49% of North Carolina renters already spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, against a median household income of $72,388, so size any loan payment carefully. Compare written offers on total cost, confirm the lender's license and refuse any fee demanded before funding.
On this page
- North Carolina by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for North Carolina borrowers
- Largest places in North Carolina
- Mid-size North Carolina communities
- Counties with the most residents
- How North Carolina earns a living
- More context for North Carolina budgets
- Checking a lender in North Carolina
- Can North Carolina residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in North Carolina
- Frequently asked questions
North Carolina by the numbers
North Carolina in sixteen numbers, each beside the U.S. value and a rank where 1 is the highest of 51.
| Indicator | North Carolina | U.S. | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,388 | $80,734 | 38th |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 4.7% | 5.2% | 31st |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,228 | $1,413 | 27th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 49% | 51% | 22nd |
| Home value, median | $288,900 | $332,700 | 28th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 67% | 65% | 33rd |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 25% | 28% | 34th |
| Home value to income ratio | 4.0x | 4.1x | 23rd |
| Commutes of 45 minutes or longer | 14% | 17% | 28th |
| Working from home | 16% | 15% | 15th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36% | 36% | 21st |
| Age, median | 39.1 | 38.9 | 25th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.477 | 0.483 | 14th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 23% | 21% | 13th |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 35% | 41% | 37th |
| People below the poverty line | 13.0% | 12.5% | 17th |
What the numbers mean for North Carolina borrowers
Long commutes of 45 minutes or more affect 14% of North Carolina workers, which ranks 28th of 51. A long drive also means more wear, so a repair fund of even a few hundred dollars can keep a breakdown from becoming a loan.
Typical household income: $72,388 in North Carolina, against $80,734 nationwide (38th highest of 51). Half of households earn more than this and half earn less, and a lender will look only at where you sit.
The Census Bureau's five-year unemployment estimate for North Carolina is 4.7% (U.S.: 5.2%), and 13.0% of residents live below the poverty line. When work is uncertain, a smaller loan and an emergency cushion beat a larger loan with a longer term.
Incomes are spread unevenly: 23% of North Carolina households earn under $35,000 (U.S.: 21%), while 35% earn $100,000 or more (U.S.: 41%) and 10% top $200,000. If your household sits under $30,000 a year, start with credit unions, creditor hardship plans and nonprofit counseling before a personal loan.
Largest places in North Carolina
Population, income and housing costs for the 12 largest places in North Carolina (ACS 2020 to 2024); linked names open a local guide.
| City or town | County | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | Mecklenburg County | 903,844 | $82,068 | $1,612 | $385,700 |
| Raleigh | Wake County, Durham County | 481,031 | $85,395 | $1,572 | $415,800 |
| Greensboro | Guilford County | 301,198 | $61,515 | $1,172 | $244,800 |
| Durham | Durham County, Orange County | 291,467 | $81,619 | $1,508 | $392,800 |
| Winston-Salem | Forsyth County | 252,037 | $59,268 | $1,087 | $233,800 |
| Fayetteville | Cumberland County | 210,815 | $58,407 | $1,250 | $188,000 |
| Cary | Wake County, Chatham County | 179,306 | $134,905 | $1,738 | $580,200 |
| Wilmington | New Hanover County | 120,805 | $66,738 | $1,395 | $383,800 |
| High Point | Guilford County, Forsyth County | 116,245 | $64,561 | $1,116 | $235,800 |
| Concord | Cabarrus County | 108,719 | $86,921 | $1,451 | $353,700 |
| Asheville | Buncombe County | 94,535 | $71,102 | $1,402 | $440,000 |
| Greenville | Pitt County | 92,857 | $49,748 | $1,007 | $233,500 |
Apex ($144,135) and Boone ($30,065) mark the high and low ends of median household income among North Carolina places with at least 20,000 residents. 96 places top 10,000 people; 22 top 50,000. Median rent in that group ranges from $879 in Thomasville to $2,077 in Indian Trail.
Mid-size North Carolina communities
Continuing down the population list from Gastonia to Cornelius.
| Community | Population | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gastonia | 82,884 | $64,059 | $1,204 |
| Jacksonville | 71,279 | $57,697 | $1,321 |
| Apex | 70,630 | $144,135 | $1,902 |
| Huntersville | 63,969 | $120,516 | $1,834 |
| Chapel Hill | 61,607 | $85,989 | $1,613 |
| Burlington | 59,610 | $56,880 | $1,051 |
| Kannapolis | 57,890 | $73,836 | $1,319 |
| Rocky Mount | 54,297 | $55,534 | $957 |
| Wake Forest | 52,844 | $123,802 | $1,596 |
| Mooresville | 52,381 | $89,647 | $1,626 |
| Wilson | 48,370 | $52,485 | $971 |
| Holly Springs | 45,248 | $135,578 | $2,021 |
| Hickory | 44,258 | $64,576 | $1,063 |
| Indian Trail | 42,036 | $108,483 | $2,077 |
| Fuquay-Varina | 40,485 | $115,497 | $1,720 |
| Monroe | 36,759 | $72,540 | $1,246 |
| Salisbury | 35,825 | $53,716 | $1,071 |
| Garner | 34,473 | $78,756 | $1,549 |
| Goldsboro | 34,383 | $48,540 | $971 |
| Cornelius | 32,783 | $113,767 | $1,722 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Jacksonville (27%) and least in Wake Forest (15%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
The largest 16 of North Carolina's 100 counties, by population.
| County | Residents | Median household income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 1,178,653 | $105,768 | $1,623 | $461,300 |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,154,681 | $87,005 | $1,627 | $406,800 |
| Guilford County | 547,940 | $68,642 | $1,163 | $259,900 |
| Forsyth County | 389,977 | $67,165 | $1,098 | $250,400 |
| Cumberland County | 338,545 | $61,291 | $1,222 | $199,200 |
| Durham County | 332,353 | $82,316 | $1,508 | $389,400 |
| Buncombe County | 274,360 | $74,436 | $1,362 | $391,800 |
| Union County | 250,958 | $102,900 | $1,496 | $417,300 |
| Cabarrus County | 236,133 | $89,005 | $1,414 | $354,800 |
| New Hanover County | 235,229 | $75,166 | $1,417 | $387,800 |
| Gaston County | 234,881 | $67,478 | $1,153 | $266,000 |
| Johnston County | 234,263 | $83,384 | $1,146 | $305,600 |
| Onslow County | 207,906 | $68,148 | $1,265 | $236,400 |
| Iredell County | 196,544 | $81,419 | $1,252 | $321,400 |
| Pitt County | 177,193 | $58,188 | $993 | $208,900 |
| Alamance County | 176,893 | $65,651 | $1,064 | $241,500 |
Median income by county stretches from $41,685 (Tyrrell County) up to $105,768 (Wake County). Your county's costs, not the state's, set how much room a new payment has.
How North Carolina earns a living
The table lists the four industries that employ the most North Carolina residents, as a share of employed people 16 and older, next to the national share.
| Sector | Share of North Carolina workers | National share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 23% | 24% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 13% | 13% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12% | 10% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.3 pts |
Relative to the nation, manufacturing is overrepresented in North Carolina (12% vs 10%). Industry matters to a borrower because it decides how easy income is to document: salaried and public jobs verify quickly, while tips, commission, seasonal and contract pay need more records.
More context for North Carolina budgets
North Carolina renters pay a median $1,228 a month. 49% of them spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, below the national share of 51%. For a renter, the safest loan is the smallest one that fixes the problem, sized to what is left after rent.
Homeownership stands at 67% in North Carolina and the median owner-occupied home is worth $288,900, which ranks 28th among the 51 jurisdictions. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 25%. Before using equity, read how a HELOC compares with a personal loan: the line is secured by the home, the loan usually is not.
With a median age of 39.1 and 36% of adults holding a four-year degree, North Carolina has a Gini inequality index of 0.477, ranking 14th from most to least unequal.
Checking a lender in North Carolina
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in North Carolina. The North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory.
- Search the lender by name on NMLS Consumer Access to see which states it is licensed in.
- An upfront fee to "secure" a loan is a warning sign the FTC describes here.
- If a lender stops answering, the CFPB complaint form usually gets a response within weeks.
Can North Carolina residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. Matching is open in North Carolina today. Answer six short steps, see the requirements up front, and compare any written offers you receive.
Local guides in North Carolina
Open a local guide for a closer look at your own city (11 in North Carolina):
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates personal lenders in North Carolina?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, North Carolina's banking agency in the CSBS directory. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
What is the median household income in North Carolina?
$72,388 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 38th among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
Is rent high in North Carolina?
$1,228 a month at the median, 27th of 51. 49% of North Carolina renters are cost-burdened, against 51% nationwide.
Do home values in North Carolina change how I should borrow?
The median home in North Carolina is valued at $288,900, about 4.0 times the median household income of $72,388. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.