1st Advantage MortgageAbout 68% of Craven County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $65,873. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Craven County
- The Craven County job picture
- Household income in Craven County
- Renting and owning in Craven County
- Regional comparison for Craven County
- Craven County towns compared
- What a median Craven County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Craven County
- Who lives in Craven County, in numbers
- North Carolina rules that apply in Craven County
- Steps before you apply in Craven County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Craven County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Craven County's population at 102,612; only 27 of North Carolina's 100 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 707 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 145 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Craven County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (8 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is New Bern, with about 32,734 residents, or 32% of the county.
The Craven County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with North Carolina, the county leans toward public administration (10% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Top industries | Craven County share | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Public administration | 10.0% | +5.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -2.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Craven County
Craven County households have a median income of $65,873 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 35th of 100 in North Carolina.
| Households earning | Craven County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.4% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -4.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Craven County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 13.7% of Craven County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.450 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Craven County median.
Renting and owning in Craven County
Renters in Craven County pay a median of $1,110 a month, 10% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $231,600, about 3.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 68% of homes.
| Cost | Craven County | North Carolina figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,110/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,600 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.6% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | n/a |
Regional comparison for Craven County
Jones County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Carteret County, is 36 miles off. Carteret County leads the group on income ($72,322), Lenoir County trails ($45,143), and Craven County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craven County | - | $65,873 | $1,110/mo | 68% |
| Jones County, NC | 17 mi | $59,641 | $747/mo | 79% |
| Pamlico County, NC | 24 mi | $59,717 | $752/mo | 83% |
| Beaufort County, NC | 29 mi | $58,357 | $871/mo | 70% |
| Lenoir County, NC | 32 mi | $45,143 | $861/mo | 59% |
| Onslow County, NC | 34 mi | $68,148 | $1,265/mo | 64% |
| Carteret County, NC | 36 mi | $72,322 | $1,108/mo | 75% |
Craven County towns compared
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 73% of Craven County residents live in one of the 13. Incomes vary by place: $107,802 at the median in Trent Woods, $34,514 in Vanceboro. Median rent ranges from $492 in Vanceboro to $1,758 in Fairfield Harbour. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern | city | 32,734 | $61,031 | $1,081 | 1 mi |
| Havelock | city | 17,691 | $58,408 | $1,280 | 18 mi |
| James City | CDP | 4,789 | $58,973 | $1,019 | 7 mi |
| Trent Woods | town | 4,032 | $107,802 | $1,385 | 2 mi |
| Brices Creek | CDP | 3,415 | $85,723 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Fairfield Harbour | CDP | 2,948 | $72,583 | $1,758 | 8 mi |
| River Bend | town | 2,874 | $71,824 | $1,289 | 5 mi |
| Neuse Forest | CDP | 2,671 | $84,500 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Cherry Branch | CDP | 1,684 | $104,432 | $1,706 | 20 mi |
| Vanceboro | town | 1,030 | $34,514 | $492 | 14 mi |
| Cove City | town | 504 | $41,522 | $1,016 | 14 mi |
| Bridgeton | town | 427 | $38,929 | $1,010 | 4 mi |
| Dover | town | 404 | $37,250 | $929 | 21 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Craven County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Craven County's medians:
- $5,489 a month: gross income for a household at the Craven County median
- Rent at the median, $1,110, takes 20% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,250 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Craven County's.
Borrowing situations common in Craven County
Where the Craven County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Who lives in Craven County, in numbers
28% of Craven County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Craven County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.5% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Craven County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
North Carolina rules that apply in Craven County
Consumer lenders serving Craven County are licensed by the state, not the county; in North Carolina that is the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The North Carolina guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Craven County
Quick steps for Craven County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for North Carolina borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the North Carolina guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Craven County?
$65,873 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,388 for North Carolina. It ranks 35th of 100 in the state.
What do renters pay in Craven County?
$1,110 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Craven County?
By population: New Bern, Havelock, James City, Trent Woods, Brices Creek. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Does living in Craven County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Craven County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Craven County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.