D-
10%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
37%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
4%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleNew Bern/100k peopleNorth Carolina/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime805n/a (estimate)2,5462,4692,324
Murder3n/a9.58.16.3
Rape11n/a34.830.540.0
Robbery12n/a38.054.966.1
Assault134n/a423.9311.6268.2
Violent crime160n/a (estimate)506405370
Burglary146n/a461.8370.8269.8
Theft466n/a1,474.01,494.01,401.9
Vehicle theft33n/a104.4199.3282.7
Property crime645n/a (estimate)2,0402,0641,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in New Bern, NC

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the New Bern crime rate is higher than the national average by 9.6%. Specifically, there were 160 violent crimes in New Bern, equivalent to 506 per 100,000 individuals, higher than the national average by 36.9%. Furthermore, New Bern recorded 645 property crimes, amounting to 2040 per 100,000 residents, which was higher than the average by 4.4%.

In terms of the total New Bern crime rate per 100,000 people, it falls within the midrange when compared to other cities across the United States. Our analysis of total crimes, encompassing both violent and property offenses in New Bern, revealed that the reported crime rates closely align with the nationwide average reported by other areas.

In the most recent release, New Bern reported a property crime rate that closely aligns with the national average. In New Bern, there were 2040 reported property crimes, a figure consistent with the national average of 1954 per 100,000 individuals. This positions the area as maintaining a level of safety and security on par with the typical city. The harmonious statistics underscore a balanced commitment to community well-being, offering residents a sense of stability and peace in their surroundings.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in New Bern?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in New Bern. Based on the results of the surveys (46 responses), 61% of people felt that there was very little crime in New Bern and felt safe walking alone at night. While 39% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is New Bern a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in New Bern, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. New Bern presents a total crime rate that is 10% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, New Bern experiences an average of 2.21 daily crimes, comprising 0.44 violent incidents and 1.77 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in New Bern Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in New Bern. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in New Bern has decreased by 15.8%. Specifically, violent crime has increased by 4.6%, while property crime has decreased by 19.7%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in New Bern.

Potential Causes for Crime in New Bern

New Bern has a poverty rate of 18.5, while the national average is 15.1. In the past, there has been a direct correlation between high or low poverty rates and high or low crime stats. Elevated poverty levels and income disparities can contribute to heightened criminal activity, as individuals may resort to unlawful means to address their fundamental necessities. While lower poverty levels have led to a reduction in typical crime levels compared to other areas.

New Bern has a population density of 1054.3 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower New Bern crime rates.

The educational level achieved in any given city can influence crime rates significantly. Greater educational achievement is frequently associated with decreased crime rates, as it offers individuals improved job prospects and alternatives to engaging in crime related activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment rates tend to coincide with elevated crime rates. In New Bern, 81% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, in contrast to the national average where 83% have achieved high school graduation.

New Bern crime map



The New Bern crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in New Bern as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The New Bern crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the New Bern crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare New Bern, NC Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • New Bern crime rates are 10% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in New Bern are 37% higher than the national average
      • In New Bern you have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • New Bern is safer than 19% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in New Bern has decreased by 20%

      New Bern, NC Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around New Bern

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        How would you rate the amount of crime in New Bern?
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        See all New Bern poll results

        Daily Crime In New Bern (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in New Bern, NC per 100,000 people. In New Bern, the total number of daily crimes is 1.03 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.10 times more than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in New Bern is 1.25 times more than the North Carolina average and 1.37 times more than the national average. With regards to property crimes, New Bern has a daily crime rate that is 1.01 times less than the North Carolina average and 1.04 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is New Bern (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in North Carolina and all other cities across the US, is New Bern safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that New Bern is safer than 38% of other cities in the state of North Carolina. In addition, New Bern is safer than 19% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all North Carolina and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than New Bern. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that New Bern is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in New Bern

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in New Bern is 1 in 198
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in New Bern is 1 in 50
        The chance of being a victim of crime in New Bern is 1 in 40
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In New Bern, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 198. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 50 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in New Bern is 1 in 40.

        Year Over Year Crime In New Bern (per 100,000 people)

        An analysis of year to year crime rates in New Bern, North Carolina (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. The amount of violent crime in New Bern has decreased by 1%, the amount of property crime in New Bern has decreased by 24%, and the total amount of crime in New Bern has decreased by 20% year over year.

        New Bern police department

        Item New Bern North Carolina National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)10114,511558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.34.83.3
        There are a total of 101 New Bern police officers. This results in 3.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 30% less than the North Carolina average and 2.9% greater than the National average.

        Sex offenders in North Carolina

        State Total offenders North Carolina /100K National /100K
        North Carolina26,293320266
        There are a total of 26,293 sex offenders in North Carolina. This yields a total of 320 sex offenders in North Carolina per 100,000 residents which is 20% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Neuse Forest, NC2,016111564675
        Brices Creek, NC4,158115586701
        Fairfield Harbour, NC2,803116591706
        River Bend, NC3,036153781934
        Maysville, NC1,0010955955
        Trent Woods, NC4,043158807966
        Vanceboro, NC1,0701959921,186
        New Bern, NC29,9855062,0402,546

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Kahului, HI29,9933313,0973,427
        Madison Heights, MI30,0002421,9052,148
        North Chicago, IL29,9674292,5172,946
        Fitchburg, WI30,0323081,3241,632
        Burlingame, CA30,0712033,4933,696
        New Bern, NC29,9855062,0402,546
        Source: The New Bern, NC crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.