NAICS 53

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 38.1 (Moderate), ranked #23 of 51 states. 18,290 establishments, 72,329 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 38.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national real estate and rental and leasing average.

📈Growth Opportunity💎Hidden Gem

North Carolina ranks top 15 in growth momentum while maintaining relatively low market saturation (bottom 10). This combination signals an underpenetrated market with expanding demand.

5-Year Firm Retention
52.9%
Percentile within industry
Rank #25 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 60.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #11 of 51 states
Establishment Density
52.2
vs. national average
Rank #42 of 51 states
Market Volatility
7.5
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
53.7
Labor cost pressure

18,290 Establishments in North Carolina

18,290
Establishments
+0.1% YoY
72,329
Total Employment
+1.4% YoY
$69,428
Average Annual Wage
+4.3% YoY

North Carolina vs National Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Average

How North Carolina's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 38.1 40.5 -2.4
5-Year Retention 52.9% 51.0% +1.9
Growth Momentum 60.0 39.4 +20.6
Market Volatility 7.5 22.1 -14.6
Establishment Density 52.2 34.1 +18.1
Wage Pressure 53.7 45.1 +8.6

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within real estate and rental and leasing only.

North Carolina Ranks #23 of 51 for Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

North Carolina ranks #23 out of 51 states for real estate and rental and leasing market entry conditions.

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Pennsylvania 24.5 low
#2 Wisconsin 26.0 low
#3 Nebraska 26.3 low
#4 South Dakota 26.4 low
#5 Massachusetts 27.7 low
#23 North Carolina You 38.1 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 34.9 · #15 Alabama — 31.9 · #13 Arkansas — 30.5 · #12 Arizona — 52.4 · #46 California — 47.1 · #39 Colorado — 52.1 · #44 Connecticut — 45.9 · #37 District of Columbia — 38.5 · #24 Delaware — 53.2 · #47 Florida — 54.7 · #49 Georgia — 51.6 · #43 Hawaii — 60.3 · #50 Iowa — 35.6 · #16 Idaho — 43.4 · #32 Illinois — 44.3 · #33 Indiana — 30.2 · #10 Kansas — 41.4 · #29 Kentucky — 30.3 · #11 Louisiana — 44.5 · #34 Massachusetts — 27.7 · #5 Maryland — 50.4 · #42 Maine — 28.3 · #6 Michigan — 39.3 · #26 Minnesota — 42.1 · #31 Missouri — 39.2 · #25 Mississippi — 30.0 · #8 Montana — 37.5 · #20 North Carolina — 38.1 · #23 North Dakota — 54.3 · #48 Nebraska — 26.3 · #3 New Hampshire — 29.6 · #7 New Jersey — 37.3 · #19 New Mexico — 52.3 · #45 Nevada — 61.9 · #51 New York — 37.6 · #21 Ohio — 33.2 · #14 Oklahoma — 42.0 · #30 Oregon — 44.8 · #35 Pennsylvania — 24.5 · #1 Rhode Island — 37.8 · #22 South Carolina — 44.9 · #36 South Dakota — 26.4 · #4 Tennessee — 37.2 · #18 Texas — 41.4 · #28 Utah — 46.6 · #38 Virginia — 35.6 · #17 Vermont — 30.1 · #9 Washington — 48.0 · #40 Wisconsin — 26.0 · #2 West Virginia — 40.6 · #27 Wyoming — 49.6 · #41
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does North Carolina stack up against other states for real estate and rental and leasing?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's real estate and rental and leasing market compares to bordering states.

Virginia 35.6 #17/51 Tennessee 37.2 #18/51 South Carolina 44.9 #36/51 Georgia 51.6 #43/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Accommodation and Food Services → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →