Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: The Triangle

Smithfield leads North Carolina in rent burden, with 35.8% of renters spending over half their income on housing — the highest rate in the Triangle, according to ALEX Intelligence’s 2026 data. This is not a headline about a high-cost city; it’s a warning about the spread of affordability strain into secondary markets. The data shows that even communities without major tech hubs are now caught in a cycle of rising costs and stagnant wages. How can we rebuild housing supply without inflating prices? How do we ensure that economic growth translates into real equity? This isn’t just a rent issue — it’s a mobility and opportunity crisis. Renters Over the 50% Rent Threshold, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2024) #1 Smithfield — 35.8% #2 Roxboro — 33.4% #3 Selma — 31.5% #4 Carrboro — 29.4% #5 Oxford — 27.9% #6 Holly Springs — 26.7% #7 Siler City — 26.5% #8 Hillsborough — 24.8% #9 Wendell — 22.8% #10 Garner — 22.2% Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: Pithon314 (CC0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=180930837; Slide 2: Warren LeMay from Covington, KY, United States (CC0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=84599886; Slide 3: Gaurav (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=199392824; Slide 4: Gaurav (CC BY 4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=199450494 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-01-triangle-severe-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