Signals
New Bern
Las Cruces
Growth
66 · Top 25%
vs63 · Top 29%
Climate
75 · Top 20%
vs66 · Bottom 49%
Physical resilience
17 · Bottom 7%
vs22 · Bottom 11%
Housing affordability
90 · Bottom 38%
vs86 · Bottom 28%
Access
80 · Top 44%
vs82 · Top 38%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 31%
vs35 · Bottom 26%
Measured values
| Metric | New Bern | Las Cruces | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 124,304 | 224,266 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,475 | $56,848 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,387 | $29,907 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 82/sq mi | 59/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $220,600 | $220,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,079 | $934 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.8% | 65.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 31.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 21.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 663 | 782 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.3 | 3.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -1.3% | -12.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.0" | 10.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 33 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 24.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.0 | 34.3 | 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.
Las Cruces
Elevated or high exposure: drought, inland flooding.
Your best match
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New Bern
61
Your Score
—
Area Score
Las Cruces
57
Your Score
53
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: New Bern, NC Micro Area · Las Cruces, NM Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology