Wilkes County, NC at a glance
Median household income
$51,721$4,310 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Wilkes County, 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 Wilkes County, NC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Wilkes County, NC, 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 | $782 | $9,384 | $31,280 | 18.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $793 | $9,516 | $31,720 | 18.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $925 | $11,100 | $37,000 | 21.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,233 | $14,796 | $49,320 | 28.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,538 | $18,456 | $61,520 | 35.7% |
What a typical income covers in Wilkes County, NC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $51,721 a year ($4,310 a month before tax).
What $51,721 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 Wilkes County, NC: common questions
What is the median household income in Wilkes County, NC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Wilkes County, NC is $51,721 per year (approximately $4,310 per month).
What is the average rent in Wilkes County, NC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $782 for a studio, $793 for one bedroom, $925 for two, $1,233 for three and $1,538 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 Wilkes County, NC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for North Carolina is 94.3, 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 Wilkes County, NC?
To keep a $925 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $37,000 a year, or $3,083 a month. That is 72% of what the typical household in Wilkes County, NC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Wilkes County, NC?
On the local median income of $51,721 ($4,310 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,155 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,293 for everything else and $862 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $925 takes 43% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Wilkes County, 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.