1st Advantage MortgageIn Cumberland County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $61,291 a year and the typical rent is $1,222. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Cumberland County by the numbers
- Household income in Cumberland County
- What it costs to live in Cumberland County
- Employment and commuting in Cumberland County
- How Cumberland County compares with nearby counties
- Cumberland County towns compared
- Budget math at the Cumberland County median
- Cumberland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Cumberland County
- Checklist for Cumberland County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Cumberland County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Cumberland County by the numbers
With an estimated 338,545 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cumberland County ranks 5th of 100 in North Carolina for population. Land area is 653 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 519 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Fayetteville, NC metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (9 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Fayetteville, with about 210,815 residents, or 62% of the county.
Household income in Cumberland County
Half of Cumberland County households take in less than $61,291 a year and half take in more, 15% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
| Income band | Share in Cumberland County | Difference from North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +5.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.6% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -5.0 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. 16.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.0%). For a borrower in Cumberland County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Cumberland County
A typical Cumberland County rental runs $1,222 a month including utilities. By the Census definition, 52% of Cumberland County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $199,200, a typical Cumberland County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 55%. The median year built is 1988.
| Cost | Cumberland County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,222/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $199,200 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 55% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 11.0% | n/a |
With renters making up 45% of households, many Cumberland County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Employment and commuting in Cumberland County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Cumberland County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Education and health care stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Cumberland County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% | -3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +3.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Cumberland County compares with nearby counties
Harnett County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bladen County, is 36 miles off. Income ranges from $41,978 in Robeson County to $71,287 in Harnett County; 3 of these neighbors top Cumberland County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | - | $61,291 | $1,222/mo | 55% |
| Harnett County, NC | 22 mi | $71,287 | $1,112/mo | 71% |
| Hoke County, NC | 23 mi | $64,912 | $1,089/mo | 73% |
| Sampson County, NC | 26 mi | $52,432 | $834/mo | 74% |
| Robeson County, NC | 32 mi | $41,978 | $805/mo | 66% |
| Lee County, NC | 35 mi | $65,387 | $1,017/mo | 67% |
| Bladen County, NC | 36 mi | $42,422 | $773/mo | 69% |
Cumberland County towns compared
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 73% of Cumberland County residents live in one of the 10. Stedman has the highest median household income on the list ($107,250) and Spring Lake the lowest ($51,958), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Eastover ($888) and steepest in Stedman ($1,549). This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | city | 210,815 | $58,407 | $1,250 | 8 mi |
| Hope Mills | town | 17,939 | $65,774 | $1,141 | 9 mi |
| Spring Lake | town | 11,573 | $51,958 | $1,351 | 13 mi |
| Eastover | town | 3,666 | $85,156 | $888 | 4 mi |
| Vander | CDP | 1,922 | $66,993 | $929 | 3 mi |
| Stedman | town | 1,670 | $107,250 | $1,549 | 8 mi |
| Wade | town | 518 | $70,938 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Falcon | town | 272 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Godwin | town | 203 | $53,542 | $663 | 14 mi |
| Linden | town | 129 | $66,250 | $788 | 15 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Cumberland County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Cumberland County's medians:
- $5,108 a month: gross income for a household at the Cumberland County median
- Median rent: $1,222, or 24 cents of every gross dollar
- $974: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Cumberland County residents: age, schooling, coverage
28% of Cumberland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Cumberland County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.8% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.6% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cumberland County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Before borrowing in Cumberland County
Based on the Cumberland County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Cumberland County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Checklist for Cumberland County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cumberland County:
- Price the Cumberland County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Cumberland County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Cumberland County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cumberland County borrowers answers to the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cumberland County?
$61,291 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 48th of 100 in the state.
How does Cumberland County rent compare with North Carolina?
$1,222 locally, close to the state figure.
Does this page cover Fayetteville?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Cumberland County, such as Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Eastover.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Cumberland County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Cumberland County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.