Rent vs buy in High Point, NC
In High Point, North Carolina, typical rent is $1,418 /mo and typical home value is $247,717.
Over 7 years, buying leads by $4k
For High Point's calculation, the rent and home value are typical. It assumes today's mortgage rate and 20% down. The break-even point arrives in year 7.
A clearly labeled opinion with the math shown. The figures are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes with it.
- Home ownership leads by
- $4k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 7 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of ownership
- $2,191 per month year 1, against $1,418 rent
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The stamp relies on High Point's typical rent, plus its typical home value. Different rent, price and time period can reverse the result.
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Is it cheaper to rent or buy in High Point?
Over 7 years, buying costs $4,299 less, including the money returned to you when you sell. In year 7, owning's net cost falls below renting's and remains lower.
Rent option Ownership option Year-by-year net cost to date
High Point: average rent and mortgage payment
At High Point's typical price, rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,418 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,351 | $1,190 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $198 | 0.96% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $90 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $206 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,845 | $160 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $403 | Annual earnings on the cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $103 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,191 | Cash out, minus the equity part, plus the two lines listed earlier |
The High Point verdict, explained by the numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $247,717
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,418 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, North Carolina, 1995 to 2025
- 4.4% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, High Point
- 0.96% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, High Point
- $90 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would flip the High Point verdict?
Each line marks the point where the 7-year High Point verdict changes, while everything else remains as it is.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by less than 4.2% each year; the estimate uses 4.4%, North Carolina's long-run trend.
- A mortgage rate above 7.55% continues throughout the period.
- A similar home rents for under $1,370 a month (the typical amount here is $1,418).
- Before year 7, you move.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 4.2% a year.
- You lock in a rate below 7.55%; today's rate is 7.24%.
- You would pay more than $1,370 a month to rent the same home.
- You remain there for 7 years or more.
High Point compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | High Point | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $247,717 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,418 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 14.6 (#648 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 6.1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 0.96% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 42% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities across North Carolina
- Rent. Charlotte, NC. The $30k advantage goes to renting.
- Rent. Raleigh, NC. The $61k advantage goes to renting.
- Toss-up. Greensboro, NC. It's a toss-up, with renting ahead by $3k.
- Rent. Durham, NC. The $40k advantage goes to renting.
- Buy. Winston-Salem, NC. The $6k advantage goes to buying.
- Buy. Fayetteville, NC. The $9k advantage goes to buying.
- Rent. Cary, NC. The $131k advantage goes to renting.
- Rent. Wilmington, NC. The difference favors renting by $47k.
- Rent. Concord, NC. The difference favors renting by $20k.
- Buy. Greenville, NC. The difference favors buying by $13k.
- Rent. Asheville, NC. The difference favors renting by $53k.
- Toss-up. Gastonia, NC. Renting holds a $576 lead.