Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: The Triangle

Selma, NC leads the Triangle in rent burden—61.3% of renters spend over 30% of their income on housing, the highest in the region. This isn’t just a number—it’s a signal of how deeply affordability has fractured across the metro. While urban centers like Raleigh and Durham face their own pressures, the crisis is now visible in smaller communities like Selma, where rising demand from RTP and Durham has outpaced supply. The data comes from ALEX Intelligence’s latest report: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-13-triangle-rent-burden-place-mkt. How does this shift affect your investment or relocation strategy? Is 'escaping the city' still a viable path to affordability in the Triangle? Let’s discuss. Renters Over the 30% Rent Threshold, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Selma — 61.3% #2 Briar Chapel — 60.4% #3 Smithfield — 60.0% #4 Roxboro — 58.5% #5 Carrboro — 52.5% #6 Garner — 52.2% #7 Wendell — 49.8% #8 Hillsborough — 49.6% #9 Holly Springs — 47.7% #10 Oxford — 45.8% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Gaurav (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=199450494; Slide 2: Gaurav (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=199451424; Slide 3: Warren LeMay from Covington, KY, United States (CC0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=84600390; Slide 4: Gaurav (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=199451437 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-10-13-triangle-rent-burden-place-mkt View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902