County FMR · HUD FY2026

Lincoln County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lincoln County, NC - 1% below the US average.

$953
1-bedroom FMR
$1,054
2-bedroom FMR
-9.9%
YoY change
-1%
vs US avg

The verdict

Lincoln is the 49th cheapest of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,447 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has fallen 9.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#1,447
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#49
cheapest of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
-3%
vs the state average
$38,120
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.7%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (40.5%).

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

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Lincoln County, North Carolina is $953 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,054/mo and a studio is $917/mo. This is 1% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% below the North Carolina average of $981.

Rent decreased9.9% from FY 2025 ($1,058), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $38,120/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 37.7% of the 7,683 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in North Carolina. Population: 87,933. Population grew 11.0% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than North Carolina's statewide growth of +4.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area LINCOLN·COUNTY·NC·NC

Lincoln County, NC: $953/mo 1BR · #1447 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NC
  • 1BR-FMR $953
  • 2BR-FMR $1,054
  • RANK-MID #1,447
  • YOY-DOWN -9.9%
  • VSUS-NEAR -1%
  • VS-ST-NEAR -3% NC
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-MID 88K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Wake County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $858–$1,048
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Wake ($643 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $932 · US avg: $893
$917/mo
↓ 9.9% YoY -2% vs state +3% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $981 · US avg: $959
$953/mo
↓ 9.9% YoY -3% vs state -1% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $1,175
$1,054/mo
↓ 10.0% YoY -9% vs state -10% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,499 · US avg: $1,525
$1,461/mo
↓ 10.0% YoY -3% vs state -4% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,780 · US avg: $1,756
$1,728/mo
↓ 0.2% YoY -3% vs state -2% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,018
$917
$-101 (-9.9%)
1 Bedroom $1,058
$953
$-105 (-9.9%)
2 Bedroom $1,171
$1,054
$-117 (-10.0%)
3 Bedroom $1,623
$1,461
$-162 (-10.0%)
4 Bedroom $1,731
$1,728
$-3 (-0.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
14%
Affordable
Need $36,680/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.6%
Affordable
Need $38,120/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
16.1%
Affordable
Need $42,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
22.3%
Affordable
Need $58,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
26.4%
Affordable
Need $69,120/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%16.1%
Lincoln County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $78,490 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View North Carolina rent burden →

Where Lincoln sits among every US county

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

$1,054 higher than 54% 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 Lincoln compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other North Carolina counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Lincoln 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), Lincoln County (this county) ($953).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $953/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 8.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,190 11.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,860 14% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,490 14.2% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $58,030 19.7% Affordable
Electricians $54,070 21.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $49,400 23.1% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,580 23.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,390 23.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $39,870 28.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $39,530 28.9% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $32,630 35% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $30,090 38% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,760 39.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $28,230 40.5% 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 Lincoln County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lincoln (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 44.8% overall, from $658 to $953. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 21.6% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $953
Lincoln County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓9.9% $917 $953 $1,054
FY 2025 ↑9.1% $1,018 $1,058 $1,171
FY 2024 ↑21.6% $944 $970 $1,089
FY 2023 ↑18.6% $794 $798 $924
FY 2022 ↓1.3% $669 $673 $816
FY 2021 ↑3.6% $678 $682 $843
FY 2020 $654 $658 $800
Total change (6yr): +44.8%
Annualized: +6.4%/yr
1 BR: $658 → $953

Part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metro Area

Lincoln County is a outlying county of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, alongside 10 other metro-area counties.

Lincoln County ranks #8 of 11 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Mecklenburg County ($1,538), York County ($1,538), Union County ($1,538), Gaston County ($1,538), Cabarrus County ($1,538), Iredell County ($1,222), Rowan County ($958), Lincoln County (this county) ($953), Lancaster County ($922), Anson County ($867), Chester County ($816).

Mecklenburg County
1 BR: $1,538/mo
York County
1 BR: $1,538/mo
Union County
1 BR: $1,538/mo
Gaston County
1 BR: $1,538/mo
Cabarrus County
1 BR: $1,538/mo
Iredell County
1 BR: $1,222/mo
Rowan County
1 BR: $958/mo
Lincoln County (this county)
1 BR: $953/mo
Lancaster County
1 BR: $922/mo
Anson County
1 BR: $867/mo
Chester County
1 BR: $816/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lincoln County, both outside North Carolina so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside NC (FY2026).

Putnam County
WV · 2 BR $1,054/mo
Carter County
OK · 2 BR $1,054/mo
Accomack County
VA · 2 BR $1,054/mo
Cheboygan County
MI · 2 BR $1,054/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside NC).

Stanley County
SD · 16.1% of income · 2 BR $1,034/mo
Lyon County
KY · 16.1% of income · 2 BR $866/mo
Golden Valley County
ND · 16.1% of income · 2 BR $1,027/mo
Logan County
NE · 16.1% of income · 2 BR $961/mo

Nearby Counties in North Carolina

Largest counties by population in North Carolina

Showing the 8 largest of 99 other counties 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 Lincoln County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lincoln County is $953 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,054 and a studio is $917.
How does Lincoln County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Lincoln County is 1% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $953 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lincoln County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lincoln County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,054 ranks #1,447 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 Lincoln County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $38,120 ($3,177/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County.
Is rent going up or down in Lincoln County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County decreased by 9.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,058 to $953.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lincoln 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 $953/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lincoln County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lincoln County went from $658 in FY 2020 to $953 in FY 2026, a total change of +44.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lincoln County? ▼
In Lincoln County, the FY 2026 FMR of $953/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 Lincoln County? ▼
For Lincoln County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($953/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.