New Bern is a city of 32,734 people in North Carolina. Growth has run 42% since 2000, or 9,606 more people. 6% of people here were born outside the United States. The typical home is worth $240,100, having roughly tripled since 2000. The average commute runs 19 minutes. About 29% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $61,031, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about New Bern
What changed most since 1990
Black share43.0% → 29.3%(−13.7 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
White share55.2% → 50.7%(−4.5 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Population17,363 → 32,734(+89%)US over the same years: +35%
New Bern's population equals 32% of Craven County's. Its number of households without a car equals 65% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 45% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)30.2%(1,066)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)29.3%(1,034)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.7%(1,082)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.2%(149)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 3,524 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
New Bern, decade by decade
New Bern population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
17,363
$47,747
$133,204
16.0%
63.8
2000
23,128
$53,081
$144,275
23.0%
67.2
2010
29,524
$50,648
$219,094
24.6%
72.3
2020
31,291
$52,610
$194,532
27.7%
77.0
2024
32,734
$61,031
$240,100
29.4%
80.5
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
