Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly)

Buncombe County had the highest fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly) of 100 counties in 2023, at $1,466. Yancey County had the lowest, at $771. The median was $890. Source: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest1,466Buncombe County
Lowest771Yancey County
Median890100 counties

Map of counties, 2023

Alamance County: 1,023 USDAlexander County: 791 USDAlleghany County: 780 USDAnson County: 964 USDAshe County: 771 USDAvery County: 936 USDBeaufort County: 777 USDBertie County: 771 USDBladen County: 771 USDBrunswick County: 953 USDBuncombe County: 1,466 USDBurke County: 791 USDCabarrus County: 1,333 USDCaldwell County: 791 USDCamden County: 884 USDCarteret County: 1,003 USDCaswell County: 771 USDCatawba County: 791 USDChatham County: 1,315 USDCherokee County: 812 USDChowan County: 921 USDClay County: 844 USDCleveland County: 771 USDColumbus County: 771 USDCraven County: 1,092 USDCumberland County: 1,037 USDCurrituck County: 1,329 USDDare County: 1,151 USDDavidson County: 837 USDDavie County: 969 USDDuplin County: 826 USDDurham County: 1,315 USDEdgecombe County: 890 USDForsyth County: 969 USDFranklin County: 1,412 USDGaston County: 1,333 USDGates County: 923 USDGraham County: 771 USDGranville County: 1,012 USDGreene County: 771 USDGuilford County: 1,039 USDHalifax County: 843 USDHarnett County: 943 USDHaywood County: 1,009 USDHenderson County: 1,466 USDHertford County: 878 USDHoke County: 871 USDHyde County: 786 USDIredell County: 1,034 USDJackson County: 778 USDJohnston County: 1,412 USDJones County: 771 USDLee County: 894 USDLenoir County: 771 USDLincoln County: 924 USDMcDowell County: 771 USDMacon County: 881 USDMadison County: 1,466 USDMartin County: 771 USDMecklenburg County: 1,333 USDMitchell County: 771 USDMontgomery County: 771 USDMoore County: 913 USDNash County: 890 USDNew Hanover County: 1,259 USDNorthampton County: 861 USDOnslow County: 951 USDOrange County: 1,315 USDPamlico County: 1,004 USDPasquotank County: 936 USDPender County: 988 USDPerquimans County: 905 USDPerson County: 843 USDPitt County: 1,015 USDPolk County: 924 USDRandolph County: 1,039 USDRichmond County: 771 USDRobeson County: 771 USDRockingham County: 815 USDRowan County: 980 USDRutherford County: 771 USDSampson County: 771 USDScotland County: 771 USDStanly County: 815 USDStokes County: 969 USDSurry County: 771 USDSwain County: 771 USDTransylvania County: 995 USDTyrrell County: 844 USDUnion County: 1,333 USDVance County: 804 USDWake County: 1,412 USDWarren County: 771 USDWashington County: 771 USDWatauga County: 1,040 USDWayne County: 918 USDWilkes County: 771 USDWilson County: 829 USDYadkin County: 969 USDYancey County: 771 USD
  • Under 800
  • 800 to 890
  • 890 to 970
  • 970 to 1,100
  • 1,100 and over
USD, 2023. Source: HUD, HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Buncombe County: 1,466 USDBuncombe County1,466Henderson County: 1,466 USDHenderson County1,466Madison County: 1,466 USDMadison County1,466Franklin County: 1,412 USDFranklin County1,412Johnston County: 1,412 USDJohnston County1,412Wake County: 1,412 USDWake County1,412Cabarrus County: 1,333 USDCabarrus County1,333Gaston County: 1,333 USDGaston County1,333Mecklenburg County: 1,333 USDMecklenburg County1,333Union County: 1,333 USDUnion County1,333Currituck County: 1,329 USDCurrituck County1,329Chatham County: 1,315 USDChatham County1,315Durham County: 1,315 USDDurham County1,315Orange County: 1,315 USDOrange County1,315New Hanover County: 1,259 USDNew Hanover County1,259Dare County: 1,151 USDDare County1,151Craven County: 1,092 USDCraven County1,092Watauga County: 1,040 USDWatauga County1,040Guilford County: 1,039 USDGuilford County1,039Randolph County: 1,039 USDRandolph County1,039Cumberland County: 1,037 USDCumberland County1,037Iredell County: 1,034 USDIredell County1,034Alamance County: 1,023 USDAlamance County1,023Pitt County: 1,015 USDPitt County1,015Granville County: 1,012 USDGranville County1,012Haywood County: 1,009 USDHaywood County1,009Pamlico County: 1,004 USDPamlico County1,004Carteret County: 1,003 USDCarteret County1,003Transylvania County: 995 USDTransylvania County995Pender County: 988 USDPender County988Rowan County: 980 USDRowan County980Davie County: 969 USDDavie County969Forsyth County: 969 USDForsyth County969Stokes County: 969 USDStokes County969Yadkin County: 969 USDYadkin County969Anson County: 964 USDAnson County964Brunswick County: 953 USDBrunswick County953Onslow County: 951 USDOnslow County951Harnett County: 943 USDHarnett County943Avery County: 936 USDAvery County936Buncombe County: 1,466 USDBuncombe County1,466Henderson County: 1,466 USDHenderson County1,466Madison County: 1,466 USDMadison County1,466Franklin County: 1,412 USDFranklin County1,412Johnston County: 1,412 USDJohnston County1,412Wake County: 1,412 USDWake County1,412Cabarrus County: 1,333 USDCabarrus County1,333Gaston County: 1,333 USDGaston County1,333Mecklenburg County: 1,333 USDMecklenburg County1,333Union County: 1,333 USDUnion County1,333Currituck County: 1,329 USDCurrituck County1,329Chatham County: 1,315 USDChatham County1,315Durham County: 1,315 USDDurham County1,315Orange County: 1,315 USDOrange County1,315New Hanover County: 1,259 USDNew Hanover County1,259Dare County: 1,151 USDDare County1,151Craven County: 1,092 USDCraven County1,092Watauga County: 1,040 USDWatauga County1,040Guilford County: 1,039 USDGuilford County1,039Randolph County: 1,039 USDRandolph County1,039Cumberland County: 1,037 USDCumberland County1,037Iredell County: 1,034 USDIredell County1,034Alamance County: 1,023 USDAlamance County1,023Pitt County: 1,015 USDPitt County1,015Granville County: 1,012 USDGranville County1,012Haywood County: 1,009 USDHaywood County1,009Pamlico County: 1,004 USDPamlico County1,004Carteret County: 1,003 USDCarteret County1,003Transylvania County: 995 USDTransylvania County995Pender County: 988 USDPender County988Rowan County: 980 USDRowan County980Davie County: 969 USDDavie County969Forsyth County: 969 USDForsyth County969Stokes County: 969 USDStokes County969Yadkin County: 969 USDYadkin County969Anson County: 964 USDAnson County964Brunswick County: 953 USDBrunswick County953Onslow County: 951 USDOnslow County951Harnett County: 943 USDHarnett County943Avery County: 936 USDAvery County936
USD. Source: HUD, HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023
USD
Change on 2022
1Buncombe County1,466+6.4%
1Henderson County1,466+6.4%
1Madison County1,466+6.4%
4Franklin County1,412+15.5%
4Johnston County1,412+15.5%
4Wake County1,412+15.5%
7Cabarrus County1,333+15.4%
7Gaston County1,333+15.4%
7Mecklenburg County1,333+15.4%
7Union County1,333+15.4%
11Currituck County1,329+11.4%
12Chatham County1,315+9.7%
12Durham County1,315+9.7%
12Orange County1,315+9.7%
15New Hanover County1,259+8.2%
16Dare County1,151+9.2%
17Craven County1,092+11%
18Watauga County1,040+13.9%
19Guilford County1,039+9.1%
19Randolph County1,039+9.1%
21Cumberland County1,037+13.6%
22Iredell County1,034+11.8%
23Alamance County1,023+14.8%
24Pitt County1,015+11.5%
25Granville County1,012+17.3%
26Haywood County1,009+7.7%
27Pamlico County1,004+18.5%
28Carteret County1,003+9.5%
29Transylvania County995+6.4%
30Pender County988+9.5%
31Rowan County980+12.1%
32Davie County969+19.9%
32Forsyth County969+19.9%
32Stokes County969+19.9%
32Yadkin County969+19.9%
36Anson County964+19.8%
37Brunswick County953+2.9%
38Onslow County951+8.6%
39Harnett County943+10.2%
40Avery County936+9.6%
40Pasquotank County936+7%
42Lincoln County924+13.2%
42Polk County924+12.3%
44Gates County923+16.1%
45Chowan County921+7.5%
46Wayne County918+8.1%
47Moore County913+7.7%
48Perquimans County905+5%
49Lee County894+8.5%
50Edgecombe County890+9.5%
50Nash County890+9.5%
52Camden County884-10%
53Macon County881+8.6%
54Hertford County878+7.1%
55Hoke County871+13%
56Northampton County861+13.7%
57Clay County844+2.8%
57Tyrrell County844+5.5%
59Halifax County843+3.7%
59Person County843+8.1%
61Davidson County837+15.6%
62Wilson County829+0.7%
63Duplin County826+12.1%
64Rockingham County815+7.9%
64Stanly County815+9.1%
66Cherokee County812+5.9%
67Vance County804+8.5%
68Alexander County791+9.3%
68Burke County791+9.3%
68Caldwell County791+9.3%
68Catawba County791+9.3%
72Hyde County786+6.4%
73Alleghany County780+5.7%
74Jackson County778+7.2%
75Beaufort County777+7.3%
76Ashe County771+6.5%
76Bertie County771+6.5%
76Bladen County771+6.5%
76Caswell County771+6.5%
76Cleveland County771+6.5%
76Columbus County771+6.5%
76Graham County771+6.5%
76Greene County771+6.5%
76Jones County771+6.5%
76Lenoir County771+1.4%
76Martin County771+6.5%
76McDowell County771+6.5%
76Mitchell County771+6.5%
76Montgomery County771+6.5%
76Richmond County771+6.5%
76Robeson County771+6.5%
76Rutherford County771+6.5%
76Sampson County771+6.5%
76Scotland County771+6.5%
76Surry County771+6.5%
76Swain County771+6.5%
76Warren County771+6.5%
76Washington County771+6.5%
76Wilkes County771+6.5%
76Yancey County771+6.5%

Other periods

About this ranking

Monthly gross rent, in US dollars, that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets for a two-bedroom unit in the HUD area that contains the county.

More on how it is measured
  • Gross rent is the rent plus all utilities paid by the tenant except telephone, cable or satellite television and internet.
  • HUD sets Fair Market Rents at the 40th percentile of gross rents paid by recent movers for standard-quality rental units, from American Community Survey data brought forward to the fiscal year; until 2018 a few metropolitan areas were set at the 50th percentile.
  • They set payment standards for Housing Choice Vouchers and rent ceilings in other HUD programs.

A policy benchmark, not a measured rent: it is lower than the median rent by design and differs from the Census Bureau median gross rent. HUD sets one value per HUD area, a metropolitan area (sometimes split into HUD Metro FMR Areas) or a non-metropolitan county, so every county of a metropolitan area shows the same figure. Counties in the six New England states have no value, because HUD defines their areas by town and a county can span several areas. Where HUD splits off part of a county, the county value is the rest of the county: Howard County, Maryland, without Columbia until FY2015, and Crawford County, Missouri, without its part of Sullivan. The year is HUD's federal fiscal year: FY2027 runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD USER. HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. (2023). HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars (Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx

MLA 9

HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars, Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly), 2023. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/fair-market-rent-two-bedroom/north-carolina-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research. 2023. HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/fair-market-rent-two-bedroom/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research (2023) HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars, Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/fair-market-rent-two-bedroom/north-carolina-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{department_counties_in_north_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research}},
  title = {{HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars: Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly), 2023}},
  year = {2023},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/fair-market-rent-two-bedroom/north-carolina-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD USER. HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23\_FMRs\_revised.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research
TI  - HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars: Counties in North Carolina by fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly), 2023
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/03/15
PB  - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/fair-market-rent-two-bedroom/north-carolina-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/fair-market-rent-two-bedroom/north-carolina-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD USER. HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr/fmr2023/FY23_FMRs_revised.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly)?

Buncombe County, with $1,466 in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research.

Which county has the lowest fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly)?

Yancey County, with $771 in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD Fair Market Rents by county: two bedrooms, monthly gross rent in dollars. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Fair Market Rent, two bedrooms (HUD, monthly): other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings