Signals
Lubbock
New Bern
Growth
79 · Top 7%
vs66 · Top 25%
Climate
65 · Bottom 48%
vs75 · Top 20%
Physical resilience
24 · Bottom 13%
vs17 · Bottom 7%
Housing affordability
89 · Bottom 35%
vs90 · Bottom 38%
Access
94 · Top 17%
vs80 · Top 44%
Economic stability
52 · Top 48%
vs37 · Bottom 31%
Measured values
| Metric | Lubbock | New Bern | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 358,708 | 124,304 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,629 | $64,475 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,300 | $36,387 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 68/sq mi | 82/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $202,700 | $220,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,159 | $1,079 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.2% | 70.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.6% | 26.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 14.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,675 | 663 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 5.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.7% | -1.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 27°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 18.3" | 53.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.4 | 41.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lubbock
Elevated or high exposure: drought, hail, strong wind.
New Bern
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Lubbock, TX Metro Area · New Bern, NC Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology