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City · 32,734 residents · Craven County, North Carolina

New Bern , North Carolina

In New Bern, a typical home is worth $240,100 and typical rent is $1,081 a month. Compared with all of Craven County, typical household income is 7% lower and the share of households that own their home is 9 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $240,100

    4% above the county

    17% below North Carolina

    • New Bern
    • Craven
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,081a month

    3% below the county

    12% below North Carolina

    • New Bern
    • Craven
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $61,031a year

    7% below the county

    16% below North Carolina

    • New Bern
    • Craven
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    60%

    9 points below the county

    7 points below North Carolina

    • New Bern
    • Craven
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$283,192
1.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,555 a month
3.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

New Bern is in Craven County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Craven County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets New Bern apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Half Moon, the typical home value is $182,500: 24% less than in New Bern ($240,100).

  2. 60% of households in New Bern own their home, against 68% in Craven County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in New Bern

What homes there are in New Bern, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In New Bern, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Craven County, 7.

Year built

In New Bern, half of the homes were built before 1989; in Craven County, before 1989.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA loan limit for Craven County is $541,287, and about 92% of owner-occupied homes in New Bern are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Craven County is $1,246: about 61% of rents in New Bern are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,504 a month

Craven County: $1,454 a month

Without a mortgage

$567 a month

Craven County: $523 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Craven County: 57%

Owning costs about the same in New Bern as in Craven County: with a mortgage, $1,504 a month; without one, $567.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in New Bern rose 54%; in Craven County, it rose 47%.

The typical rent in New Bern rose 26% over the same time; in Craven County, it rose 22%.

The typical household income in New Bern rose 41% over that time; home values changed +54% and rent +26%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureNew BernCraven CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy 8.3%6.4%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.0%1.3%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.202.292.442.53
Drive alone 77%78%72%69%
Carpool 10%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 9%8%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in New Bern: 8.3% is empty and offered for rent, against 6.4% in Craven County.

In New Bern, 2.0% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Craven County.

Much as in Craven County, a household in New Bern has 2.20 people on average.

To get to work, 77% of workers in New Bern drive alone; in Craven County, 78%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in New Bern?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in New Bern, worth $240,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in New Bern, which is $61,031 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $83,458 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Craven County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in New Bern. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,404 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,947

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$235,751
Total interest
$339,190
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,055 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,424 a month

  • Tight

    $1,424 to $1,831 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,831 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in New Bern ($61,031 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,947
Principal & interest$1,597
Property tax$144
Home insurance$100
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$106

You need at least $8,404 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

New Bern and Craven County

New Bern is in Craven County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

New Bern's own numbers

Typical home value
$240,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,081
Typical yearly household income
$61,031
Households that own their home
60%
Effective property tax rate
0.72%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Craven County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,246
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+67%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
13%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Craven County.

Everything about Craven County

Buying

Buying a home in New Bern

A typical home in New Bern is worth $240,100: 4% above the county and 17% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in New Bern ($61,031 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • New Bern 3.9 years
  • Craven 3.5 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Craven County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Craven County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Craven County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.8% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +67% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +99% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

New Bern next to Craven County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • New Bern $240,100
  • Craven $231,600
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • New Bern $1,081
  • Craven $1,110
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • New Bern $61,031
  • Craven $65,873
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
New Bern next to Craven County and North Carolina
Measure New Bern Craven County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $240,100 $231,600 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,081 $1,110 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $61,031 $65,873 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 60% 68% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,734 $1,450 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.72% 0.63% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 46% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Craven County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in New Bern

For a typical $240,100 home in New Bern, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, New Bern's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,947a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,404
    Cash to close
    $15,607
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $106

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,903a month

    Down payment
    $12,005
    Cash to close
    $19,208
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $114

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,545a month

    Down payment
    $48,020
    Cash to close
    $55,223
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,767a month

    Down payment
    $36,015
    Cash to close
    $43,218
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for New Bern and for Craven County.

Property tax

Effective rate in New Bern

0.72%of the home’s value each year

$1,734 a year for the typical owner in New Bern.

  • New Bern 0.72%
  • Craven 0.63%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Craven County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Craven County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
13%
5,869
Of those, with NFIP insurance
61%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 13% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 61% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in New Bern

Typical rent in New Bern is $1,081 a month: 3% below the county. In New Bern, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Craven County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,246 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.96 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Craven County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $946 $18.19 $37,840
1 bedroom $952 $18.31 $38,080
2 bedrooms $1,246 $23.96 $49,840
3 bedrooms $1,644 $31.62 $65,760
4 bedrooms $1,985 $38.17 $79,400

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in New Bern

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). New Bern has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,170 in 28560 to $1,260 in 28562.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Craven County ($1,246).

  • 28560 $1,170$1,540
  • 28562 $1,260$1,660

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for New Bern when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in New Bern

HUD lists 23 buildings with rents for lower incomes in New Bern. These are the largest.

  • Trent Court 1 Trent Ct, New Bern 28562 218 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of New Bern · Average payment: $299 a month · Average wait: 17 months (252) 633-0800
  • Craven Terrace II 601 Roundtree St, New Bern 28560 188 low-income homes · 1 bd: 94 · 2 bd: 60 · 3 bd: 28 · In service since 2017 · For families
  • Craven Terrace II 601 Roundtree St, New Bern 28560 182 low-income homes · For families (252) 633-0540
  • Craven Terrace 601 Roundtree St, New Bern 28560 131 low-income homes · 1 bd: 52 · 2 bd: 44 · 3 bd: 29 · 4 bd: 6 · In service since 2016 · For families
  • Craven Terrace I 601 Roundtree St, New Bern 28560 131 low-income homes · For families (252) 633-0540

See all 34 buildings in Craven County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in New Bern

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Craven County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in New Bern

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for New Bern or Craven County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in New Bern the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near New Bern

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of New Bern, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Jacksonville

    815 New Bridge St, Jacksonville · 31 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (910) 938-6551

  • Wilson Community Improvement Association, Inc.

    504 Green St E, Wilson · 64 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    252-243-4855x214

  • Housing Authority of the City of Rocky Mount, NC

    901 Authority Dr, Rocky Mount · 70 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (252) 977-3141

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near New Bern

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of New Bern

HUD’s record names them for New Bern or Craven County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of New Bern Public housing (252) 633-0800

One other authority has an office in Craven County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Craven County

These cities are also in Craven County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Craven County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

The cities closest to New Bern, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Craven County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in New Bern.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about New Bern

Short answers with the numbers for New Bern and all of Craven County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in New Bern?

The typical home value in New Bern is $240,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Craven County it is $231,600.

How much does it cost to rent in New Bern?

Typical rent in New Bern is $1,081 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Craven County is $1,246.

What is the FHA loan limit in New Bern?

New Bern uses the FHA limit for all of Craven County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in New Bern?

The typical homeowner in New Bern pays $1,734 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.72% of the home’s value; in Craven County, the rate is 0.63%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in New Bern?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Craven County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).