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MICROPOLITAN AREA

New Bern Micro

New Bern, NC · 3 counties · 127,358 residents (2025 est.) · 1,514.456 sq mi
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The short version

New Bern has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,793. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $222,544.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
124,304
+8%since 2000
from 114,751 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
82 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 76 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.0
+14%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:127,358 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
100K107K115K123K130K1990201020202024New Bern
2024124K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,793
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,294 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,387
+100%since 2000
from $18,149 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.8%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.450
+2%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction1.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$222,544
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $82,988 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,047
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $488 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
29.3% rent
Vacancy rate
13.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 40.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+46%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in New Bern on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic68%(78,075)
Black25.8%(29,599)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(4,130)
Asian0.8%(946)
Other0%
Diversity Score56.3%(64,572)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic65.3%(81,143)
Black19.7%(24,497)
Hispanic / Latino7.3%(9,067)
Asian2.5%(3,129)
Other5.2%(6,468)
Diversity Score65.8%(81,789)
Segregation Score32.1%(39,865)
Diversity Score
66
+17%since 2000
from 56 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
+7%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.6 min
+47%since 2000
from 15.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−6.0 ptssince 2011
from 10.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 60.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.5%
−26.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
14.1%
−31.4 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2012
from 18.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−76.6 ptssince 2013
from 84.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.3%
+9.7 ptssince 2017
from 75.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 92.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 4.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

New BernCENTRAL34,724
What's inside

3 component counties

Craven CountyCENTRAL105,025Pamlico County12,758Jones County9,575
Drill deeper

Metros similar to New Bern

Cleveland
Pop 134,057
Elizabethtown
Pop 128,666
Battle Creek
Pop 133,408
St. Simons
Pop 118,524
Places similar to New Bern
Head to head

Compare New Bern side by side

NEW BERN VS
Cleveland
Income$65,993+2%
Home value$249,132+12%
Population134,057+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW BERN VS
Elizabethtown
Income$67,578+4%
Home value$220,770−1%
Population128,666+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW BERN VS
Battle Creek
Income$63,177−2%
Home value$162,800−27%
Population133,408+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW BERN VS
St. Simons
Income$66,040+2%
Home value$257,539+16%
Population118,524−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in New Bern, NC?

New Bern, NC has about 124,304 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in New Bern, NC?

The typical household in New Bern, NC earns about $64,793 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is New Bern, NC expensive?

In New Bern, NC, the median home is worth about $222,544, and the typical rent is about $1,047 a month.

How educated are people in New Bern, NC?

About 26.7% of adults age 25 and over in New Bern, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in New Bern, NC?

About 14.2% of people in New Bern, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has New Bern, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, New Bern, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 21,905 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →