Photo: Tradewinds · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, New Bern is healthier than 71%
New Bern differs from North Carolina on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for New Bern. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in New Bern
New Bern is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, New Bern is healthier than 47%. Against the 9,181 towns with similar household incomes ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 71%. Health Grade ↓
Every town around New Bern scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of New Bern’s B−, from James City (B) to Trent Woods (A+). Around town ↓
Stroke, heart disease and cancer run high in New Bern
1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.6% across North Carolina. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.8%), vs 6.6% across North Carolina. Cancer is also above the state: 9.3%, vs 7.9% across North Carolina. In all, New Bern runs above North Carolina on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in New Bern, and more people treating it
42% of adults have high blood pressure (North Carolina 36.8%), but 80.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.7% statewide. Checkups ↓
New Bern has a top-rated hospital
Carolina East Medical Center is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the North Carolina figure falls outside New Bern’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind New Bern’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Bern is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #165 of 289 in North Carolina. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 24%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). New Bern’s median household income is $61,031; among the 9,181 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 71%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where New Bern compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.5% (U.S. 76.5%).
New Bern and the towns around it
New Bern’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern | B− | 37.3% | 13.9% | 13.8% | CDC place |
| Trent Woods | A+ | 29.3% | 9.6% | 7.5% | CDC place |
| James City | B | 36.1% | 12.5% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Brices Creek | B+ | 35% | 11.6% | 12.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 New Bern adults…
New Bern runs above NC on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of New Bern adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.
Care in and near New Bern
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in New Bern, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of New Bern; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina
Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.
17 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How New Bern adults are doing
About the same as North Carolina on each measure.
1 in 3 New Bern adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.3% of New Bern adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of New Bern adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for New Bern
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, New Bern is better than North Carolina on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside New Bern’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | New Bern | NC | U.S. | vs NC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21%18.5–23.7 | 19% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 16.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.3%30.1–45.4 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.9%12.1–15.9 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42%37.9–46.4 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.4%33.2–42 | 35.6% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.3%28–34.9 | 26.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%7–8.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 7.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–4.8 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.8%12.8–19 | 13.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 13.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26%21.9–30.4 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.9%10.6–15.8 | 14.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.3%27.1–39.9 | 34.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.1%8.7–11.6 | 10.4% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.5%79.5–85.6 | 80% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%57.8–65.2 | 63.6% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.6%87.1–90.2 | 87.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.5%77.9–83 | 76.7% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.6%65.7–75.2 | 65.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.5%71–84.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.4%20–27.3 | 24.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.8%28.5–38.9 | 32.5% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.9%19.4–26.4 | 22.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.7%14.5–19 | 15.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%10.9–14.4 | 12.2% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 8.1% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%8–10.1 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.3%12.4–16.2 | 12.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.8%30.6–39.2 | 32% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.9%14.9–19.1 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.4–16.8 | 14.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.6–9.5 | 7.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.6–6.7 | 5.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.1%8.2–10.1 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 4% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the North Carolina figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in New Bern
Is New Bern a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, New Bern is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #165 of 289 in North Carolina. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in New Bern?
CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 45.4%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to New Bern?
Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern, 1.4 miles in a straight line from New Bern’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in New Bern have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–11.6%), against 10.4% across North Carolina.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in New Bern more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in New Bern.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.