An Overview of Cost of Living in Cumberland, MD
Knowing the cost of living in Cumberland allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Cumberland stands at 85, marking it 15% lower than the national average.
What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Cumberland?
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 14 residents in Cumberland to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 14% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 86% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Cumberland Affordable?
Is Cumberland an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Cumberland is 43.6% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 27% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Cumberland has a median household income of $40,888, which is 26.1% lower than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Cumberland?
Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Cumberland, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 6%, and income tax rates kick off at 2%.
Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Cumberland, the groceries index is 3.6% lower than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The Cumberland cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.
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