County FMR · HUD FY2026

Wake County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Wake County, NC - 66% above the US average.

$1,596
1-bedroom FMR
$1,750
2-bedroom FMR
+0.3%
YoY change
+66%
vs US avg

The verdict

Wake is the 1st most expensive of 100 counties in North Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #252 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#252
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#1
most expensive of 100 in North Carolina (2BR)
+63%
vs the state average
$63,840
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (14.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (67.8%); only 4 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

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

Wake County, North Carolina carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,596 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,750/mo and a studio is $1,524/mo. That's 66% above the national benchmark of $959 and 63% above the North Carolina average of $981.

Rent increased0.3% from FY 2025 ($1,592), roughly tracking inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $63,840/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 45.6% of the 158,527 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: 1,132,103. Population grew 10.0% 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 WAKE·COUNTY·NC·NC

Wake County, NC: $1,596/mo 1BR · #252 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA NC
  • 1BR-FMR $1,596
  • 2BR-FMR $1,750
  • RANK-UPPER #252
  • YOY-FLAT +0.3%
  • VSUS-HIGH +66%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +63% NC
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MEGA 1.1M
  • PHOTO-NEAR Mecklenburg County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,436–$1,756
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Mecklenburg ($58 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $932 · US avg: $893
$1,524/mo
↓ 0.6% YoY +64% vs state +71% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $981 · US avg: $959
$1,596/mo
↑ 0.3% YoY +63% vs state +66% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,161 · US avg: $1,175
$1,750/mo
↓ 0.7% YoY +51% vs state +49% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,499 · US avg: $1,525
$2,196/mo
↑ 0.2% YoY +46% vs state +44% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,780 · US avg: $1,756
$2,936/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY +65% vs state +67% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,533
$1,524
$-9 (-0.6%)
1 Bedroom $1,592
$1,596
+$4 (+0.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,763
$1,750
$-13 (-0.7%)
3 Bedroom $2,192
$2,196
+$4 (+0.2%)
4 Bedroom $2,961
$2,936
$-25 (-0.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
18%
Affordable
Need $60,960/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.8%
Affordable
Need $63,840/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
20.6%
Affordable
Need $70,000/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
25.9%
Affordable
Need $87,840/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
34.6%
Burdened
Need $117,440/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%20.6%
Wake County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $101,763 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View North Carolina rent burden →

Where Wake sits among every US county

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

$1,750 Top 8% higher than 92% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Wake compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other North Carolina counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Wake is highlighted. Nearby North Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Wake County (this county) ($1,596), Mecklenburg County ($1,538), Durham County ($1,507), Buncombe County ($1,429), Guilford County ($1,213), Cumberland County ($1,113), Forsyth County ($1,082).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,596/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using North Carolina BLS wages?

Occupation NC Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $131,000 14.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $99,190 19.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,860 23.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $80,490 23.8% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $58,030 33% Stretched
Electricians $54,070 35.4% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,580 38.6% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $49,400 38.8% Stretched
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,390 38.8% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $39,870 48% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $39,530 48.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $32,630 58.7% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $30,090 63.6% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $28,760 66.6% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $28,230 67.8% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (North Carolina) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Wake (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.2% overall, from $1,022 to $1,596. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,596
Wake County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.3% $1,524 $1,596 $1,750
FY 2025 ↑8.6% $1,533 $1,592 $1,763
FY 2024 ↑17.3% $1,427 $1,466 $1,646
FY 2023 ↑16.5% $1,213 $1,250 $1,412
FY 2022 ↑1.9% $1,038 $1,073 $1,223
FY 2021 ↑3.0% $1,013 $1,053 $1,200
FY 2020 $962 $1,022 $1,163
Total change (6yr): +56.2%
Annualized: +7.7%/yr
1 BR: $1,022 → $1,596

Part of the Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area

Wake County is a central county of the Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Wake County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Johnston County ($1,596), Franklin County ($1,596), Wake County (this county) ($1,596).

Johnston County
1 BR: $1,596/mo
Franklin County
1 BR: $1,596/mo
Wake County (this county)
1 BR: $1,596/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Wake 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).

Worcester County
MA · 2 BR $1,749/mo
Broadwater County
MT · 2 BR $1,748/mo
Salt Lake County
UT · 2 BR $1,747/mo
Tompkins County
NY · 2 BR $1,753/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Lumpkin County
GA · 20.6% of income · 2 BR $1,245/mo
Houghton County
MI · 20.6% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Burlington County
NJ · 20.6% of income · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Wheeler County
NE · 20.6% 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.

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
Gaston County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 228,972
View all counties in North Carolina →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Wake County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Wake County is $1,596 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,750 and a studio is $1,524.
How does Wake County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Wake County is 66% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,596 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Wake County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Wake County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,750 ranks #252 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Wake County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $63,840 ($5,320/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Wake County.
Is rent going up or down in Wake County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wake County increased by 0.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,592 to $1,596.
Which jobs can afford rent in Wake 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 $1,596/mo. 4 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Wake County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wake County went from $1,022 in FY 2020 to $1,596 in FY 2026, a total change of +56.2% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Wake County? ▼
In Wake County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,596/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 Wake County? ▼
For Wake County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,596/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.