United States › North Carolina › New Bern CITY
New Bern North Carolina · 34,724 residents (2025 est.) · 28.5 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
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
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
Section 01
Population & growth from 23,128 in 2000
34,724 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,150 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 982 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 20K 25K 30K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 New Bern Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $61,031
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,139 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,499 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 19.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.492 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 4%
Public administration 3.5%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
Education & health services 0.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.3%
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$240,100
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,081
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $506 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 56.5% in 2000
40.3% rent
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.04 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 32.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 52.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 54.8%(12,685)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 50.7%(16,588)
Hispanic / Latino 7%(2,285)
from 64 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data from 23.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 79.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 72.2% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 17.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 16.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 74.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 89.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 88.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 29.6%(3,432)
Women 15+
Never married 29.6%(4,434)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 44.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 16.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 24.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 62.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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)
Gulf War (1990s) 29.3%(1,034)
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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in New Bern, North Carolina? New Bern, North Carolina has about 32,734 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in New Bern, North Carolina? The typical household in New Bern, North Carolina earns about $61,031 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is New Bern, North Carolina expensive? In New Bern, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $240,100, and the typical rent is about $1,081 a month.
How educated are people in New Bern, North Carolina? About 29.4% of adults age 25 and over in New Bern, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in New Bern, North Carolina? About 17.3% of people in New Bern, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has New Bern, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, New Bern, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,371 residents, a change of about 89 percent over that period.
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