Last updated
Average Rent in Highlands & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 1 apartment community in Highlands, Cary NC. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,472/mo
▲ +10.1% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,307/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
1
tracked daily
Units Listed
12
available now
Highlands vs Cary NC Average
Highlands is cheaper the Cary NC average by $642/mo (30%). The citywide average is $2,114/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Highlands?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Highlands is $1,472 per month across 1 apartment community and 12 available units. Rents have increased $155 (10.1%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is AXIS Crossroads starting at $1,307/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $1,472/mo.
Prices range from $1,307 to $1,542 per month. The most common price point is the $1,400 range, where 11 units are currently listed.
Highlands Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Highlands
Rent Prices by Apartment in Highlands
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AXIS Crossroads | $1,307/mo | $1,472/mo | 12 | 3.7 |
Google Search Trends for Highlands Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Highlands
What is the average rent in Highlands?
Is rent going up or down in Highlands?
What is the cheapest apartment in Highlands?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Highlands?
How many apartments are available in Highlands?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Highlands?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$59,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $1,472/mo.
Comfortable income
$71,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,307/mo), you need to earn at least $52,000/year.
Median household income in Highlands is $129,399 , about 83% above the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Highlands
Overall prices in Highlands runs below the national average by about 2% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 98.4, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Highlands's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,472 |
| Utilities | $447 |
| Groceries | $523 |
| Transportation | $1,066 |
| Healthcare | $520 |
| Other goods and services | $832 |
| Estimated total | $4,860/mo |
Population
176,686
Median household income
$129,399
Census median rent
$1,621/mo
Rent as % of income
24.8%
Median age
39.8
Mean commute
23 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Highlands Apartments
Browse all 1 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.