How much does it cost to rent in New Bern, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in New Bern, NC is $1,605. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is New Bern cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

New Bern is among the more affordable cities in North Carolina, ranking #86 out of 126 cities at $1,605/mo.

When was New Bern rent data last updated?

New Bern rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · NC

New Bern

Name: Average Rent Prices in New Bern, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 32,734·86th most expensive in North Carolina·New Bern rents are up 5.2% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,605/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.2%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$360

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

New Bern · $1,605

More affordable than 69% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where New Bern's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,605/mo

Expected by trend

$1,613/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where New Bern's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$960

1 BR

$970

2 BR

$1,270

3 BR

$1,700

4 BR+

$2,100

Research median

$1,270/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$19,260/yr

At $1,605/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.2% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

New Bern, NC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,734

Median income

$61,031

Median age

38.9

Renters

40.3%

Age distribution

22.4%

22.7%

21.3%

24.5%

Under 1822.4%

18–3422.7%

35–5421.3%

55–649.1%

65+24.5%

Gender

45.7%

54.3%

Male45.7%

Female54.3%

Race & ethnicity

52.4%

29.6%

White52.4%

Black29.6%

Hispanic7%

Asian5.9%

Other5.1%

Education (25+)

25.9%

37.6%

29.4%

No HS diploma7.2%

HS diploma25.9%

Some college37.6%

Bachelor's+29.4%

Housing tenure

59.7%

40.3%

Owner59.7%

Renter40.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How New Bern, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,294 → $1,605

up 24.0%

Income

$45,829 → $61,031

up 33.2%

Population

31,058 → 32,734

up 5.4%

Renter share

45.7% → 40.3%

-5.4 pts

Bachelor's+

28.9% → 29.4%

+0.5 pts

Median age

40.5 → 38.9

-1.6 yrs

Five years ago, renters in New Bern, NC paid around $1,294 a month. That figure now sits near $1,605, up 24.0% from the 2022 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $45,829 in 2021 to $61,031 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show New Bern, NC adding about 1,676 residents over the five-year window, up 5.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 45.7% to 40.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the New Bern, NC market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about New Bern

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View New Bern rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in New Bern on your salary?

At $1,605/mo, how New Bern rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 21.7% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 30.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 26.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 14.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 11.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 32.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 36.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 29.3% income

affordable

By apartment size

New Bern rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in New Bern. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in New Bern

About renting in New Bern, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in New Bern is $1,605/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $960/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,270/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,700/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($61,031/yr), New Bern ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is New Bern an affordable city for renters?

New Bern is considered moderate for renters. At $1,605/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($61,031/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. New Bern slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in New Bern?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (~$31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,605/mo in New Bern. The local median household income is $61,031/yr, meaning the typical New Bern household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in New Bern?

Rent in New Bern has increased 5.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does New Bern rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

New Bern is one of the more affordable cities in North Carolina for rent, ranking #86 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,605/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than New Bern?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than New Bern ($1,605/mo): Havelock ($1,289/mo), Fairfield Harbour ($1,500/mo).

What percentage of New Bern residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 40.3% of New Bern households are renters, while 59.7% are owner-occupied. New Bern leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does New Bern rent compare to the national average?

New Bern's median rent of $1,605/mo is $360 (18%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #86 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $1,605/mo, rent takes ~32% of New Bern's median household income ($61,031/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

New Bern 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the New Bern affordability calculator →

Nearby cities