The Town FilesVander, North Carolina
Community in Cumberland County · population 1,388 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,800
- Household income
- $66,993
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 41.3
Vander is a community of 1,388 people in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $231,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 76% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 73% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Vander ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Vander is worth $231,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $66,993, which is more affordable than 62% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $929 a month. 79.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vander | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $929 | $969 |
| Median household income | $66,993 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 79.1% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vander
| People | Vander | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 19.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Vander
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 47.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vander since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 158 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 122,995 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,785 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Vander itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Vander
- Eastover, NC3.9 mi · 3,656 people · home $241,600
- Stedman, NC5.1 mi · 1,277 people · home $218,800
- Wade, NC9.0 mi · 638 people · home $215,000
- Hope Mills, NC11.0 mi · 17,808 people · home $190,600
- Fayetteville, NC11.1 mi · 208,501 people · home $188,000
- Spring Lake, NC15.6 mi · 11,660 people · home $124,000
- Parkton, NC15.8 mi · 504 people · home $151,900
- Roseboro, NC16.4 mi · 1,163 people · home $130,300
Vander questions
Is Vander, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vander scores better for retirees than 52% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 36%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Vander?
The median owner-occupied home in Vander is valued at $231,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,993, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $929 a month.
What is the weather like in Vander?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Vander get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vander since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)