The Town FilesNeuse Forest, North Carolina
Community in Craven County · population 2,110 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,000
- Household income
- $84,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 36.2
Neuse Forest is a community of 2,110 people in Craven County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $228,000, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of North Carolina towns, more seaside character than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Neuse Forest ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Neuse Forest is worth $228,000, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $84,500, which is more affordable than 87% of North Carolina towns. 80.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Neuse Forest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $84,500 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 80.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Neuse Forest
| People | Neuse Forest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 22.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 99.3% | 89.5% |
Weather in Neuse Forest
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 36.3°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Neuse Forest since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2011 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 28, 2014.
Severe weather in Craven County since 1996
Craven County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Craven County
Craven County had 40,890 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,634 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Neuse Forest itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Neuse Forest
- Havelock, NC4.6 mi · 16,621 people · home $207,700
- James City, NC6.3 mi · 5,291 people · home $204,400
- Minnesott Beach, NC7.0 mi · 530 people · home $292,200
- Fairfield Harbour, NC7.3 mi · 2,767 people · home $300,600
- Cherry Branch, NC7.8 mi · 1,211 people · home $262,200
- Brices Creek, NC9.2 mi · 3,542 people · home $338,700
- New Bern, NC11.4 mi · 31,291 people · home $240,100
- Trent Woods, NC11.6 mi · 4,074 people · home $343,100
Neuse Forest questions
Is Neuse Forest, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Neuse Forest scores better for retirees than 36% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 1%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Neuse Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Neuse Forest is valued at $228,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,500, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Neuse Forest?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 36.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Neuse Forest get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Neuse Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 16, 2011. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)