North Carolina Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
South region · 83 HUD FMR areas
In FY2026, North Carolina has 83 HUD Fair Market Rent areas with a median 2-bedroom FMR of $998/month. Across the state, the 2-bedroom FMR ranges from $925 (Ashe County, NC) to $1,835 (Asheville, NC). That median is $23 above the national median FMR of $975, ranking North Carolina #30 of 51 states (1 = most expensive). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median.
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
North Carolina median FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Median FMR (per month) |
|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $799 |
| 1-bedroom | $823 |
| 2-bedroom | $998 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,307 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,552 |
These are medians across the state's areas; an individual metro can be much higher or lower. The population-weighted average 2-bedroom FMR (weighting each area by its population) is $1,389.
Every FMR area in North Carolina
| FMR area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $1,469 | $1,538 | $1,686 | $2,076 | $2,637 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | $1,492 | $1,512 | $1,713 | $2,376 | $2,797 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $1,524 | $1,596 | $1,750 | $2,196 | $2,936 |
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Detailed pages: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC · Raleigh-Cary, NC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Fair Market Rent in North Carolina for FY2026?
North Carolina has 83 HUD Fair Market Rent areas. The median 2-bedroom FMR across them is $998 per month, ranging from $925 (Ashe County, NC) to $1,835 (Asheville, NC). HUD sets FMRs by metro/county, not statewide, so use the area closest to where you live. Verify at huduser.gov.
Which North Carolina area has the highest and lowest FMR?
In FY2026 the highest 2-bedroom FMR in North Carolina is $1,835 in Asheville, NC, and the lowest is $925 in Ashe County, NC. Rents are highest in the largest metros and lowest in rural counties.
Is North Carolina expensive for renters compared with other states?
North Carolina's median 2-bedroom FMR of $998 is $23 above the national median FMR of $975 (+2%). It ranks #30 of 51 states and DC by median 2-bedroom FMR (1 = most expensive).
How does FMR relate to Section 8 vouchers in North Carolina?
Public housing agencies in North Carolina set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards at roughly 90–110% of the local FMR. Your subsidy covers the gap between that standard and about 30% of your adjusted income. Contact the PHA for your county for exact figures.
Keep exploring
Source & accuracy
FY2026 Fair Market Rents, U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development — HUD USER (public domain). State medians and ranges are computed over HUD's area-level FMRs (see methodology). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median; verify on huduser.gov.
Last updated: 2026-06-20