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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

Northwest, NC Housing Affordability Index

Northwest, North Carolina has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 98.9 (Near National Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 451st most affordable of 587 scored North Carolina cities, compared with 104.6 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $225,900 home with 20% down, the North Carolina average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,234, or 28% of the city’s $53,214 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Northwest 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.

Northwest MBR-HAI 98.9 Near National Average
Rank in North Carolina 451 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 $225,900 U.S. Census Bureau

Northwest is 5.8 points below the North Carolina score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the North Carolina index

View Northwest Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Northwest

$1,234/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$52,900
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$53,214
Median Household Income
North Carolina: $72,388
4.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
North Carolina: 4.0x
$937/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$1,685/yr
Median Property Tax
0.75% of median value
66.2%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
49.0%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

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

How Northwest Ranks in North Carolina

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Cite the Northwest Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Northwest, North Carolina score: 98.9 (Near National Average), ranked 451 of 587 North Carolina cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/north-carolina/northwest”