Small-town market profile · North Carolina
New Bern, NC area market data
How the New Bern area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 127,358
- +3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 52,452
- Median household income
- $64,475
- +26.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $220,600
- Jobs located here
- 40,439
- Highest market score
- 83
- Funeral homes, #19 of 365 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the New Bern area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the New Bern area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The New Bern area has an estimated 127,358 people and 52,452 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the New Bern area grew 3.6%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the New Bern area is $64,475, 20% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the New Bern area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Of the business types scored in the New Bern area, funeral homes (83), gas stations (82) and insurance agencies (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For funeral homes, that ranks #19 of 365 scored small-town markets.
The New Bern area takes in 3 counties: Craven County, Pamlico County and Jones County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (71% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for chiropractors (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the New Bern area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the New Bern area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral homes | 83 | #19 of 365 | 13 | 2.5 | $633K | 93 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 82 | #23 of 536 | 61 | 11.6 | $2.5M | 106 | 42 |
| Insurance agencies | 80 | #51 of 537 | 63 | 12.0 | $2.1M | 167 | 41 |
| Laundromats | 79 | #10 of 150 | 5 | 1.0 | $18M | 144 | 5 |
| Pest control | 78 | #4 of 85 | 8 | 1.5 | $8.9M | 87 | 8 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 78 | #21 of 387 | 15 | 2.9 | $2.8M | 110 | 9 |
| Pet stores | 77 | #18 of 220 | 10 | 1.9 | $4.2M | 93 | 5 |
| Roofing and gutters | 77 | #19 of 288 | 15 | 2.9 | $9.1M | 108 | 4 |
| Electricians | 76 | #9 of 295 | 8 | 1.5 | $17.1M | 143 | 28 |
| Veterinarians | 73 | #40 of 398 | 17 | 3.2 | $2.5M | 91 | 14 |
| Chiropractors | 70 | #50 of 426 | 16 | 3.1 | $3.3M | 140 | 12 |
| Convenience stores | 70 | #86 of 529 | 43 | 8.2 | $6.9M | 88 | 11 |
| Pet businesses | 68 | #67 of 527 | 48 | 9.2 | $874K | 100 | 28 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 68 | #116 of 536 | 58 | 11.1 | $1.5M | 122 | 16 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 66 | #80 of 387 | 14 | 2.7 | $3.4M | 109 | 12 |
| Home repair trades | 66 | #85 of 526 | 55 | 10.5 | $2.5M | 103 | 72 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 65 | #85 of 400 | 18 | 3.4 | $3M | 95 | 6 |
| House cleaning | 64 | #35 of 142 | 14 | 2.7 | $5.1M | 79 | 20 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 64 | #113 of 529 | 45 | 8.6 | $4M | 107 | 18 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 63 | #107 of 476 | 32 | 6.1 | $4.3M | 90 | 40 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 63 | #135 of 538 | 238 | 45.4 | $751K | 113 | 85 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 63 | #142 of 538 | 460 | 87.7 | $388K | 105 | 207 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 63 | #153 of 536 | 86 | 16.4 | $1M | 119 | 25 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 62 | #123 of 507 | 42 | 8.0 | $4.3M | 103 | 18 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 61 | #45 of 177 | 14 | 2.7 | Index only | 135 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 61 | #138 of 454 | 23 | 4.4 | $855K | 85 | 27 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 59 | #125 of 399 | 30 | 5.7 | $2.4M | 81 | 49 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 59 | #154 of 458 | 26 | 5.0 | $2.1M | 116 | 57 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 59 | #186 of 538 | 99 | 18.9 | $3M | 89 | 40 |
| Car washes and detailing | 58 | #155 of 441 | 23 | 4.4 | $2M | 81 | 6 |
| Gyms | 58 | #177 of 506 | 32 | 6.1 | $990K | 76 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 56 | #208 of 538 | 106 | 20.2 | $443K | 100 | 59 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 56 | #214 of 538 | 270 | 51.5 | $198K | 130 | 134 |
| Physical therapy | 53 | #186 of 400 | 20 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 111 | 20 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 53 | #206 of 481 | 52 | 9.9 | $1.4M | 81 | 77 |
| Spas and skin care | 53 | #217 of 504 | 49 | 9.3 | $875K | 100 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #238 of 538 | 193 | 36.8 | $243K | 91 | 80 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 52 | #51 of 112 | 14 | 2.7 | $2.3M | 56 | 9 |
| Pizza | 52 | #233 of 520 | 44 | 8.4 | $4.1M | 80 | 104 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 52 | #259 of 537 | 70 | 13.3 | $2.6M | 84 | 104 |
| Grocery stores | 49 | #274 of 506 | 38 | 7.2 | $7.9M | 85 | 29 |
| Property management | 46 | #106 of 180 | 20 | 3.8 | Index only | 66 | 21 |
| Nail salons | 46 | #227 of 387 | 37 | 7.1 | $1.2M | 69 | 7 |
| Tire shops | 45 | #261 of 431 | 34 | 6.5 | $1.4M | 55 | 9 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 43 | #332 of 526 | 51 | 9.7 | $1.1M | 107 | 39 |
| Hair salons | 42 | #360 of 538 | 125 | 23.8 | $343K | 80 | 22 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 37 | #289 of 378 | 30 | 5.7 | $1.1M | 52 | 10 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 36 | #430 of 535 | 76 | 14.5 | $417K | 63 | 19 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 36 | #438 of 538 | 258 | 49.2 | $166K | 78 | 36 |
| Real estate | 36 | #451 of 536 | 186 | 35.5 | Index only | 91 | 103 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 36 | #451 of 533 | 152 | 29.0 | Index only | 89 | 64 |
| Barbershops | 35 | #286 of 377 | 42 | 8.0 | $1M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 8 | 1.5 | $11.2M | 72 | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.6 | $15.7M | 114 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the New Bern area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $47M | $896 | 93 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $153.5M | $2,927 | 113 |
| Food away from home | $178.7M | $3,407 | 84 |
| Groceries | $298.7M | $5,694 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $42.9M | $817 | 81 |
| Child care and other personal services | $19.7M | $375 | 65 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $31.7M | $604 | 61 |
| Medical and dental services | $53.6M | $1,022 | 79 |
| Pets | $42M | $800 | 88 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $89.9M | $1,713 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $131.8M | $2,512 | 128 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $137.1M | $2,614 | 87 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $71M | $1,353 | 96 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $736.8M | $14,047 | 84 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the New Bern area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 127,358+3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 52,452
- Median age
- 42.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 71%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,514 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 82
- Median household income
- $64,475+26.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $83,832
- Median home value
- $220,600
- Jobs located here
- 40,439
- Daytime population
- 116,417Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the New Bern area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the New Bern area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the New Bern area 3
- Craven County, NC102,612 people
- Pamlico County, NC12,390 people
- Jones County, NC9,302 people
Other markets based in North Carolina 12
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area2,768,407 people
- Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area1,487,302 people
- Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area786,419 people
- Winston-Salem, NC metro area689,766 people
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area601,724 people
- Wilmington, NC metro area453,347 people
- Asheville, NC metro area414,711 people
- Fayetteville, NC metro area392,380 people
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area368,316 people
- Jacksonville, NC metro area207,906 people
- Greenville, NC metro area177,193 people
- Burlington, NC metro area176,893 people
Questions
How fast is the New Bern, NC area growing?
Population estimates put the New Bern area at 127,358 people in 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 52,452 households. Median household income rose 26.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the New Bern, NC area spend?
Households in the New Bern area spend about $736.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $298.7M on groceries and $178.7M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the New Bern area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 128, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (61).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the New Bern, NC area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the New Bern area are for funeral homes (83), gas stations (82) and insurance agencies (80). The New Bern area ranks #19 of 365 scored small-town markets for funeral homes.
How does the New Bern, NC area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the New Bern area is $64,475 a year, 20% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $220,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the New Bern area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (71% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for chiropractors (43% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 52 of the 56 business types have a score in the New Bern area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the New Bern area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the New Bern area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the New Bern area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.