Washington Square Apartments
397 Seattle St,
Shelby, NC 28152
2-3 Beds | $1,245
Rental Market Trends in Shelby, NC
Updated September 2026
The average rent in Shelby, NC is $1,010/month.
Rent in Shelby is 39% lower than the national average rent of $1,665/month, making this one of the less expensive cities statewide.
$1,010/month
Average Rent
683 Sq Ft
Average Size
+1.1%
Change / Year
90
Available Apartments
Shelby rent varies by unit size and layout:
- Studio apartments in Shelby average $886 per month.
- One-bedroom apartments in Shelby average $1,010 per month.
- Two-bedroom apartments in Shelby average $1,181 per month.
- Three-bedroom apartments in Shelby average $1,337 or more per month.
Average Rent by Home Type
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
How much has average rent changed in Shelby, NC?
In the past year, rent has increased by 1.1%, which averages out to $11 more per month.
Market Trends Over Time
September 2026
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in Shelby, NC
September 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
26%
Below $700/month
26%
$700 - $1,000/month
42%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
0%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
5%
Above $2,000/month
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Shelby, NC?
Because the average rent in Shelby is $1,010, you’ll want to make about $3,366 per month or $40,392 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.
How does Shelby, NC compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?
Use the tool below to compare Shelby, NC to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.
Compare Rent Trends Nearby
Get a clearer picture of the area by viewing rent trends in nearby cities.
Apartment Communities in Shelby We Think You'll Love
Rental Management, Simplified
Our all-in-one suite of property manangement software makes the rental process easy. Screen tenants, manage payments, and more – all on Apartments.com
Guides for Managing Your Rental
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Shelby?
The average rent in Shelby is $1,010 per month, which is 39.3% lower than the national average of $1,665.
What is the average rent for a house in Shelby?
The average rent for a house in Shelby, NC is $1,471 per month.
Are rents going up or down in Shelby?
Rents in Shelby, NC are increasing, with prices up 1.1% year-over-year and $11 more per month.
What rent range is most common in Shelby?
In Shelby, NC, 42% of apartments fall between $1,001 - $1,500/month, though prices may vary depending on location and other factors.
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in September 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.