Forest City, NC vs Lumberton, NC

Forest City, NC and Lumberton, NC have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.2% difference in their overall index. Forest City scores 69 while Lumberton scores 69 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Forest City is $815/month compared to $824/month in Lumberton — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Forest City has cheaper rent, Lumberton actually has lower median home values ($140,100 vs $142,100).

Median household income in Forest City is $35,897 compared to $43,114 in Lumberton (-16.7%). While Lumberton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest City spend roughly 27.2% of their income on rent, more than the 22.9% in Lumberton.