CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
D

Is New Bern, North Carolina Safe?

Population 34,724 · Safer than 15% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

New Bern has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 271.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,517 per 100K.

New Bern Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricNew BernNorth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate342.9317.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2371.92053.51,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate286.0--268.2
Theft Rate1517.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate390.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

271.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

343/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2372/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for New Bern

Violent crime in New Bern is close to the national average. The rate of 342.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2371.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,517 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

New Bern Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault286
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery64
01.0x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary360
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,517
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft390
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How New Bern Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

New Bern
342.9
State
317.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

New Bern
2371.9
State
2053.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Bern Safety

Is New Bern safe?
Not especially. New Bern earns a D with a crime rate of 271.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in New Bern?
271.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 342.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2371.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is New Bern safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. New Bern's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,517 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in New Bern?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in New Bern generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the New Bern police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in New Bern?
No. Crime in New Bern has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does New Bern compare to other cities in North Carolina?
Below average for the state. New Bern ranks behind about 89% of North Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is New Bern to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in New Bern?
Bad. A D grade and 271.5 per-thousand rate put New Bern below 85% of US cities. Violent crime at 343 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in New Bern?
342.9 per 100,000, which is 6% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (286), robbery (64), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

Similar-sized communities in North Carolina. Compare crime rates across the state.

D+
See crime rates in Goldsboro35,012 pop · Grade D+
C+
See crime rates in Cornelius35,094 pop · Grade C+
C-
See crime rates in Sanford34,138 pop · Grade C-
D
See crime rates in Leland35,731 pop · Grade D
D+
See crime rates in Matthews32,769 pop · Grade D+
C
See crime rates in Clayton32,633 pop · Grade C
View all North Carolina city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in New Bern

Get weekly safety updates for New Bern

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities