The latest Rental Competitiveness Report is out, revealing how challenging it is to find a vacant apartment across the U.S.
Here’s how Charlotte stands:
- At the start of 2026, each vacant apartment saw competition from 7 renters — one more than the national average. At the same time, new apartments made up 1.03% of total supply, down from 1.48% a year earlier, meaning fewer fresh options entered the market.
- As a result, slightly more renters chose to stay put in early 2026 — 60.5% vs. 60.3% a year ago — keeping occupancy at 92.1%. Vacant apartments now take about 46 days to be filled, in line with the national average. Charlotte‘s Rental Competitiveness Index score stands at 72.6, up from 71.2, falling in the competitive category.
- For context, the national Rental Competitiveness Index score stands at 75.4 — with 6 renters competing for each vacant apartment, units leasing in 46 days, a 62.8% renewal rate and 92.7% occupancy.
Here’s the full report: https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/
