The Town FilesNew Bern, North Carolina
City in Craven County · population 31,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,100
- Household income
- $61,031
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 38.9
New Bern is a city of 31,291 people in Craven County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $240,100, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 92% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 87% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 85% of North Carolina towns.
How New Bern ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Bern is worth $240,100, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $61,031, which is more affordable than 47% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,081 a month. 59.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Bern | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,081 | $969 |
| Median household income | $61,031 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in New Bern
| People | New Bern | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in New Bern
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 33.8°F. About 53.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Bern since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 17, 1965 about 0.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 93 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 9, 1988.
Severe weather in Craven County since 1996
Craven County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Craven County
Craven County had 40,890 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,634 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in New Bern itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in New Bern
13 public schools with 6,923 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern High | 9-12 | 1,632 | 18.5 |
| H J MacDonald Middle | 6-8 | 695 | 17.8 |
| West Craven Middle | 6-8 | 645 | 20.2 |
| Grover C Fields Middle | 6-8 | 552 | 17.3 |
| Creekside Elementary | K-5 | 512 | 14.6 |
| Albert H Bangert Elementary | K-5 | 456 | 15.2 |
| Brinson Memorial Elementary | K-5 | 453 | 13.3 |
| Bridgeton Elementary | PK-5 | 428 | 14.8 |
| Oaks Road Academy | PK-5 | 367 | 19.3 |
| Trent Park Elementary | K-5 | 360 | 14.4 |
| Ben D Quinn Elementary | K-5 | 347 | 15.8 |
| J T Barber Elementary | PK-5 | 246 | 10.3 |
Towns near New Bern
- Trent Woods, NC1.4 mi · 4,074 people · home $343,100
- Brices Creek, NC3.9 mi · 3,542 people · home $338,700
- River Bend, NC4.7 mi · 2,902 people · home $266,100
- James City, NC5.3 mi · 5,291 people · home $204,400
- Fairfield Harbour, NC6.6 mi · 2,767 people · home $300,600
- Havelock, NC16.0 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- Newport, NC24.8 mi · 4,364 people · home $233,600
- Piney Green, NC26.1 mi · 14,386 people · home $227,600
New Bern questions
Is New Bern, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Bern scores better for retirees than 58% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 14%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in New Bern?
The median owner-occupied home in New Bern is valued at $240,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,031, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,081 a month.
What is the weather like in New Bern?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 33.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does New Bern get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Bern since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 17, 1965. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)