HomeNorth CarolinaCraven County
Craven County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Craven County, North Carolina had an estimated 104,167 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 100,731, across 709 square miles. County output reached $6.91 bn in 2024, 2,224 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 61 7(a) approvals worth $50.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Craven County
How many people live in Craven County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024102,612
- Households42,871
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$65,873
- Median age38.8
- Median gross rent$1,110 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$231,600
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over69,624
- Population under 1821,819
- Share under 1821.3 percent
- Population 65 and over21,446
- Share 65 and over20.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6459,347
- Civilian labor force43,245
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.5 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties28th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included608th of 3,222
Craven County is the 28th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.3 percent against 20.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Craven County
Is Craven County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024104,167
- Census 2020 base population100,731
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.41 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024838
- Births, 20241,282
- Deaths, 20241,261
- Natural change, 202421
- Net domestic migration, 2024625
- Net international migration, 2024182
- Total net migration, 2024807
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,407
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents791st of 3,144
The county has grown 3.41 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Craven County
Where are people moving to Craven County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,211
- People arriving, from those returns7,866
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,655
- Net household movement556
- Adjusted gross income arriving$263.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$58.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,608
- Average income of a leaving household$56,155
- Largest single originCarteret County (314 households)
- Largest single destinationOnslow County (248 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County | 314 | 575 | $17.6 m |
| Onslow County | 208 | 411 | $9.2 m |
| Pitt County | 141 | 254 | $6.9 m |
| Wake County | 137 | 248 | $10.8 m |
| Pamlico County | 119 | 223 | $5.8 m |
| San Diego County | 80 | 181 | $6.4 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 68 | 198 | $4.5 m |
| Jones County | 57 | 96 | $2.3 m |
Households arriving report $6,453 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Carteret County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Craven County
What is the Craven County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$6.91 bn
- County GDP, 2023$6.48 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.6 percent
- GDP change over five years31.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the North Carolina areas BEA publishes23rd of 100
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes592nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,367
Output grew 6.6 percent in the latest year and 31.9 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Craven County
Employment by industry in Craven County
- Covered employment, annual average40,890
- Establishments reporting2,740
- Average annual pay$55,634
- Average weekly wage$1,070
- Retail trade, employment5,379
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,866
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,613
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,647
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,222
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,335
- Manufacturing, employment3,682
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$69,730
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment2,039
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,551
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 5,379 | 377 | $34,866 |
| Health care and social assistance | 4,613 | 291 | $55,647 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,222 | 261 | $21,335 |
| Manufacturing | 3,682 | 74 | $69,730 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,039 | 335 | $80,553 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,551 | 182 | $40,409 |
| Construction | 1,419 | 248 | $59,856 |
| Other services, except public administration | 799 | 228 | $36,689 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 5,379 jobs, 13.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Craven County
How many businesses are in Craven County?
- Establishments, all industries2,224
- Employment at those establishments30,858
- Annual payroll$1.50 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.7
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Craven County
Building permits in Craven County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024485
- Declared construction value permitted$108.7 m
- Single family units authorized466
- Multifamily units authorized19
- Multifamily share of units3.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$224,035
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.3
Single-family homes are 96.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Craven County
SBA loans in Craven County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded61
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$50.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$827,439
- Median 7(a) approval$500,000
- 10th percentile approval$100,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,110,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,006
- Jobs per approval16.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active26
- Distinct industries receiving approvals36
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer27.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms17
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter41
- Franchise loans14
- Franchise share of approvals23.0 percent
- Most active lenderLive Oak Banking Company (8)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.7 m
- Average 504 approval$612,833
- Median 504 approval$596,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval10.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.7
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$54.2 m
The average approval of $827,439 sits well above the median of $500,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 27.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Craven County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Craven County
Do SBA loans in Craven County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full8
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure42
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Paid in full8
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 8 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Craven County
SBA lending by place in Craven County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- New Bern, approvals40
- Havelock, approvals16
- Vanceboro, approvals3
- Bridgeton, approvals1
- Cove City, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| New Bern | 40 | $33,031,900 |
| Havelock | 16 | $16,408,500 |
| Vanceboro | 3 | $334,000 |
| Bridgeton | 1 | $595,900 |
| Cove City | 1 | $103,500 |
New Bern accounts for 40 approvals against 16 in Havelock. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Craven County
How large is Craven County?
- Land area709 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties15th of 100
- Width, east to west46.4 mi
- Height, north to south42.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land145
- Establishments per square mile3.14
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Craven County
Flood risk in Craven County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Craven County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 370072
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
- Radon levels in Craven County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Craven County (community 370072), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Craven County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Craven County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Craven County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024102,612
- Households42,871
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$65,873
- Median age38.8
Common questions
Craven County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Craven County, North Carolina?
The Census Bureau estimates 104,167 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 102,612, in 42,871 households, ranking 28th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Craven County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.41 percent since the 2020 census base of 100,731, to 104,167 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,282 births against 1,261 deaths, with net migration of 807. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Craven County?
$65,873. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $231,600, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,110 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Craven County?
2,224 establishments, employing 30,858 people with an annual payroll of $1.50 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Craven County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 5,379 jobs, 13.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 40,890 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,634, or $1,070 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Craven County?
61 7(a) approvals totaling $50.5 m since FY2020, across 26 lenders, with a median approval of $500,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $3.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Craven County?
485 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $108.7 m. Multifamily was 3.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Craven County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Craven County come from?
The largest single origin is Carteret County, with 314 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,608 against $56,155 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Craven County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Craven County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Craven County
Cities and places in Craven.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Craven County. All 13 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Bern | city | 32,734 | 40 | Wholly in this county |
| Havelock | city | 17,691 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| James City | CDP | 4,789 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Trent Woods | town | 4,032 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Brices Creek | CDP | 3,415 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairfield Harbour | CDP | 2,948 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| River Bend | town | 2,874 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Neuse Forest | CDP | 2,671 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cherry Branch | CDP | 1,684 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vanceboro | town | 1,030 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Cove City | town | 504 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Bridgeton | town | 427 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Dover | town | 404 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |