page. See every tracked market ranked.
North Carolina by county
All 100 counties, most renter households first. "Rent for 1.20x" is the monthly rent a home at that county's median value needs on the example loan above. A dash means the source publishes no reliable figure there.
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | $1,785 | 0.71% | $1,240 | 7.5% | -0.2% | 7,496 | 1,388 | $2,970 |
| Wake County | $1,689 | 0.71% | $1,310 | 8.9% | +0.7% | 13,806 | 669 | $3,360 |
| Guilford County | $1,271 | 0.84% | $1,100 | 6.2% | -0.7% | 2,876 | 243 | $1,960 |
| Durham County | $1,745 | 0.79% | $1,250 | 6.6% | -0.7% | 4,772 | 259 | $2,880 |
| Cumberland County | $1,476 | 0.93% | $1,330 | 5.5% | -2.4% | 1,547 | 691 | $1,570 |
| Forsyth County | $1,332 | 0.79% | $1,090 | 7.5% | -0.6% | 2,875 | 237 | $1,880 |
| New Hanover County | $1,705 | 0.54% | $2,020 | 7.4% | -0.8% | 2,332 | 2,806 | $2,850 |
| Pitt County | $1,167 | 0.83% | $1,300 | 4.5% | -0.7% | 1,285 | 477 | $1,620 |
| Buncombe County | $1,866 | 0.57% | $1,110 | 18.2% | -1.4% | 2,028 | 773 | $2,800 |
| Gaston County | $1,785 | 0.75% | $1,100 | 4.8% | -0.1% | 2,343 | 64 | $1,980 |
| Onslow County | $1,319 | 0.64% | $1,560 | 7.9% | -2.3% | 1,372 | 1,567 | $1,790 |
| Alamance County | $1,348 | 0.62% | $1,030 | 5.3% | -0.7% | 2,027 | 98 | $1,770 |
| Cabarrus County | $1,785 | 0.73% | $1,190 | 7.8% | +0.0% | 1,991 | 179 | $2,610 |
| Iredell County | $1,429 | 0.61% | $1,150 | 4.9% | -0.2% | 1,835 | 36 | $2,330 |
| Orange County | $1,745 | 0.91% | $1,310 | 5.5% | -1.0% | 666 | 404 | $3,440 |
| Johnston County | $1,689 | 0.62% | $1,260 | 3.8% | +0.7% | 3,002 | 205 | $2,240 |
| Catawba County | $1,147 | 0.58% | $990 | 6.6% | -2.3% | 1,944 | 159 | $1,760 |
| Wayne County | $1,261 | 0.70% | $1,280 | 1.7% | -1.4% | 954 | 665 | $1,380 |
| Davidson County | $1,087 | 0.60% | $1,040 | 3.7% | -0.8% | 1,216 | 63 | $1,610 |
| Rowan County | $1,262 | 0.65% | $1,060 | 4.4% | -0.1% | 957 | 48 | $1,760 |
| Randolph County | $1,271 | 0.67% | $970 | 3.2% | -0.6% | 572 | 37 | $1,470 |
| Union County | $1,785 | 0.57% | $1,300 | 2.7% | -0.2% | 2,707 | 54 | $2,990 |
| Robeson County | $1,012 | 0.87% | $1,070 | 4.6% | -1.6% | 399 | 1,278 | $780 |
| Harnett County | $1,051 | 0.69% | $1,230 | 7.2% | -0.2% | 2,205 | 96 | $1,840 |
| Nash County | $1,167 | 0.71% | $1,140 | 3.1% | -0.3% | 483 | 245 | $1,450 |
Show the other 75 counties
| County | 2-bed FMR | Property tax | Insurance / yr | Rental vacancy | Jobs, 1 yr | Permits | Flood claims | Rent for 1.20x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craven County | $1,246 | 0.63% | $1,410 | 6.4% | -2.7% | 553 | 4,409 | $1,740 |
| Wilson County | $1,069 | 0.79% | $1,110 | 6.3% | -0.9% | 411 | 208 | $1,430 |
| Henderson County | $1,866 | 0.52% | $1,070 | 6.7% | -1.4% | 1,093 | 342 | $2,500 |
| Cleveland County | $1,014 | 0.64% | $1,040 | 4.3% | -1.2% | 555 | 30 | $1,490 |
| Rockingham County | $1,012 | 0.75% | $960 | 3.6% | -0.8% | 382 | 24 | $1,280 |
| Brunswick County | $1,574 | 0.54% | $1,790 | 27.9% | -0.4% | 4,457 | 3,388 | $2,570 |
| Moore County | $1,223 | 0.53% | $1,250 | 5.4% | -0.6% | 1,077 | 137 | $2,520 |
| Lenoir County | $1,012 | 0.84% | $1,230 | 1.4% | -0.4% | 131 | 471 | $980 |
| Burke County | $1,147 | 0.68% | $950 | 2.5% | -2.2% | 588 | 85 | $1,390 |
| Caldwell County | $1,147 | 0.60% | $950 | 3.9% | -2.5% | 501 | 50 | $1,420 |
| Lee County | $1,179 | 0.74% | $1,200 | 5.5% | +0.5% | 674 | 42 | $1,810 |
| Carteret County | $1,277 | 0.43% | $2,300 | 2.1% | -1.8% | 471 | 4,574 | $2,470 |
| Watauga County | $1,311 | 0.39% | $1,250 | 2.7% | +0.9% | 536 | 293 | $2,520 |
| Surry County | $1,012 | 0.60% | $970 | 4.6% | -0.4% | 244 | 8 | $1,320 |
| Lincoln County | $1,138 | 0.58% | $1,090 | 3.0% | -0.1% | 785 | 15 | $2,320 |
| Edgecombe County | $1,167 | 1.04% | $1,130 | 3.0% | -0.2% | 53 | 402 | $1,030 |
| Halifax County | $1,012 | 1.15% | $1,070 | 0.1% | -1.0% | 75 | 27 | $900 |
| Jackson County | $1,039 | 0.34% | $1,010 | 4.5% | +0.4% | 232 | 65 | $1,990 |
| Wilkes County | $1,012 | 0.59% | $990 | 2.1% | -1.2% | 152 | 19 | $1,260 |
| Rutherford County | $1,012 | 0.58% | $1,090 | 9.1% | -1.8% | 269 | 91 | $1,500 |
| Haywood County | $1,250 | 0.57% | $1,120 | 3.0% | +0.0% | 514 | 449 | $2,030 |
| Stanly County | $1,012 | 0.57% | $1,080 | 3.3% | +5.7% | 336 | 31 | $1,770 |
| Vance County | $1,012 | 0.78% | $1,070 | 1.7% | -0.8% | 115 | 5 | $1,250 |
| Chatham County | $1,745 | 0.64% | $1,270 | 8.1% | -0.9% | 517 | 35 | $3,220 |
| Duplin County | $1,025 | 0.69% | $1,370 | 4.2% | +0.0% | 127 | 451 | $1,100 |
| Franklin County | $1,689 | 0.65% | $1,210 | 2.4% | +0.7% | 735 | 6 | $2,090 |
| Beaufort County | $1,012 | 0.67% | $1,470 | 4.2% | -1.5% | 119 | 3,527 | $1,490 |
| Richmond County | $1,012 | 0.89% | $960 | 0.9% | +0.3% | 109 | 23 | $1,010 |
| Columbus County | $1,012 | 0.77% | $1,380 | 4.6% | -0.5% | 55 | 516 | $1,170 |
| Sampson County | $1,012 | 0.75% | $1,170 | 2.7% | +0.8% | 117 | 109 | $1,180 |
| Hoke County | $1,150 | 0.67% | $1,190 | 1.1% | -2.2% | 558 | 31 | $1,650 |
| Granville County | $1,213 | 0.67% | $1,140 | 4.8% | -0.9% | 257 | 6 | $1,840 |
| Pasquotank County | $1,220 | 0.67% | $1,350 | 4.9% | -0.7% | 274 | 246 | $1,770 |
| Scotland County | $1,012 | 0.93% | $1,110 | 0.2% | +1.1% | 59 | 20 | $940 |
| McDowell County | $1,012 | 0.53% | $920 | 4.6% | -1.9% | 164 | 84 | $1,260 |
| Pender County | $1,199 | 0.63% | $1,840 | 9.8% | -0.5% | 833 | 1,736 | $2,250 |
| Macon County | $1,015 | 0.43% | $1,060 | 6.4% | -0.6% | 251 | 55 | $1,800 |
| Stokes County | $1,332 | 0.60% | $950 | 1.2% | -0.6% | 256 | 6 | $1,450 |
| Transylvania County | $1,386 | 0.45% | $1,210 | 4.3% | -1.1% | 176 | 96 | $2,640 |
| Person County | $1,012 | 0.62% | $1,110 | 2.6% | -0.3% | 145 | 6 | $1,590 |
| Bladen County | $1,012 | 0.91% | $1,360 | 4.7% | -1.8% | 97 | 153 | $1,110 |
| Dare County | $1,510 | 0.52% | $3,060 | 65.6% | -2.1% | 325 | 9,086 | $3,440 |
| Yadkin County | $1,332 | 0.67% | $940 | 9.6% | -0.7% | 116 | 2 | $1,360 |
| Martin County | $1,012 | 1.06% | $1,030 | 2.3% | -0.6% | 0 | 23 | $910 |
| Davie County | $1,332 | 0.63% | $1,170 | 5.7% | -0.6% | 236 | 8 | $1,870 |
| Alexander County | $1,147 | 0.60% | $960 | 3.5% | -2.1% | 103 | 6 | $1,560 |
| Hertford County | $1,012 | 0.98% | $1,060 | 5.7% | -1.8% | 3 | 58 | $970 |
| Anson County | $1,143 | 0.77% | $960 | 1.5% | -0.1% | 53 | 3 | $1,150 |
| Montgomery County | $1,012 | 0.64% | $1,020 | 4.0% | -1.0% | 176 | 5 | $1,220 |
| Ashe County | $1,012 | 0.49% | $1,110 | 0.5% | -0.7% | 195 | 112 | $1,760 |
| Warren County | $1,012 | 0.71% | $1,120 | 0.6% | -1.0% | 175 | 2 | $1,190 |
| Greene County | $1,012 | 0.89% | $1,100 | 2.8% | -0.8% | 59 | 63 | $950 |
| Caswell County | $1,012 | 0.69% | $970 | 1.0% | -0.9% | 50 | 0 | $1,250 |
| Cherokee County | $1,012 | 0.46% | $1,050 | 7.4% | -1.7% | 239 | 30 | $1,670 |
| Polk County | $1,012 | 0.54% | $1,130 | 5.5% | +0.3% | 141 | 65 | $2,270 |
| Northampton County | $1,012 | 1.08% | $1,220 | 1.0% | -2.2% | 15 | 14 | $970 |
| Bertie County | $1,081 | 0.79% | $1,100 | 2.2% | -0.5% | 32 | 321 | $810 |
| Madison County | $1,866 | 0.48% | $1,100 | 8.3% | -1.2% | 117 | 52 | $2,040 |
| Chowan County | $1,331 | 0.71% | $1,400 | 0.0% | -0.1% | 48 | 99 | $1,790 |
| Yancey County | $1,050 | 0.48% | $1,120 | 1.0% | +2.2% | 107 | 99 | $1,760 |
| Swain County | $1,012 | 0.41% | $1,110 | 12.5% | -0.8% | 94 | 34 | $1,500 |
| Mitchell County | $1,012 | 0.52% | $900 | 1.8% | +0.9% | 44 | 22 | $1,590 |
| Washington County | $1,012 | 0.99% | $1,420 | 5.3% | +0.3% | 7 | 88 | $1,060 |
| Currituck County | $1,667 | 0.46% | $1,830 | 51.5% | -2.3% | 325 | 1,601 | $2,740 |
| Alleghany County | $1,048 | 0.57% | $1,100 | 6.0% | -2.9% | 82 | 10 | $1,580 |
| Perquimans County | $1,040 | 0.59% | $1,700 | 2.2% | -1.0% | 43 | 51 | $1,760 |
| Avery County | $1,012 | 0.38% | $1,230 | 15.6% | +2.9% | 151 | 164 | $1,900 |
| Clay County | $1,087 | 0.43% | $1,110 | 2.9% | -0.4% | 108 | 33 | $1,980 |
| Pamlico County | $1,088 | 0.56% | $1,590 | 0.6% | -0.1% | 97 | 2,767 | $1,640 |
| Jones County | $1,012 | 0.74% | $1,210 | 7.4% | -0.9% | 46 | 167 | $1,040 |
| Gates County | $1,665 | 0.76% | $1,280 | 2.8% | -1.9% | 12 | 20 | $1,330 |
| Camden County | $1,364 | 0.58% | $1,190 | 0.0% | -1.8% | 144 | 154 | $2,440 |
| Graham County | $1,012 | 0.57% | $1,170 | 14.2% | -0.9% | 28 | 2 | $1,290 |
| Hyde County | $1,012 | 0.79% | $950 | 19.4% | +2.8% | 35 | 893 | $970 |
| Tyrrell County | $1,012 | 0.81% | $1,790 | 3.6% | +3.5% | 18 | 502 | $1,350 |
Where these numbers come from
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents, in effect from October 1, 2026: the rent and utilities of a modest 2-bedroom unit, set for housing vouchers. It is not a house rent. Where HUD publishes by town (New England), the county shows the range. HUD Fair Market Rents
- Property tax, insurance, vacancy and home value
- Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Property tax is the median tax paid divided by the median home value of owner-occupied homes. Insurance is the median that owners with a mortgage report paying, not a landlord quote. Owner-occupied homes can carry a homestead exemption or assessment cap that a rental does not get, so a rental's tax can run higher, notably in states such as Florida and Texas. Rental vacancy is homes vacant for rent divided by all rental homes. Figures from too few homes are left blank. American Community Survey
- Jobs
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics: employed residents in August 2026 against the same month a year earlier, not seasonally adjusted. BLS LAUS
- Permits
- Census Building Permits Survey: new housing units authorized in 2025, all building sizes. Building Permits Survey
- Flood claims
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program claims with a loss in 2005 or later, and the net amount paid. Only insured buildings appear. Check a flood zone
These are screening figures for comparing places, not a quote, an appraisal or a loan offer. North Carolina total flood payments since 2005: $1.6 billion.