Unemployment in Cumberland County, New Jersey, is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties
In Cumberland County, 7.2% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 97% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 92% of U.S. counties.
What drives Cumberland County's score
In Cumberland County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 96.8. Late payments on loans come next, at 81.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Cumberland County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Cumberland County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (14.8%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($66,986, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 96.8 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent29.4% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income30.5% · fiscal year 202797th percentile
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- 81.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.2% · August 202586th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.9% · August 202582nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score48.6% · second quarter of 202675th percentile
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- 77.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.7% · August 202566th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people279.7 · 202588th percentile
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- 76.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year7.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202697th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.6% · 2020 to 202455th percentile
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- 53.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.2% · 202458th percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.7% · 202452nd percentile
- People with a disability14.8% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
- People without health insurance10.5% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,986 · 202449th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Cumberland County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Cumberland County, 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Cumberland County
New Jersey
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Cumberland County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 31.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Cumberland County, New Jersey, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 31.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Cumberland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 13.5% in 2012 to 15.9% in 2013.
The share of households in Cumberland County getting SNAP food aid nearly doubled from 2009 to 2024, reaching 17.6%
High on the chart: 18.9% in 2016. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Cumberland County, New Jersey.
How Cumberland County has changed
Cumberland County's population had its largest rise, from 120,722 in 1969 to 133,306 in 1974.
Cumberland County's population rose 29% from 1969 to 2024
High on the chart: 158,675 in 2014. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Cumberland County, New Jersey.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Cumberland County rose 6% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 2000 and 2005
High on the chart: 62,641 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Cumberland County, New Jersey.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.5% | 2025 8.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.9% | 2024 14.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,272 | 2024 $66,986 |
The table uses 8.1% for 2025; the score uses 7.2% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Cumberland County's history
1748
1748 from portions of Salem County on January 19, 1748. Wikipedia
1925
Sturgeon overfished, ending caviar industry 1860-1925. Wikipedia
1975
A tornado in July 1975 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2001
Lightning in August 2001 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 156,898. The 2020 Census counted 154,152, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
2011
A flash flood in August 2011 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in August 2011 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
31 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Cumberland County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Cumberland County beside its neighbors
Cumberland County scores higher than all four counties that border it. Of the group, Cumberland County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (31.2%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County, NJ | 92 | 14.2% | 31.2% |
| Salem County, NJ | 78 | 12.4% | 27.4% |
| Atlantic County, NJ | 77 | 11.1% | 25.0% |
| Cape May County, NJ | 43 | 9.8% | 24.7% |
| Gloucester County, NJ | 42 | 7.1% | 18.9% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Cumberland County the poorest county in New Jersey?
No, Cumberland County's poverty rate was 14.2% in 2024, 2nd highest of 21 in New Jersey (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Hudson County, at 14.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Cumberland County ranks 1st of 21 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Cumberland County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Services of New Jersey
Legal aid
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New Jersey county bar lawyer referral services (NJSBA list)
Lawyer referral
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Cumberland County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Cumberland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.