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North Carolina: Short-Term vs Long-Term Rental Returns

North Carolina combines affordable property prices with strong tourism demand in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Outer Banks.

Published March 21, 2026

What Could You Earn?

Estimated gross income for a typical 3-bedroom house in North Carolina, based on median values. These are starting points. In the dashboard you can adjust everything to match your own property and circumstances.

Typical property price
$239K
Long-term rental income
$1,295/mo
before expenses
Short-term rental income
$2,237/mo
before expenses
Short-term earns roughly
$942/mo more
before expenses and regulations

Key Takeaways

  • Buncombe County (Asheville) is the state's premier STR market, with strong mountain tourism demand and relatively permissive regulations.
  • The Outer Banks beaches drive high seasonal STR income but with significant off-season vacancy.
  • Charlotte and Raleigh offer strong long-term rental demand driven by job growth in banking and tech.
Interested in a specific area?
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How Short-Term and Long-Term Compare by Area

Estimated monthly income for a 3-bedroom house in each area, before expenses. Click any area to see the full breakdown in the dashboard.

City / area Price Long-term /month Short-term /month Short-term rules
Mecklenburg County
North Carolina
$308K $1,791 $2,861 Low View details →
Buncombe County
North Carolina
$341K $1,789 $2,614 Low View details →
Wake County
North Carolina
$327K $1,690 $3,215 Low View details →
Rowan County
North Carolina
$230K $1,368 $2,006 Low View details →
Forsyth County
North Carolina
$220K $1,347 $2,218 Low View details →
Guilford County
North Carolina
$229K $1,338 $2,336 Low View details →
Carteret County
North Carolina
$247K $1,252 $2,054 Low View details →
Cumberland County
North Carolina
$185K $1,242 $2,255 Low View details →
Currituck County
North Carolina
$294K $1,225 $2,355 Low View details →
Gaston County
North Carolina
$227K $1,194 $2,099 Low View details →
Dare County
North Carolina
$366K $929 $2,078 Low View details →
Robeson County
North Carolina
$106K $775 $1,384 Low View details →

All figures are estimates based on median values for a 3-bedroom house in each area. Individual properties will vary. Use the dashboard to adjust assumptions to your own situation.

Compare Any Location

The dashboard covers 993 counties across North Carolina. Search for any area and adjust property price, rent, nightly rate, occupancy, mortgage rate, and expenses to match your investment.

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Data last updated: March 2026

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