RANK #89 / 1001 NAT · #2 / 21 NJ · POP 153,305
1YR FORECAST: +2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Cumberland County, New Jersey, distinguishes itself with Bridgeton, home to the largest historic district in the state, featuring over 2,000 properties ranging from 18th-century Federal to Victorian architecture. Located in the Southern Shore Region, about 35 miles south of Philadelphia, the county offers a blend of rural landscapes and historic towns. Commuting to Philadelphia is feasible, with Route 55 reducing travel time. The Maurice River, a National Wild and Scenic River, provides opportunities for biking, walking, canoeing, and kayaking. The county also features the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, one of the few free public zoos in the country, and numerous parks and natural preserves.
Life in Cumberland County often involves a connection to its agricultural roots and a more relaxed pace. The economy is driven by sectors like advanced manufacturing, particularly in glass, food and beverage, and industrial items. Major investments are flowing into data centers and energy, contributing to the county's economic narrative. The Rowan College of South Jersey's Cumberland Campus, with its Mechatronic Innovation Learning Lab, supports advanced manufacturing and robotics training. The Rutgers Food Innovation Center in Bridgeton also plays a role in the growing food sector. Residents benefit from a lower cost of home ownership and various transportation options, including local shuttles and NJ Transit bus routes connecting to larger cities.
Cumberland County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.1% YoY, population +0.3%, wages +2.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 9.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Cumberland County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Vineland AI Data Center Campus
Nebius Group (Amsterdam) and DataOne (France)
|
$17,400M | Under Construction |
|
Middlesex Township Data Center Campus
Undisclosed
|
$15,000M | Under Construction |
|
Cumberland Energy Center
Calpine New Jersey Generation LLC
|
$231M | Operating |
|
Howard Down Natural Gas Plant
City of Vineland (NJ)
|
$68M | Operating |
|
UGI Liquefied Natural Gas Facility
UGI
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Cumberland County Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (e.g., NJR Clean Energy Ventures, CCUA Solar, Calpine Vineland Solar LLC)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Cumberland County ranks #89 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 91/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.1% and a median household income of $67,436 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Cumberland County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $221,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,282/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Cumberland County are hiring — job growth of +1.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.3% YoY). Home values moved +1.1% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.11% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cumberland County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.