North Carolina · Federal data hub

New Bern, NC

0.123M people3 counties#15 of 17 in North Carolina$63,380 median HHIUpdated April 10, 2026

Investor first look

The numbers that matter most

What an investor checks first when sizing up a new metro — affordability ratio, rent vs income, cap rate proxy, and where the market is moving. Each metric shown vs. state and national medians for instant context.

moderate

Price to income

3.14×

The single most-cited 'is this market still cheap' check. Below 3× and you're in an affordability tailwind.

vs North Carolina: 3.36×-0.22
vs U.S.: 3.43×-0.30

Benchmark

3.14×

▼

affordable

moderate

expensive

0×–3×

3×–5×

5×–7×

ACS median home value ÷ median HHI

comfortable

Rent to income

24.9%

What share of a typical household's income goes to rent. Below 30% means tenants can absorb modest rent increases.

vs North Carolina: 25.2%-0.3
vs U.S.: 23.3%+1.6

Benchmark

24.9%

▼

comfortable

moderate

burdened

15%–25%

25%–30%

30%–40%

(HUD FMR 2BR × 12) ÷ median HHI

deal-by-deal

Cap rate proxy

5.16%

Rough first-pass yield assuming a 35% expense ratio. Not an underwriting number — a 'is this even worth modeling' filter.

vs North Carolina: 4.41%+0.76
vs U.S.: 4.35%+0.81

Benchmark

5.16%

▼

tight

deal-by-deal

solid

1%–3%

3%–5%

5%–7%

(FMR 2BR × 12 × 0.65) ÷ ACS median home value

steady

Net migration

+0.14%

Forward-looking demand signal. Positive net migration drives rent growth and absorbs new supply.

vs North Carolina: 0.20%-0.06
vs U.S.: 0.03%+0.11

Benchmark

+0.14%

▼

shrinking

steady

growing

-1%–-0.1%

-0.1%–+0.1%

+0.1%–+1%

IRS net migration ÷ population

strong

Permit pipeline

5.87

permits per 1,000 residents

Forward-supply indicator. Above ~5 means the metro is building meaningfully relative to its size; below 2 means supply is tight.

vs North Carolina: 7.51-1.64
vs U.S.: 3.52+2.35

Benchmark

5.87

▼

tight

moderate

strong

0–2

2–5

5–10

Census BPS permits TTM ÷ population × 1,000

Unemployment

—

Tighter unemployment means higher wages, more rental demand, lower vacancy.

vs North Carolina: 3.5%
vs U.S.: 3.9%

Benchmark

healthy

normal

loose

2%–4%

4%–5.5%

5.5%–8%

BLS LAUS, latest month

Home values

Where prices are and where they've been

5-year price appreciation

—

homeValues.yearOverYear

—

Median home value

$198,700

Jobs & income

Labor market direction

Unemployment

—

Median household income

$63,380

Supply pipeline

What's being built

Total TTM

720

+41.0% YoY

Single-family

720

2–4 unit

5+ unit

Counties

All 3 counties, ranked by population

County	Population	Home value	Median HHI	Permits TTM	YoY
Craven County	101,098	$206,200	$64,635	580	+44.6%
Pamlico County	12,317	$209,800	$61,624	97	+27.6%
Jones County	9,263	$122,600	$55,659	43	+22.9%

Peer metros

Similar metros nationally

Metro	Pop	Med HHI	P/I	Cap proxy	HPI 5y	Permits/1k	Unemp
★New Bern	122,678	$63,380	3.14×	5.16%	—	5.87	—%
St. Joseph, MO-KS	121,952	$62,900	—	—	+53.8%	—	3.1%
Cleveland, TN	126,479	$63,490	—	—	+67.3%	—	3.5%
Owensboro, KY	121,147	$65,656	—	—	+44.8%	—	3.3%
San Angelo, TX	122,229	$66,037	—	—	+46.1%	—	2.9%
Altoona, PA	122,640	$60,594	—	—	+42.1%	—	3.7%

Migration

Where people are moving in from

Net migration

+172

+0.14% of population

Origin county	Tax returns
Carteret County, NC	314
Onslow County, NC	289
Wake County, NC	159
Craven County, NC	154
Pitt County, NC	141
Pamlico County, NC	119

Demographic backbone

Who lives in New Bern

Median age: 41
Bachelor's+: 25.3%
Owner-occupancy: 71.8%
Vacancy rate: 14.7%
Rent burdened (30%+): 41.9%
Median household income: $63,380

This page shows federally sourced data. A full editorial analysis with charts and investment commentary is in progress.