The Town FilesLumberton, North Carolina
City in Robeson County · population 19,025 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,600
- Household income
- $42,877
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 34.6
Lumberton is a city of 19,025 people in Robeson County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $152,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 94% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 76% of North Carolina towns.
How Lumberton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lumberton is worth $152,600, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $42,877, which is more affordable than 57% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $866 a month. 43.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lumberton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $866 | $969 |
| Median household income | $42,877 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 43.9% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Lumberton
| People | Lumberton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.8% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lumberton
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 58 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 55 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lumberton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 15, 1999 about 6.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 27, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 20, 2024.
Severe weather in Robeson County since 1996
Robeson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| March 3, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta |
Jobs and pay in Robeson County
Robeson County had 38,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,957 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Lumberton itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Lumberton
15 public schools with 8,005 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lumberton Senior High | 9-12 | 1,950 | 17.7 |
| Magnolia Elementary | PK-8 | 802 | 17.8 |
| Littlefield Middle | 4-8 | 643 | 17.9 |
| Lumberton Junior | 6-8 | 640 | 17.3 |
| East Robeson Primary | PK-3 | 519 | 17.3 |
| L Gilbert Carroll | 4-5 | 503 | 21.9 |
| Piney Grove Elementary | PK-6 | 473 | 16.3 |
| Rowland Norment Elementary | PK-3 | 468 | 15.1 |
| Long Branch Elementary | PK-4 | 435 | 16.7 |
| W H Knuckles | PK-3 | 384 | 14.8 |
| Deep Branch Elementary | PK-6 | 364 | 14.0 |
| Tanglewood Elementary | PK-3 | 358 | 15.6 |
Towns near Lumberton
- Pembroke, NC10.4 mi · 2,823 people · home $129,400
- Red Springs, NC15.2 mi · 3,087 people · home $100,800
- Elizabethtown, NC23.5 mi · 3,296 people · home $159,200
- Hope Mills, NC23.6 mi · 17,808 people · home $190,600
- Dillon, SC24.5 mi · 6,384 people · home $115,500
- Rockfish, NC25.0 mi · 3,383 people · home $199,900
- Raeford, NC27.0 mi · 4,559 people · home $201,800
- Whiteville, NC27.5 mi · 4,766 people · home $187,500
Lumberton questions
Is Lumberton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lumberton scores better for retirees than 3% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 5%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Lumberton?
The median owner-occupied home in Lumberton is valued at $152,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,877, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $866 a month.
What is the weather like in Lumberton?
July highs average 90.8°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Lumberton get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lumberton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 15, 1999. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)