States › North Carolina › Oak Ridge

Is Oak Ridge, NC expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 23 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,16681% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$167,583about $13,965/month · 92% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$529,30059% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 93% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income. Most homes (92.2%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 57% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $126,640 a year. That is $61 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of North Carolina. It is number 162 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Oak Ridge
$3,166
Kill Devil Hills
$2,477
Porters Neck
$1,581
Brevard
$1,030
Marion
$1,194
Etowah
$1,487
Cullowhee
$818

How much do households earn in Oak Ridge?

Under $25k
4.5%
$25k–50k
11.9%
$50k–100k
21.1%
$100k–150k
19.9%
$150k+
39.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 59.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Oak Ridge overall?

Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).

Housing
81
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
89
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Oak Ridge, so the North Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Oak Ridge

🏛️ Property tax$3,294a year · 0.62% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$175a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Oak Ridge

Commute to work20.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree57%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home92.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oak Ridge?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $507 a month less.

Renting
$3,166
Owning
$3,673

Owning assumes a typical $529,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $52,930 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Oak Ridge, NC?

Renting in Oak Ridge costs a median of about $3,166 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

How much do I need to make to live in Oak Ridge?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $126,640 a year, or $61 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Oak Ridge cheap or expensive?

Oak Ridge is rated OK: rent takes 22.7% of the typical household income of $167,583. It ranks 162nd cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Oak Ridge?

The median homeowner in Oak Ridge pays $3,294 a year in property taxes, about 0.62% of the median home value.

Is Oak Ridge more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in North Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Oak Ridge?

The median home value in Oak Ridge is $529,300, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

7,744 people live in Oak Ridge. Numbers are typical (middle) values.