County FMR · HUD FY2026

Carteret County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Carteret County, NC - 5% below the US average.

$913
1-bedroom FMR
$1,198
2-bedroom FMR
-1.7%
YoY change
-5%
vs US avg

The verdict

Carteret is the 35th most expensive of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,006 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,006
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#35
most expensive of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
-7%
vs the state average
$36,520
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.4%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (38.8%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Carteret County, NC. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Carteret County, North Carolina at $913 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,198/mo and a studio is $907/mo. This is 5% lower than the national average of $959 and 7% below the North Carolina average of $981.

Rent decreased1.7% from FY 2025 ($929), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $36,520/year for a 1-bedroom.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 68,353. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.4%, Census ACS). That's slower than North Carolina's statewide growth of +4.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Carteret County

HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.

According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Carteret County's 2-bedroom of $1,198 ranks #1,006 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the middle half of HUD counties.

Carteret County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (5% below the US average of $959), while sitting 7% below the North Carolina average of $981. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$929 in FY 2025 to $913 in FY 2026, a change of -1.7%, which suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $913, the 30% rule points to $36,520/year (about $3,043/month) versus this county's median household income of $70,235. A 2-bedroom at $1,198 pushes the threshold higher.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $932 · US avg: $893
$907/mo
↓ 1.7% YoY -3% vs state +2% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $981 · US avg: $959
$913/mo
↓ 1.7% YoY -7% vs state -5% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $1,175
$1,198/mo
↓ 1.7% YoY +3% vs state +2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,499 · US avg: $1,525
$1,541/mo
↓ 2.7% YoY +3% vs state +1% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,780 · US avg: $1,756
$1,966/mo
↓ 1.8% YoY +10% vs state +12% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $923
$907
$-16 (-1.7%)
1 Bedroom $929
$913
$-16 (-1.7%)
2 Bedroom $1,219
$1,198
$-21 (-1.7%)
3 Bedroom $1,584
$1,541
$-43 (-2.7%)
4 Bedroom $2,002
$1,966
$-36 (-1.8%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$36,520
$3,043/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$47,920
$3,993/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Carteret County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
15.5%
Affordable
Need $36,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
15.6%
Affordable
Need $36,520/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.5%
Affordable
Need $47,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.3%
Affordable
Need $61,640/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
33.6%
Burdened
Need $78,640/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%20.5%
Carteret County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $70,235 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View North Carolina rent burden →

Where Carteret sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,198 Top 32% higher than 68% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Carteret compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other North Carolina counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Carteret is highlighted. Nearby North Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Wake County ($1,596), Mecklenburg County ($1,538), Durham County ($1,507), Guilford County ($1,213), Cumberland County ($1,113), Forsyth County ($1,082), Carteret County (this county) ($913).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $913/mo compares to North Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NC Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $131,000 8.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,190 11% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,860 13.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,490 13.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $58,030 18.9% Affordable
Electricians $54,070 20.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,580 22.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $49,400 22.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,390 22.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,870 27.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,530 27.7% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $32,630 33.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,090 36.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,760 38.1% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,230 38.8% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (North Carolina) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Carteret County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Carteret (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.4% overall, from $628 to $913. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +12.5% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $913
Carteret County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.7% $907 $913 $1,198
FY 2025 ↑12.5% $923 $929 $1,219
FY 2024 ↑8.4% $820 $826 $1,085
FY 2023 ↑9.5% $757 $762 $1,003
FY 2022 ↑8.4% $692 $696 $916
FY 2021 ↑2.2% $638 $642 $846
FY 2020 $624 $628 $827
Total change (6yr): +45.4%
Annualized: +6.4%/yr
1 BR: $628 → $913

Part of the Morehead City, NC Micro Area

Carteret County is a central county of the Morehead City, NC micropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in North Carolina

Largest counties by population in North Carolina

Wake County
1 BR: $1,596/mo Pop: 1,132,103
Mecklenburg County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 1,115,403
Guilford County
1 BR: $1,213/mo Pop: 539,557
Forsyth County
1 BR: $1,082/mo Pop: 383,739
Cumberland County
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 335,207
Durham County
1 BR: $1,507/mo Pop: 325,101
Buncombe County
1 BR: $1,429/mo Pop: 269,449
Union County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 240,109
View all counties in North Carolina →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Carteret County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Carteret County is $913 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,198 and a studio is $907.
How does Carteret County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Carteret County is 5% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $913 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Carteret County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Carteret County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,198 ranks #1,006 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Carteret County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $36,520 ($3,043/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Carteret County.
Is rent going up or down in Carteret County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Carteret County decreased by 1.7% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $929 to $913.
Which jobs can afford rent in Carteret County? ▼
Based on North Carolina BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $913/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Carteret County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Carteret County went from $628 in FY 2020 to $913 in FY 2026, a total change of +45.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Carteret County? ▼
In Carteret County, the FY 2026 FMR of $913/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Carteret County? ▼
For Carteret County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($913/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Carteret's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $913 implies about $36,520/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Carteret can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.