What income do you need to buy a house in Raleigh, NC?
It takes about $121,000/yr to afford the typical Raleigh, NC home ($425K, -1.7% past year) at today's rates. Starter homes run around $291K. See if you can afford a house in Raleigh (2026 data) — free, no signup.
Market snapshot (2026-09)
- Income needed to buy the typical home: about $121,000/yr (28% front-end ratio, 20% down, 7.24% 30-yr fixed, NC property tax and insurance)
- Typical home value: $425K (Zillow ZHVI, 2026-09)
- 1-year change: -1.7%
- Bottom 35% of homes: $291K
- Top 35% of homes start around: $768K
- Typical rent: $1,572/mo
- Median household income: $85K
- Price-to-income ratio: 5.0
- Estimated payment on the typical home: $2,315/mo principal & interest (20% down, 7.24% 30-yr fixed)
Nearby housing markets
The most affordable cities to buy a house in North Carolina
Home values are Zillow Group public data (ZHVI, updated monthly); income and population are US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates. Estimates only — not financial advice.
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