City Report · NC

Lumberton

Pop. 18,859·126th most expensive in North Carolina·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,147/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+2.7%
vs US Median
-$785
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Lumberton · $1,147
More affordable than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
32% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,147/mo, rent takes about 32% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$46,000/yr
Local median income
$42,877/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lumberton's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$720
1 BR
$730
2 BR
$930
3 BR
$1,180
4 BR+
$1,360
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$930/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,147 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($42,877) is $1,072 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($930); a 3-bedroom is $1,180.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lumberton. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,764/yr
At $1,147/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +2.7% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Lumberton, NC is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 19.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,859
Median income
$42,877
Median age
34.6
Renters
56.1%
Age distribution
28.7%
21.8%
22.1%
16.2%
Under 1828.7%
18–3421.8%
35–5422.1%
55–6411.1%
65+16.2%
Gender
46.2%
53.8%
Male46.2%
Female53.8%
Race & ethnicity
31.6%
40.3%
12.6%
14%
White31.6%
Black40.3%
Hispanic12.6%
Asian1.6%
Other14%
Education (25+)
20.1%
31.5%
29.2%
19.2%
No HS diploma20.1%
HS diploma31.5%
Some college29.2%
Bachelor's+19.2%
Housing tenure
43.9%
56.1%
Owner43.9%
Renter56.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Lumberton, NC has changed in 5 years

Income
$38,514 → $42,877
up 11.3%
Population
19,186 → 18,859
down 1.7%
Renter share
53.2% → 56.1%
+2.9 pts
Bachelor's+
21.7% → 19.2%
-2.5 pts
Median age
35.9 → 34.6
-1.3 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $38,514 in 2021 to $42,877 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 19,186 to 18,859 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.7% change. About 56.1% of households rent today, against 53.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 21.7% to 19.2%.

Community

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View Lumberton rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lumberton on your salary?

At $1,147/mo, how Lumberton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Lumberton rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Lumberton. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lumberton

About renting in Lumberton, NC

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The median rent in Lumberton is $1,147/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,180/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($42,877/yr), Lumberton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Lumberton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,147/mo in Lumberton. The local median household income is $42,877/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Lumberton?

Rent in Lumberton has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Lumberton rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Lumberton is one of the more affordable among North Carolina cities for rent, ranking #126 of 129 tracked cities at $1,147/mo.
Income Affordability
32%
MODERATE

At $1,147/mo, rent takes ~32% of Lumberton's median household income ($42,877/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lumberton 32%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.5%
Run the Lumberton affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Lumberton, NC

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