Very AffordableHigh CrimePublic Schools of Robeson County
Downtown Lumberton, NC - North Elm St. mural and historic fire station in the background · Halenhardy / CC0Robeson County Courthouse, 1948 · John Hemmer / No restrictionsLumber River from the James L. Stephens Memorial Park, Lumberton, NC · Halenhardy / CC0Lumberton-Laurinburg CSA · User:Nyttend / Public domain
Lumberton is a small city of 19,099 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $41,314
and a 6.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lumberton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lumberton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lumberton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.9
Lumberton's overall cost of living index is 89.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lumberton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lumberton, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$138,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$758
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,314
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Lumberton's violent crime rate is 1676.5 per 100,000 residents
— 341% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
1676.5 /100k
Property Crime
9943.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lumberton is served primarily by Public Schools of Robeson County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lumberton, NC
National Avg
School District
Public Schools of Robeson County
—
Elementary Schools
22
—
Middle Schools
8
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
79.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lumberton sees average highs of 54.4°F in January
and 90.8°F in July,
with 50.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Lumberton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lumberton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $138,700 and median rent is $758/month.
Lumberton's violent crime rate is 1676.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 9943.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lumberton are operated by Public Schools of Robeson County.
The district has 22 elementary, 8 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 21.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lumberton, NC has a population of 19,099, a median household income of $41,314, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lumberton averages 54.4°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.8 inches
with about 0.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lumberton, NC is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 28358, 28360, 28359.
The population of Lumberton, North Carolina is 19,099 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lumberton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $138,700, median household income $41,314, crime index 400 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lumberton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
