Southern Pines, NC at a glance
Median household income
$88,535$7,378 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Southern Pines, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Southern Pines, NC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,157 | $13,884 | $46,280 | 15.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,239 | $14,868 | $49,560 | 16.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,358 | $16,296 | $54,320 | 18.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,889 | $22,668 | $75,560 | 25.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,278 | $27,336 | $91,120 | 30.9% |
What a typical income covers in Southern Pines, NC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $88,535 a year ($7,378 a month before tax).
What $88,535 leaves after North Carolina taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in North Carolina
Living in Southern Pines, NC: common questions
What is the median household income in Southern Pines, NC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Southern Pines, NC is $88,535 per year (approximately $7,378 per month).
What is the average rent in Southern Pines, NC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,157 for a studio, $1,239 for one bedroom, $1,358 for two, $1,889 for three and $2,278 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Southern Pines, NC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 88.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Southern Pines, NC?
To keep a $1,358 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $54,320 a year, or $4,527 a month. That is 61% of what the typical household in Southern Pines, NC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Southern Pines, NC?
On the local median income of $88,535 ($7,378 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,689 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,213 for everything else and $1,476 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,358 takes 37% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Southern Pines, NC?
Homes in North Carolina paid 14.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $133. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.