Property Tax in Cumberland County, North Carolina
The median real estate tax bill in Cumberland County, North Carolina is $1,823 per year, and the median home is worth $183,700. Both figures are the US Census Bureau's survey medians for owner-occupied households (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What the Cumberland County numbers mean
A median is the middle household: half of owner-occupied households in Cumberland County pay more than $1,823, and half pay less. Your own bill is set by your home's assessed value, the exemptions you qualify for, and the local taxing districts your property sits in — so individual bills vary widely around the median.
Dividing the median tax by the median home value gives a derived effective rate of 0.99% for Cumberland County. It is an estimate built from two survey medians, not the county's official rate, but it is a fair way to compare the local tax burden with other counties where home values are very different.
The key figures for Cumberland County
| Measure | Cumberland County |
|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes paid per year | $1,823 |
| Median home value | $183,700 |
| Derived effective rate* | 0.99% |
| Equivalent monthly tax | $152 |
| Tax per $100,000 of value (derived) | $992 |
| Illustrative tax on a $400,000 home (derived rate) | $3,968 |
For context, the North Carolina medians are $1,815 of tax on $259,400 of value, and the US medians are $2,969 on $303,400. *Derived figures are estimates from Census medians, not official rates.
Cumberland County at a glance
- Median tax rank in North Carolina: #17 of 100 counties
- Median home value rank in North Carolina: #60 of 100
- Population rank in North Carolina: #5 of 100 (336,749 residents)
- Population density rank: #9 of 100 (516 people per square mile)
- Land area rank in North Carolina: #20 of 100 (652 sq mi, 1.3% of the combined county land area)
- Median tax as a monthly figure: $152; per $1,000 of home value: $0.99
How Cumberland County compares
Set against its state, Cumberland County's median bill of $1,823 is about the same as the North Carolina median ($1,815). Against the country as a whole it is about 39% lower than the US median ($2,969). That places the county #17 of 100 North Carolina counties ranked by median taxes paid.
Remember what drives the ranking: bills follow home values as much as rates. Cumberland County's median home, at $183,700, ranks #60 by value in North Carolina, while its derived rate of 0.99% compares with a derived US figure of 0.98%.
Some extra context for Cumberland County: the median bill works out to about $152 a month, and the derived rate equals roughly $992 of tax per $100,000 of home value. The county is home to 336,749 people — the #5 most populous county in North Carolina, spread over 652 square miles, a density of about 516 people per square mile. Its median home value, $183,700, ranks #60 among the state's 100 counties with data.
Nationally, Cumberland County's median bill of $1,823 ranks #1247 of 3133 counties with published data — inside the top 40% of counties by tax paid. The county accounts for about 3.2% of North Carolina's population, its median home value is about 29% below the state median, and at the derived rate the median home would hand over roughly 9.92% of its value in tax across a decade. Within the state, the distance from Cumberland County to the most expensive county, Orange County ($4,105), is $2,282 a year.
Counties nearest Cumberland County in the North Carolina ranking
| County | Median tax paid | Median home value | Derived rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iredell County, NC | $1,843 | $292,300 | 0.63% |
| Johnston County, NC | $1,840 | $267,600 | 0.69% |
| Brunswick County, NC | $1,789 | $314,700 | 0.57% |
| Camden County, NC | $1,784 | $289,800 | 0.62% |
How the tax is worked out
The bill is built in stages. First the assessor puts a market value on the property. Exemptions — a homestead exemption above all — then reduce the taxable amount. Finally the combined local rate is applied. To see the scale: at the county's derived rate of 0.99%, each $100,000 of value corresponds to about $992 of tax a year, and a $400,000 home to roughly $3,968. Real bills use the official assessment and district rates, not this derived figure, so treat the example as a sense of scale only.
Checking your assessment in Cumberland County
If your bill looks wrong, work through these steps:
1. Get your property record card from the assessor and check the basics — living area, lot size, bedrooms, condition, and any exemptions you should have.
2. Compare your assessed value with recent sale prices of similar homes in Cumberland County.
3. Talk to the assessor's office informally first; clear errors are often fixed without a hearing.
4. If needed, file a formal appeal with the local review board before the deadline on your assessment notice, with your evidence attached.
5. Keep paying the bill as issued while the appeal runs, unless your notice says otherwise — unpaid taxes accrue penalties regardless of an appeal.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the median property tax in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
The median real estate tax paid in Cumberland County, North Carolina is $1,823 per year, on a median home value of $183,700 (US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, 2023).
What is the effective property tax rate in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
On a derived basis, 0.99%: the county's median tax bill of $1,823 divided by its median home value of $183,700. Because it is calculated from two survey medians, read it as a comparison estimate rather than an official rate.
How does Cumberland County compare with the rest of North Carolina?
By median taxes paid, Cumberland County stands at #17 among the 100 North Carolina counties the Census publishes figures for. Its $1,823 median bill is about the same as the state median ($1,815), and 16 counties in the state record a higher median.
How are property taxes calculated in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
Three steps produce the bill: an assessment of market value by the local assessor, a reduction for exemptions you qualify for (a homestead exemption is the common one), and multiplication by the combined rates of the county, municipality, school district and any special districts covering the property. The median result in Cumberland County is $1,823 of tax on a $183,700 median home value.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment in Cumberland County, North Carolina?
Yes — appeals are handled locally. Start with the Cumberland County assessor's property record card for your home, correct any factual errors, and back your case with comparable recent sales. Formal appeals go to the review board named on your assessment notice and must be filed by its deadline, typically within 30 to 90 days.