Cost of Living in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Mecklenburg County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Mecklenburg County ranks #2,934 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 7%)
Sourced county brief
Mecklenburg County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,627 Monthly
Mecklenburg County's median gross rent reached $1,627 per month, according to the 2020-2024 ACS estimates. This figure is above the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $977 per month. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), reported in ACS table B25071, was 29.8%. This is 0.9 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 28.9%. Median home values were estimated at $406,800, and median selected monthly owner costs were $1,573. Median renter-household income was $62,675. These values provide a reproducible analysis of the county’s housing costs during the specified five-year period and are not intended as market forecasts or financial advice. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Mecklenburg County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.8% of renter household income in Mecklenburg County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,627 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,573. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $65,080 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Mecklenburg County's $1,627 median is 66.6% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Mecklenburg County
Rent Burden
22.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,030
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.7%
of gross income
The median home in Mecklenburg County may be a stretch
Median home value is $406,800. Estimated monthly cost: $3,248 vs. your max of $2,030.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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