How many renters in Raleigh, NC pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Raleigh, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

52.1% (±2.3 points) of renting households in Raleigh, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

41.1% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 30.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 52.1% (±2.3 points)
Paying 35% or more: 41.1% (±2.0 points)
Median share of income: 30.9% (±0.8 points)

Rent as a share of income in Raleigh

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Raleigh	Wake County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	10.6% (±1.0 points)	13.4%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	12.3% (±1.0 points)	13.0%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.3% (±1.2 points)	13.7%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.7% (±1.1 points)	11.6%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	11.0% (±1.1 points)	10.1%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	41.1% (±2.0 points)	38.1%	39.6%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Raleigh against Wake County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Raleigh	Wake County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	52.1% (±2.3 points)	48.2% (±1.6 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	41.1% (±2.0 points)	38.1% (±1.4 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	30.9% (±0.8 points)	29.3% (±0.5 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$59,538 (±$2,334)	$65,172 (±$1,743)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,572 (±$23)	$1,623 (±$16)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Raleigh, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Wake County (48.2%).

It is also higher than in North Carolina (48.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Wake County, Raleigh ranks 5 of 12 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 278 of 650.

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Raleigh

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Raleigh
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Raleigh	—	52.1% (±2.3 points)	—
Knightdale	8.6 mi	44.6% (±11.7 points)	Not measurably different
Garner	9.9 mi	53.3% (±11.2 points)	Not measurably different
Cary	11 mi	38.2% (±3.7 points)	Lower
Morrisville	11 mi	24.8% (±5.5 points)	Lower
Rolesville	12 mi	53.8% (±44.8 points)	Not measurably different
Wake Forest	12 mi	46.3% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
Apex	15 mi	44.2% (±6.6 points)	Lower
Clayton	16 mi	54.2% (±10.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Cary, NC (38.2%), Morrisville, NC (24.8%), Apex, NC (44.2%).

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Wake County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Zebulon	82.4% (±19.0 points)
2	Wendell	54.1% (±21.2 points)
3	Rolesville	53.8% (±44.8 points)
4	Garner	53.3% (±11.2 points)
5	Raleigh	52.1% (±2.3 points)
6	Holly Springs	48.9% (±9.6 points)
7	Wake Forest	46.3% (±9.1 points)
8	Knightdale	44.6% (±11.7 points)
9	Apex	44.2% (±6.6 points)
10	Fuquay-Varina	40.9% (±10.2 points)
11	Cary	38.2% (±3.7 points)

Showing 11 of 12 places in Wake County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Raleigh

Are renters in Raleigh rent-burdened?

52.1% of renting households in Raleigh pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Raleigh spend on rent?

The median renting household in Raleigh, NC spends 30.9% (±0.8 points) of its household income on gross rent.

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Raleigh city, North Carolina (place:55000, in state:37).

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

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.