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Cumberland County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Cumberland County, North Carolina has a population of 338,545, the 5th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $61,291 and the median home value is $199,200. The poverty rate is 16.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Cumberland County Quick Facts

Population 338,545
Median Household Income $61,291
Median Home Value $199,200
Poverty Rate 16.7%
Unemployment Rate 7.6%
Median Age 32.0 years
Homeownership Rate 55.0%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 27.8%
High School Graduation 92.9%
Cities/Places 10
Population 338,545 5th of 100
Median Income $61,291 15% lower than state
Poverty Rate 16.7%
Unemployment 7.6%

How Cumberland County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population336,749338,545+0.5%
Median household income$58,780$61,291+4.3%
Median home value$183,700$199,200+8.4%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.0%
$25K-$50K 22.7%
$50K-$100K 33.3%
$100K+ 26.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.5%
$10K-$15K
4.2%
$15K-$20K
3.8%
$20K-$25K
3.6%
$25K-$30K
4.4%
$30K-$35K
4.5%
$35K-$40K
4.7%
$40K-$45K
5.1%
$45K-$50K
4.1%
$50K-$60K
8.2%
$60K-$75K
10.8%
$75K-$100K
14.3%
$100K-$125K
8.6%
$125K-$150K
5.8%
$150K-$200K
6.3%
$200K+
5.4%

Employment

7.6% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
64.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 55.0%
Renter 45.0%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,222/mo 23.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

69out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 58 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Cumberland County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Fayetteville210,815$58,40717.7%$188,000
Hope Mills17,939$65,77414.1%$190,600
Spring Lake11,573$51,95817.7%$124,000
Eastover3,666$85,15613.4%$241,600
Vander1,922$66,99323.4%$231,800
Stedman1,670$107,2507.5%$218,800
Wade518$70,93819.3%$215,000
Falcon272N/A44.5%$204,200
Godwin203$53,54216.3%$158,300
Linden129$66,25025.6%$150,000

Population Overview

Cumberland County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 338,545. It is the 5th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cumberland County is 32.0 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cumberland County is $61,291. This is 15% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $199,200. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 55.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cumberland County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Black or African American residents account for 36.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (36.7% vs 20.0%).

Education

27.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 22% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Cumberland County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Cumberland County, North Carolina?

Cumberland County has a population of 338,545, making it the 5th most populous county in North Carolina.

What is the median income in Cumberland County?

The median household income in Cumberland County is $61,291 with a poverty rate of 16.7%.

How many cities are in Cumberland County, North Carolina?

Cumberland County contains 10 Census-designated places.