Signals
New Bern
Brunswick-St. Simons
Growth
66 · Top 25%
vs72 · Top 16%
Climate
75 · Top 20%
vs81 · Top 4%
Physical resilience
17 · Bottom 7%
vs35 · Bottom 24%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 38%
vs89 · Bottom 35%
Access
80 · Top 44%
vs99 · Top 4%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 31%
vs20 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | New Bern | Brunswick-St. Simons | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 124,304 | 115,074 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,475 | $66,623 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,387 | $39,483 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 82/sq mi | 89/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $220,600 | $242,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,079 | $1,080 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.8% | 69.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 28.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 663 | 725 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.3 | 6.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -1.3% | -7.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 44°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.0" | 45.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 8 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.0 | 43.6 | 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
New Bern
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Brunswick-St. Simons
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire, coastal flooding.
Your best match
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New Bern
61
Your Score
—
Area Score
Brunswick-St. Simons
68
Your Score
70
Area Score
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Full profiles: New Bern, NC Micro Area · Brunswick-St. Simons, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology