North Carolina

As rents climb, where are the most expensive, least expensive locations in NC?

Published

2 years ago

March 18, 2024

As rents climb, where are the most expensive, least expensive locations in NC?

In the past five years, Fair Market Rent for Asheville has skyrocketed. The estimated rent for a one-bedroom apartment has increased by 78% and has made the mountainous metropolitan area’s cost of housing as the highest in North Carolina.

Yet, Asheville is not the only North Carolina city facing steep rent increases, as well as the rapidly rising cost of homeownership. The Raleigh and Charlotte metros both saw increases of 54% in Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom apartment, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Here’s a breakdown of where some of the most and least expensive areas to rent in North Carolina are.

Most expensive areas to live in? Metros and tourist towns.

Perhaps a no-brainer, North Carolina metros and tourist towns are the most expensive to live in. Asheville’s Metropolitan Statistical Area tops that list in every metric — meaning the area is estimated to be the most expensive from those looking for efficiency apartments to those looking to rent a four-bedroom house.

Yet, there are other areas which are just as expensive in certain metrics. Here are the most expensive metros North Carolina if you are looking for a two-bedroom apartment:

Asheville (Asheville, Henderson, Madison counties): $1,680 a month.
Raleigh (Franklin, Johnston, Wake counties): $1,646 a month.
Durham-Chapel Hill (Chatham, Durham, Orange counties): $1,631 a month.
Charlotte (Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union counties): $1,554 a month.
Wilmington (New Hanover County): $1,515

Least expensive counties for families?

As for those looking for a place that is more affordable, you may have to look outside of population centers — in some cases, a fair distance away from one. Of North Carolina’s 100 counties, 26 of them have the lowest estimate of $856 a month for a two bedroom.

For North Carolina families, a few counties halve the cost of Asheville’s FMR for three-bedroom units. Here are the 10 least expensive counties for those looking to rent three-bedrooms in North Carolina:

Columbus County: $1,035
Washington County: $1,035
Alleghany County: $1,041
Surry County: $1,053
Mitchell County: $1,053
McDowell County: $1,059
Halifax County: $1,070
Sampson County: $1,074
Robeson County: $1,081
Warren County: $1,089

Families moving to a new city? What do zip codes say?

Especially if you are moving for a new job or looking to relocate to work at one of the several major UNC System universities, you are likely to wind up searching for housing in a metro area.

During that search, there is a high chance you may stumble across certain areas of major cities that are more expensive than others — you might even be able to tell a difference based on where you look.

A few of these areas include a major tourist beach town and an area just outside of Asheville that has some of Western North Carolina’s most expensive mountaintop mansions. According to HUD, the homes and apartments in the following areas are the most expensive to rent out in North Carolina:

28480, near Wrightsville Beach: $3,000
28075, near Harrisburg and just outside of Charlotte: $2,900
28203, or in Charlotte’s South End Neighborhood: $2,900
28803, or Biltmore Forest: $2,760
28202, or Downtown Charlotte: $2,730

What is ‘Fair Market Rent?’

All of this data was sourced from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development website estimates for FMR for 2024.

Fair Market Rent, or FMR, estimates are produced by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local public housing authorities. The number indicates how much it costs to rent a moderately-priced dwelling unit and determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program.

The number is calculated by taking the 40th percentile of gross rents for typical, non-substandard rental units occupied by recent movers, according to HUD. That means an area’s Fair Market Rent reflects that 40% of rental units cost as much or less than the estimated Fair Market Rent.

You can learn more about how Fair Market Rent is calculated at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html.

More: The historic Flat Iron building to reopen as boutique hotel, reservations now open

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Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

NC children of disabled veterans see expanded cuts to scholarships

Published

9 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

NC children of disabled veterans see expanded cuts to scholarships

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — A state scholarship aimed at giving the children of disabled veterans a chance at a college education is facing budget cuts, leaving students wondering what’s next.

In June, ABC11 reported that the North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans was cutting its program for future applications for children of disabled veterans in Tier 2, which covers veterans 20-90% disabled.

Now, ABC11 has learned that cuts are going a step further. Current scholars are learning their benefits will be cut beginning the spring semester, prorated by 25%.

Victoria Morales still remembers learning her UNC dreams would become a reality thanks to her dad’s service. Her dad is fully disabled.

To lawmakers. I would say fulfill your promise. We, the people, are being affected by this. And this is real.

– William Dishmon, student, son of a veteran

“He was relieved that his service actually meant something for his kids,” she said. “Giving that amount of time to something, believing so hard in your government and so hard in the things it can do for you, be promised that your children will be taken care of, and then when you’re daughter’s almost done, it’s just over now.”

The cut for current scholars is leaving students and their families figuring things out, including William Dishmon and his dad.

“He had to quit his job, and it was hard for him to find, you know, a lower-stress job for him. But it was a big impact on our family,” Dishmon said.

Isabella McGee’s sister couldn’t get the scholarship because of the cuts to future scholarships, and now she’s wondering if she can finish nursing school with the scholarship she has.

“Honestly, it’s just the uncertainty because we don’t know what the next semester’s going to look like, we don’t know what senior year’s going to look like, and that just puts an excess stressor on our life on top of being a student,” McGee said.

In the meantime, students had a message for lawmakers: To not turn their backs on those who served.

“To lawmakers. I would say fulfill your promise. We, the people, are being affected by this. And this is real. This is a real situation that will affect multiple students across North Carolina,” Dishmon said.

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North Carolina

55 new troopers graduate from North Carolina State Highway Patrol training

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

55 new troopers graduate from North Carolina State Highway Patrol training

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol celebrated the graduation of 55 new troopers.

The ceremony was held at Shepard’s Church in Cary. The 166th Basic Highway Patrol School graduates completed a rigorous 15-week training program covering firearms, vehicle operations, crash investigation, emergency response, physical fitness, de-escalation, and state law.

Chief Justice Paul Newby administered the oath of office, while Governor Josh Stein, the guest speaker, commended the graduates for their dedication to public service.

“It takes a special person to work in law enforcement,” Stein said. “I thank each of you for your commitment to protecting the public and will continue to advocate for the pay and respect law enforcement officers deserve.”

Colonel Freddy L. Johnson Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol, praised the graduates for their determination and character.

“Their willingness to earn the title of Trooper reflects their desire to serve the communities of this state,” he said.

The new troopers will begin their field training on December 10 at their assigned duty stations.

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North Carolina

Lincoln County man sentenced for 2023 murder of girlfriend’s mother

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2025

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Lincoln County man sentenced for 2023 murder of girlfriend’s mother

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Lincoln County man was sentenced this week for the death of a 63-year-old woman in October of 2023.

Michael Steven Ricker has been charged with the death of Lesa Armstrong Rose, his girlfriend’s mother. He was also out on bond at the time for shooting and injuring her father.

He pled guilty to a charge of second-degree murder, amended from the original charge of first-degree murder.

Riker was sentenced to 397 to 489 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections with 760 days credit for time served.

In related charges from Catawba County that will run concurrent with the Lincoln County charges are 84 to 113 months for discharging a firearm into an occupied property and 96 to 125 months for attempted first-degree murder.