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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

New Bern

North Carolina · 23,128 residents · 28.5 sq mi
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The short version

New Bern is a city of 23,128 people in North Carolina. Growth has run 33% since 1990, or 5,765 more people. The median age is 38.9, about 4 years above the US median. Households here earn about 26% less than in North Carolina as a whole. Owners hold 56% of the housing stock. The poverty rate is 19.4%, above the 12.4% national rate.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.9
US median: 35.2
Average education
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

23,128
+33%since 1990
from 17,363 in 1990
1990 – 2025
38.9
+16%since 1990
from 33.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
28.5 sq mi
Population, 19902024
16K20K25K30K34K19902000201020202024New Bern
202433K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.7%(1,561)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.8%(1,564)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.7%(1,558)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 195.9%(1,369)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.1%(1,414)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.6%(2,903)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.4%(3,333)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.4%(3,106)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.4%(2,172)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 749.5%(2,206)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.1%(1,412)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.3%(530)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$29,139
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,894 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$18,499
+70%since 1990
from $10,893 in 1990
US average: $21,522
19.4%
−3.8 ptssince 1990
from 23.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$79,200
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $55,500 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$506
+15%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $335 in 1990
US average: $602
56.5%
+5.7 ptssince 1990
from 50.8% in 1990
43.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic55.7%(9,666)
Black43.2%(7,500)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(152)
Asian0.4%(67)
2000
White, non-Hispanic54.8%(12,685)
Black40%(9,260)
Hispanic / Latino3%(692)
Asian0.6%(145)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.5%(1,154)
Honduran0.4%(145)
Cuban0.2%(81)
Ecuadorian0.2%(73)
Dominican0.1%(36)
Salvadoran0.1%(27)
Peruvian0.1%(27)
Argentine0.1%(26)
Guatemalan0.1%(21)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Nicaraguan0.1%(20)
Asian origin
Burmese3.2%(1,039)
Korean0.8%(257)
Asian Indian0.6%(192)
Filipino0.3%(111)
Japanese0.2%(73)
Bangladeshi0.2%(57)
Vietnamese0.1%(43)
Laotian0.1%(28)
Cambodian0.1%(19)
Chinese0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(19)
Chamorro0.1%(19)
Ancestry
English13.5%(4,413)
American9.4%(3,088)
German8.1%(2,660)
Irish6.4%(2,106)
Italian2.5%(807)
Scottish2%(645)
Scotch-Irish1.9%(619)
French1.8%(596)
Polish1.7%(557)
Hungarian0.6%(210)
Swedish0.6%(210)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Turkish0.6%(205)
Czech0.6%(199)
Dutch0.5%(161)
Norwegian0.5%(151)
Finnish0.4%(141)
Croatian0.4%(125)
West Indian0.4%(124)
Welsh0.4%(122)
Swiss0.3%(100)
Haitian0.3%(82)
Ukrainian0.2%(75)
Slovak0.2%(74)
Lithuanian0.2%(60)
British0.2%(53)
Greek0.1%(48)
Austrian0.1%(43)
Danish0.1%(43)
Jamaican0.1%(42)
Arab0.1%(41)
Belgian0.1%(39)
Cape Verdean0.1%(37)
Russian0.1%(34)
Egyptian0.1%(19)
Romanian0%(13)
Lebanese0%(10)
Section 05

Education

23.0%
+7.0 ptssince 1990
from 16.0% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
79.5%
+9.6 ptssince 1990
from 69.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
7.3%
+3.0 ptssince 1990
from 4.3% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.8 min
−9%since 1990
from 15.1 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.2%(2,498)
Married56.1%(4,634)
Widowed3.3%(275)
Divorced10.4%(860)
Women 15+
Never married21.9%(2,218)
Married49.6%(5,018)
Widowed15.9%(1,611)
Divorced12.6%(1,280)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

7.0%
−9.2 ptssince 2013
from 16.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
46.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 44.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 16.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
26.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2020
from 24.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
25.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 23.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2020
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
66.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2020
from 62.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
49.5%
+4.2 ptssince 2020
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)
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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in New Bern, North Carolina?

New Bern, North Carolina has about 23,128 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in New Bern, North Carolina?

The typical household in New Bern, North Carolina earns about $29,139 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 $79,200, and the typical rent is about $506 a month.

How educated are people in New Bern, North Carolina?

About 23.0% 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 19.4% 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 5,765 residents, a change of about 33 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →