Population 53,758 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in New Bern
Household size in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.29 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
New Bern is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast. New Bern has smaller households than at least four in five North Carolina cities.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.4 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of New Bern is 42.6 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.7, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.4% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in New Bern as they are nationally: 11.5%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in New Bern
Renters in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.1% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.9% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in New Bern rent their homes (31.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 39.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the south. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.3 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in New Bern than nationally: 11.8%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 1.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in New Bern is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. That is in line with the rest of North Carolina. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $857 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $992 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,015 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,188 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$331 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in New Bern pays $1,188 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $331 a month from 2006–10, a 39% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.9% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in New Bern
Bachelor's degrees in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.1% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.4% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in New Bern than nationally: 27.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 2.0 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.7% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.5% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in New Bern is a bit above the national rate: 92.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.6 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in New Bern
| Period | New Bern | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in New Bern than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 5.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
New Bern compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern | 2.32 | 42.6 | 11.5% | 31.9% | 11.8% | 1988 | $1,188 | 27.4% | 92.3% | 4.6% |
| Trent Woods | 2.23 | 55.6 | 6.4% | 8.6% | 4.6% | 1978 | $1,346 | 65.1% | 97.8% | 3.2% |
| James City | 2.27 | 51.3 | 10.8% | 12.9% | 10.3% | 1991 | $1,248 | 31.2% | 92.1% | 2.3% |
| Bridgeton | 2.04 | 36.8 | 27.9% | 45.4% | 24.9% | 1980 | $884 | 13.8% | 89.7% | 11.5% |
| Fairfield Harbour | 2.50 | 53.1 | 1.7% | 10.3% | 15.6% | 2000 | $1,158 | 25.8% | 93.9% | 0.0% |
| Forest | 1.43 | 46.7 | 11.9% | 48.3% | 18.2% | 1984 | $688 | 27.1% | 88.5% | 29.3% |
| Thurman | 2.32 | 44.7 | 5.6% | 9.6% | 2.4% | 2008 | $1,257 | 40.0% | 96.9% | 2.9% |
| River Bend | 2.06 | 53.4 | 5.3% | 12.0% | 14.0% | 1984 | $1,191 | 31.3% | 91.2% | 4.4% |
| Rowes Corner | 1.38 | 46.8 | 12.2% | 49.1% | 19.4% | 1984 | $688 | 28.4% | 88.5% | 31.7% |
| Olympia | 2.37 | 45.1 | 13.7% | 3.0% | 5.1% | 1989 | $726 | 15.6% | 88.4% | 0.0% |
| Reelsboro | 2.43 | 42.4 | 12.5% | 4.5% | 20.5% | 1985 | $726 | 22.1% | 86.6% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Rockwall, TX · Asheboro, NC · Middleburg, FL · Minnetonka, MN · Monroe, MI · Morgan Hill, CA · New Castle, DE · New Iberia, LA · Normal, IL · Olive Branch, MS
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up New Bern. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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