Cumberland County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Cumberland County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Cumberland County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cumberland County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,555 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,673 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.6% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.4% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cumberland County is about 15% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Cumberland County (4.1%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Cumberland County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cumberland County, North Carolina grew by 44.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,555 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cumberland County
| Metric | Cumberland County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $50,962 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,222 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.3% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cumberland County, it is 0.535, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $200,900 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cumberland County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 20% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2012, and was narrowest at 9% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,115 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cumberland County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.7% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 10,368 people are unemployed in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Cumberland County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cumberland County, North Carolina has fallen from 9.7% to 6.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.1% in 2013.
Cumberland County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cumberland County, NC is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 338,542 residents against a local median of 59,467. Cumberland County, NC's median household income, at $61,555, runs 17% above the $52,596 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $29,676 on median household income, so Cumberland County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cumberland County, NC has the 3rd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County, NC | 338,542 | $61,555 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #5/6 | 6.1% #6/6 | 0.535 #1/6 |
| Harnett County, NC | 139,132 | $71,432 | 5.2%/yr | 4.4% | 0.556 |
| Hoke County, NC | 53,784 | $64,852 | 5.5%/yr | 5.8% | 0.576 |
| Sampson County, NC | 59,467 | $52,596 | 4.7%/yr | 5.2% | 0.538 |
| Robeson County, NC | 116,854 | $42,419 | 3.8%/yr | 5.9% | 0.573 |
| Bladen County, NC | 29,571 | $41,756 | 4.1%/yr | 5.4% | 0.562 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cumberland County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Cumberland County, North Carolina?
Cumberland County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $61,555, about 15% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cumberland County, North Carolina rose 44%, from $42,680 to $61,555. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +44% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Cumberland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cumberland County, North Carolina was $58,590, up 5% from $55,673 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Cumberland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cumberland County, North Carolina was $48,326. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $61,555.
Is it hard to find a job in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Cumberland County, North Carolina is 6.1%, well above the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Cumberland County is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cumberland County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 20% to 11% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 22% in 2012, and was narrowest at 9% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,115 since 2009.
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