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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Banner Elk, NC Housing Affordability Index

Banner Elk, North Carolina has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 84.6 (Moderately Less Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 550th most affordable of 587 scored North Carolina cities, compared with 104.6 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $458,100 home with 20% down, the North Carolina average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $2,503, or 35% of the city’s $86,382 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Banner Elk is updated every night from live North Carolina mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Banner Elk MBR-HAI 84.6 Moderately Less Affordable
Rank in North Carolina 550 of 587 1 = most affordable
North Carolina 104.6 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.26% North Carolina lenders
Median home value $458,100 U.S. Census Bureau

Banner Elk is 20.0 points below the North Carolina score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the North Carolina index

View Banner Elk Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Banner Elk

$2,503/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$107,300
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$86,382
Median Household Income
North Carolina: $72,388
5.3x
Price-to-Income Ratio
North Carolina: 4.0x
$1,701/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$3,179/yr
Median Property Tax
0.69% of median value
23.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
61.1%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Banner Elk, North Carolina. The rate is the North Carolina average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Banner Elk Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Banner Elk, North Carolina score: 84.6 (Moderately Less Affordable), ranked 550 of 587 North Carolina cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/north-carolina/banner-elk”