What is the median rent in Charlotte, NC?

The median gross rent in Charlotte, NC is $1,612 (±$16) a month, according to the US Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

That is across 177,227 rented homes; gross rent is the contract rent plus the utilities and fuels a renter pays separately.

In Charlotte, the median gross rent went from $1,135 in 2015–2019 to $1,612 in 2020–2024 (+42.0%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Figures last updated on .

Median gross rent
$1,612 (±$16)
Rented homes
177,227 (±2,679)
$2,000 or more
22.0%
Since 2015–2019
+42.0%

How much rent costs in Charlotte

Share of rented homes in each gross-rent range, 2020–2024
Monthly gross rentCharlotteMecklenburg CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Less than $5002.5% (±0.3 points)2.2%6.6%6.3%
$500 to $9998.3% (±0.6 points)8.0%27.5%20.2%
$1,000 to $1,49931.1% (±1.2 points)30.5%32.6%28.1%
$1,500 to $1,99936.2% (±1.1 points)36.8%21.4%21.1%
$2,000 to $2,49914.3% (±0.8 points)14.8%7.8%12.0%
$2,500 to $2,9994.4% (±0.4 points)4.4%2.2%5.5%
$3,000 or more3.3% (±0.4 points)3.4%1.8%6.8%

The most common range is $1,500 to $1,999, paid by 36.2% of renting households.

22.0% of rented homes in Charlotte cost $2,000 or more a month.

Charlotte against Mecklenburg County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
CharlotteMecklenburg CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Median gross rent$1,612 (±$16)$1,627 (±$14)$1,228 (±$5)$1,413
Rented homes paying rent177,227 (±2,679)204,545 (±2,813)1,337,899 (±8,405)42,849,984

In Charlotte, median gross rent is not measurably different from Mecklenburg County ($1,627).

It is also higher than in North Carolina ($1,228).

It is higher than the national figure ($1,413).

In Mecklenburg County, Charlotte ranks 5 of 7 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median gross rent.

Statewide, it ranks 52 of 586.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How rent in Charlotte has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
2015–20192020–2024Amount of changeVerdict
Median gross rent$1,135 (±$8)$1,612 (±$16)+42.0%Up after inflation
Households that rent47.1% (±0.6 points)49.0% (±0.7 points)+1.9 percentage pointsMeasurable increase
Rental vacancy rate6.5% (±0.6 points)7.8% (±0.6 points)+1.3 percentage pointsMeasurable increase

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median gross rent in places near Charlotte

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Charlotte
PlaceDistanceMedian gross rentCompared with this place
Charlotte—$1,612 (±$16)—
Pineville8.7 mi$1,552 (±$113)Not measurably different
Matthews9.2 mi$1,764 (±$42)Higher
Mint Hill10 mi$1,528 (±$182)Not measurably different
Stallings12 mi$1,882 (±$276)Not measurably different
Belmont12 mi$1,365 (±$118)Lower
Mount Holly12 mi$1,256 (±$115)Lower
Harrisburg12 mi$2,640 (±$310)Higher
Hemby Bridge14 mi$1,544 (±$224)Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Belmont, NC ($1,365), Mount Holly, NC ($1,256).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Matthews, NC ($1,764), Harrisburg, NC ($2,640).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median gross rent across Mecklenburg County, place by place

RankPlaceMedian gross rent
1Huntersville$1,834 (±$62)
2Matthews$1,764 (±$42)
3Cornelius$1,722 (±$56)
4Davidson$1,652 (±$200)
5Charlotte$1,612 (±$16)
6Pineville$1,552 (±$113)
7Mint Hill$1,528 (±$182)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Charlotte

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Questions about Charlotte

What is the average rent in Charlotte, NC?

The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in Charlotte is $1,612 (±$16) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.

How much has rent gone up in Charlotte?

In Charlotte, the median gross rent went from $1,135 in 2015–2019 to $1,612 in 2020–2024 (+42.0%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

How many rentals in Charlotte cost more than $2,000 a month?

22.0% of rented homes in Charlotte have a gross rent of $2,000 or more a month, and 2.5% cost less than $500.

Is rent in Charlotte higher than in Mecklenburg County?

In Charlotte, median gross rent is not measurably different from Mecklenburg County ($1,627).

It is also higher than in North Carolina ($1,228).

It is higher than the national figure ($1,413).

Is this the rent for an apartment listed today?

No: these are rents households reported paying across 2020–2024, not asking rents for vacant homes, which usually run higher.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Charlotte city, North Carolina (place:12000, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B25064_001E, B25064_001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP04_0126E, DP04_0126M, DP04_0127PE, DP04_0127PM, DP04_0128PE, DP04_0128PM, DP04_0129PE, DP04_0129PM, DP04_0130PE, DP04_0130PM, DP04_0131PE, DP04_0131PM, DP04_0132PE, DP04_0132PM, DP04_0133PE, DP04_0133PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.

Figures last updated on .

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