City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Lumberton, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lumberton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

19,220
Residents
$43,114
Median income
$140,100
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Lumberton - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lumberton places in the 11th percentile for household income and the 0th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

11th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
0th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lumberton, NC

19,220 people live in Lumberton, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Lumberton households earn a median of $43,114 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 23.3%. Home values in Lumberton run a median of $140,100, and the median resident age is 35.6 years. About 21.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 46.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 47 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 488% from five years earlier. Lumberton's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 11620.4 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 62.5°F with 50.8 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $925 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 91.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

19,220 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$43,114 /yr

Poverty 23.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Lumberton compare to other US cities?

Lumberton measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 11% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 0% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at North Carolina, Lumberton ranks #195 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lumberton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Lumberton near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Lumberton ranks #552 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lumberton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#549 of 700
22nd percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#502 of 708
29th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#118 of 746
84th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#383 of 746
49th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

11thIncome percentile
0thSafety percentile

11th percentile nationally for median household income · 0th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lumberton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lumberton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 32 Avg. percentile National median
Lumberton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lumberton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$140,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lumberton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lumberton, NC Lumberton, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lumberton, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lumberton, NC median $43,114/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lumberton, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lumberton, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 23.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.3%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
19,220
Median Income
$43,114
Median Home Value
$140,100
Median Age
35.6
Poverty Rate
23.3%
Labor force participation
46.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
11620.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1676.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
9943.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
62.5°F
Annual Precipitation
50.8"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
14
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
18,800 residents18,850 residents18,900 residents18,950 residents19,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 18,904 residents 18,955 residents ▲ +0.3%
Lumberton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
47
housing units authorized
Single-Family
47
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 9
2021 11
2022 12
2023 10
2024 47

Permit volume increased 488% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.7%
Carpool
11.6%
Public Transit
0.4%
Walk
0.7%
Work from Home
4.5%
Other
1.1%

Based on 6,542 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lumberton sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Harrisburg
19,203 people
Knightdale
19,532 people
Boone
19,534 people
Mebane
18,899 people
Kinston
19,576 people
Lexington
19,691 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lumberton's 19,220 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Durant, OK
19,209 people
Republic, MO
19,233 people
Brookfield, IL
19,235 people
West Chester, PA
19,235 people
Alton, TX
19,205 people
Hermosa Beach, CA
19,248 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lumberton's $43,114 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Ida, AR
$43,114 median income
Clare, MI
$43,105 median income
Pine Apple, AL
$43,125 median income
Pilot Station, AK
$43,125 median income
Hartman, AR
$43,125 median income
Tulelake, CA
$43,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lumberton, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lumberton, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 35.6% 38.0% 13.4% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 10.6% White 35.6% Black or African American 38.0% Asian 1.6% American Indian 13.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.8% Two or more races 3.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lumberton compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lumberton (this city) 19,220 $43,114
Harrisburg 19,203 $143,393
Knightdale 19,532 $91,638
Boone 19,534 $28,633
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lumberton, NC?

What is the population of Lumberton, NC? +

Lumberton, NC counts 19,220 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lumberton, NC? +

Lumberton households earn a median of $43,114 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lumberton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lumberton; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Lumberton, NC safe? +

Lumberton has a total crime rate of 11620.4 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lumberton, NC? +

Homes in Lumberton carry a median value of $140,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lumberton? +

The average annual temperature in Lumberton runs 62.5°F, 50.8 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.