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Cumberland County

NC · Pop. 336,749 · Urban County

54/100Homestead Score

Cumberland County is an urban county in North Carolina, spanning 653 square miles with 336,749 residents at a density of 515.7 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on soybeans, corn, wheat. A median home price of $184,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.99% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 223-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.6°F and average winter lows of 32.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.4 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Highsmith - Rainey Specialty Hospital is 3.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.99%
Growing Season: 223 days
Broadband: 97.8%
Density: 515.7/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 223-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A median home price of $184,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Highsmith - Rainey Specialty Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • At 515.7 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Cumberland County, NC is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
54/100
Median home price
$184k
Property tax
0.99%
Growing season
223 days (zone 8b)
Annual rainfall
45.4"
Broadband
97.8%
Nearest hospital
Highsmith - Rainey Specialty Hospital, 3.4 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.99%
Median Household Income$58,780
Poverty Rate17.2%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$184K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8b
Growing Season223 days
Annual Rainfall45.4 inches
Avg Summer High88.6°F
Avg Winter Low32.1°F
Top CropsSoybeans, Corn, Wheat

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought5/10
Wildfire9/10
Tornado10/10
Flood9/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalHighsmith - Rainey Specialty Hospital (3.4 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities4

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage97.8%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.8%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Cumberland County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Cumberland County?
Cumberland County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 223-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.6°F, and average winter lows of 32.1°F. The established crops are soybeans, corn, wheat.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $184,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.99%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 97.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Highsmith - Rainey Specialty Hospital is 3.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.