By Nicole Bowman-Layton
New housing data shows affordability pressures are spreading across nearly every county in northeastern North Carolina, with thousands of households spending far more than experts consider sustainable just to keep a roof over their heads.
The NC Housing Coalition’s newly released 2026 County Profiles track housing wages, cost burden rates, evictions, foreclosures, and the gap between what essential workers earn and what it costs to rent in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
Across the 13 counties in this coverage area — from the Outer Banks to the Albemarle region — the data shows a housing market under significant strain. In several counties, more than half of renter households are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
Local officials say the numbers match what they are seeing on the ground: teachers, emergency workers, and other public employees commuting long distances to their jobs — or temporarily staying in hotels — while trying to find housing they can afford.
What is “cost-burdened”?
A household is considered cost-burdened when it spends more than 30 percent of its income on housing. Those spending more than 50% are considered severely cost-burdened.
Housing advocates track that benchmark because spending beyond it often forces families to make difficult trade-offs — cutting back on food, healthcare, childcare, or transportation.
Statewide, the housing wage — the hourly pay needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent — rose sharply to $22.32 per hour in 2026, up from $17.88 the year before, according to the coalition.
That jump reflects how quickly housing costs have increased across many North Carolina markets.
Why rural counties with low rents still struggle
One of the most striking patterns in the data is that some of the region’s lowest-rent counties still show some of the highest housing burdens.
In counties like Hertford, Hyde, Washington, and Martin, a two-bedroom apartment rents for under $1,000 per month. Yet large shares of residents there are still considered cost-burdened.
The reason is largely income, according to the coalition. Even modest rents can become unaffordable when wages remain low.
Workers in several essential occupations tracked in the data — including childcare providers, construction workers, and firefighters — earn far less than what is needed to comfortably afford a typical two-bedroom apartment in many of these counties.
Housing advocates say that gap between wages and rents has become a defining feature of many rural housing markets.
Five things the data reveals
The 2026 housing data highlights several regional trends.
1. Renters face far greater housing pressure than homeowners. In many counties, renter burden rates exceed homeowner rates by 20 percentage points or more.
2. Rural does not necessarily mean affordable. Several counties with rents under $1,000 still show some of the highest cost-burden rates because incomes remain low.
3. Essential workers struggle to afford housing in many counties. Childcare workers, construction workers, and firefighters often earn far below the housing wage required to afford typical rents.
4. Tourism markets add pressure in coastal communities. In Dare County and other coastal areas, short-term rentals and second homes limit housing available for year-round residents.
5. The gap between wages and rents is widening. The statewide housing wage increased by more than $4 per hour in a single year.
Summary of data
| County | Cost Burden | Housing Wage | Evictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertford | 39% | $17.79 | 134 |
| Hyde | 35% | $18.08 | 15 |
| Chowan | 34% | $23.46 | 66 |
| Bertie | 33% | $20.08 | 101 |
| Washington | 32% | $17.79 | 97 |
| Martin | 31% | $17.79 | 202 |
| Tyrrell | 31% | $17.79 | 9 |
| Pasquotank | 31% | $23.38 | 419 |
| Dare | 30% | $27.50 | 71 |
| Camden | 25% | $24.75 | 30 |
| Perquimans | 25% | $19.21 | 60 |
| Currituck | 25% | $32.94 | 70 |
| Gates | 23% | $32.87 | 32 |
County-by-county breakdown
Hertford County
Hertford County stands out for a troubling distinction: it has the highest overall cost-burden rate in North Carolina, with 39 percent of households spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
That equals 3,131 households out of 7,954.
Renters face the greatest pressure. About 63% of renter households are cost-burdened — nearly two out of every three.
Even though a two-bedroom apartment rents for about $925 per month, the housing wage required to afford that rent is $17.79 per hour.
Childcare workers, construction workers, and firefighters in the county all earn less than what is needed to comfortably afford that rent.
The county recorded 134 eviction filings and 37 foreclosures last year.
Hyde County
Hyde County recorded a 35% cost-burden rate, placing it among the most burdened counties in the state.
Although the county’s two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is relatively low at $940 per month, nearly 63% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Out of only 1,723 households in the county, 607 are cost-burdened.
The county recorded 15 eviction filings and 8 foreclosure filings.
Chowan and Bertie Counties
In Chowan County, about 34% of households are cost-burdened, with 55% of renters struggling to afford housing.
The housing wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment there is $23.46 per hour, or about $48,800 annually.
Chowan recorded 66 eviction filings and 26 foreclosures.
Bertie County reported 33% of households cost-burdened, with renters again facing greater pressure than homeowners.
The county recorded 101 eviction filings and 16 foreclosures.
Washington, Martin and Tyrrell Counties
Washington, Martin, and Tyrrell counties share the same two-bedroom Fair Market Rent — $925 per month, requiring a housing wage of $17.79 per hour.
- Washington County is 32% cost-burdened, with half of renters struggling to afford housing.
- Martin County is 31% cost-burdened and recorded 202 eviction filings, the second-highest total in the region.
- Tyrrell County, despite its small population, has 52% of renters cost-burdened.
Pasquotank County
With 419 eviction filings, Pasquotank County recorded the highest eviction total in the region.
Half of renter households there are cost-burdened.
A two-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,216, requiring a housing wage of $23.38 per hour — far above what many local workers earn.
Dare County: Tourism and Housing Pressure
Housing affordability in Dare County is shaped in part by the Outer Banks’ tourism-driven housing market.
Vacation homes and short-term rentals make up a significant share of the housing stock, limiting the number of units available for year-round residents.
The county’s two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,430, requiring a housing wage of $27.50 per hour.
The county also recorded 502 foreclosure filings, by far the most in the region.
Camden and Perquimans Counties
Camden County reported 25% of households cost-burdened, or 963 out of 3,867 households. About 28% of renters struggle to afford housing, while 24% of homeowners are cost-burdened.
The county’s housing wage is $24.75 per hour, and the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,287 per month, requiring an annual income of about $51,480 to afford comfortably. Camden recorded 30 eviction filings and 18 foreclosures last year.
Perquimans County also reported 25 percent of households cost-burdened, or 1,339 of 5,322 households. The burden falls more heavily on renters, with 46% of renter households considered cost-burdened, compared with 20% of homeowners.
The housing wage in Perquimans is $19.21 per hour, and the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $999 per month, requiring about $39,960 in annual income to afford. The county recorded 60 eviction filings and 29 foreclosures, ranking No. 69 statewide for eviction rates among renters.
Currituck and Gates Counties
Currituck County and Gates County stand out for a different reason: relatively lower cost-burden rates but extremely high housing wages.
Both counties fall within the Virginia Beach–Norfolk housing market, which drives rental costs higher.
The housing wage exceeds $32 per hour in both counties — among the highest in North Carolina.
A growing workforce housing problem
Local leaders increasingly describe the issue as a workforce housing challenge.
During our time covering the region, the Albemarle Observer has heard stories from school districts, local governments, and emergency service agencies that often recruit workers from outside the region because housing options are limited.
Some teachers and public employees commute long distances from neighboring counties. Others temporarily stay in hotels or short-term rentals while searching for housing they can afford.
Local officials say those arrangements can make it harder to recruit and retain workers in communities already facing population decline.
The bigger picture
The data suggests housing affordability has become a regional challenge rather than a problem limited to one or two counties.
In some places, the pressure comes from tourism-driven housing markets. In others, it stems from stagnant wages and aging housing stock with little new construction.
Housing advocates say addressing the problem will likely require a mix of solutions — expanding housing supply, preserving affordable homes, and supporting workforce housing development.
Without additional housing options, many communities may continue to see workers commuting longer distances, delaying moves into the region, or leaving altogether.
For northeastern North Carolina, housing affordability is increasingly becoming more than just a housing issue.
It is becoming an economic one.
One response to “Analysis: Housing costs squeeze northeast NC residents as data reveals widespread burden”
What a load of manure. Why does one person need a 2 bedroom apartment? What happened to getting roommates to split the rent, like a sane person would do? Based on the figures provided, splitting the rent between 2 people making minimum wage will enable the 2 to keep the rent within reach.
In 1975, I was newly married and assigned to a Coast Guard cutter in Coos Bay, Oregon. I had 5 days to find a place for my wife, get her moved in, and then meet the ship in San Diego. We settled for a $170/month town home, with a take-home pay of just under $500/month.
When I got back to home port, we realized there was no sound proofing between us and the adjoining unit. I found a nice duplex for $225/month, and we moved in on a 6 month lease. We couldn’t afford the $225, used up all our savings, and moved out when the lease was up. The next rental was at the outskirts at the poor end of town, a little 2 bedroom cottage with a kerosene heater in the living room for $165/month. And were quite happy there.
When the divorce happened, it was back to duplex and apartment living – with kids – to keep expenses within reason. And this was a guy who was always employed for over 50 years.