New Bern, North Carolina
Among the top 21% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 42% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B+, better than 74% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 7% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 79% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade D, better than 23% of US places
- top 8% for commute time
- top 12% for air quality
- bottom 7% for natural disaster risk
New Bern is a mid-size city in North Carolina with about 31,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, air quality, and sunny days. It rates lower on summer humidity and natural disaster risk.
Official websitenewbernnc.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet
cool
comfortable
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
78%65%clearovercast
Precipitation 6.4 in3.7 in
oppressive 99%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$56k38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$51kbetter than 29% of US places
Home Value$203k61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 39% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 47% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.79%better than 65% of US places
Income Tax4.50%better than 61% of US places
Sales Tax7.00%better than 60% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.67%better than 52% of US places
Unemployment4.5%better than 44% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)45°F80th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)81°F77th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation57.4 in93rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall1.1 inbetter than 78% of US places
Sunny Days260 daysbetter than 79% of US places
Summer Humidity72°Fbetter than 8% of US places
Comfortable Days85 daysbetter than 58% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk92.5better than 7% of US places
Air Quality33 AQIbetter than 88% of US places
School Quality36.3better than 9% of US places
Violent Crime1737/100kbetter than 12% of US places
Property Crime2050/100kbetter than 18% of US places
Community
Population31,37395th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age40.447th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.5992nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8827th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1944th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)54.0%20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)30.6%93rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)6.4%63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)5.1%91st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.0%62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 92% of US places
Walkability8.3/20better than 76% of US places
Airport Distance111 mibetter than 31% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access81.0%better than 33% of US places
Amenities Nearby40.16better than 34% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 40% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is New Bern an affordable place to live?
- New Bern is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $51k, better than 29% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in New Bern?
- The median home value in New Bern is $203k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in New Bern?
- Median household income in New Bern is $56k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in New Bern?
- Median gross rent in New Bern is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is New Bern safe?
- New Bern is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1737/100k (better than 12%). Property crime is 2050/100k.
- What is the weather like in New Bern?
- New Bern averages 81°F in July and 45°F in January, with 57.4 in of annual precipitation and about 260 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in New Bern?
- Public-school quality in New Bern is below average, scoring better than 9% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in New Bern?
- The average one-way commute in New Bern is 18 min.
Places near New Bern
Compare New Bern
Explore North Carolina
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)