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We're thinking of moving to New Bern. We're from Massachusetts on border of RI. Taxes are high, cost of living through the roof, great medical. Im retiredand my wife will be retiring shortly. We visited New Bern a few years ago and liked what we saw. What can you tell us about life there from codt of living, housing, medical, taxes, utilities, etc. Thanks for your help
We lived in Havelock, NC which is about 20 miles from New Bern. We were often in New Bern for various things. The water front is very nice. The hospital is great. Never had an issue there. The cost of living is a little higher seeing as its bigger the Havelock but its not terrible. I dont know about the utilities or taxes though. If you like history New Bern is filled with it and has a great historical district and it also has a nice small town feel for downtown. There is also a great farmers market which is open year round with local produce and other local merchandise. If I would have retired from the Marine Corps in that area I think we would have moved there.
New Bern is pretty neat place with a very well laid out downtown area that has grown quite a bit in the 5 years since I moved to NC. I'm from Massachusetts also, and although I don't live in New Bern, I've never once regretted moving away from Mass
A fairly detailed post of mine is in the first thread provided in post #3.
Pretty much feel the same.
One positive is US 17 is 4 lane to Jacksonville. It is really a very easy drive to the more abundant retail there. We go down there frequently to visit our daughter. So much better than the old two way road.
In addition, the flood zones or flood plains are being revised, if you get too aggressive with waterfront property you might flood. Minimal risk in most (the vast majority) of New Bern.
We're thinking of moving to New Bern. We're from Massachusetts on border of RI. Taxes are high, cost of living through the roof, great medical. Im retiredand my wife will be retiring shortly. We visited New Bern a few years ago and liked what we saw. What can you tell us about life there from codt of living, housing, medical, taxes, utilities, etc. Thanks for your help
I recently semi-retired to New Bern from the Birmingham, AL area. I went to college and beyond in New England. We moved to the south (Charleston, SC) for my first job and spent ten years before moving for my job to Birmingham. Charleston was where we originally wanted to return for retirement, but since we left there in 2000 it has gotten prohibitively expensive, crowded, and overdeveloped. So we began looking for a "kinder gentler" version of Charleston and discovered New Bern. New Bern is no Charleston (in terms of dining scene, affluence, and cultural amenities), but it is also no Charleston in terms of cost of living, traffic, and congestion/overdevelopment. Yet. And now that we are here I really appreciate the small town features that we enjoy here but that would not exist in Charleston or similarly sized cities.
We purchased a home in the downtown historic district (two, actually, but are in the process of selling the first home). It is fantastic to be able to walk out the door and walk to restaurants, local pubs with live music, local theater, the waterfront (which surrounds the city on two sides), parks, shopping, a farmers' market, at least one art gallery built in an old bank, and on and on. We purchased recumbent trikes and they are a blast to toot around town in.
You won't find big name department chain stores, Costco, or a a Sam's club here, but there is ample retail here and nowadays I satisfy my Costco jones and lots of other shopping online anyway. I very much enjoy unique Mom and Pop businesses here (e.g. the fascinating Mitchell's Hardware store). We have not yet even begun to explore the greater area, but look forward to visiting the outer banks, Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle, Jacksonville and surrounds, Wilmington, and historic towns like Washington and Bath in the upcoming year or two.
In the end (of course) it totally depends on what is important to you and exactly how you want to spend your retirement. If you are a bon vivant and must dine out only at the finest restaurants, you may not be happy here. There are only a few very good restaurants (try Cypress Hall if you visit), but as a result we now cook more at home (and do pretty well) which is probably healthier and more cost-effective anyway. And trips to nearby restaurants like The Chef and Farmer in Kinston become fun road trips/adventures. We are (believe it or not) actually going to Raleigh for our next anniversary as it is the closest "big city" and we wanted to familiarize ourselves with it anyway....seemed like a good opportunity. We find the people here VERY welcoming and friendly. There is an active newcomer's group, photography club, even a club for people who like us like to ride recumbent trikes. The beach is close enough to be convenient but far enough not to mire the local roads in beach traffic. The weather is NC coastal. Hurricanes are a risk, of course, but to my knowledge not moreso than other places on the southeast cost. There is a good, convenient airport 10 minutes from my home in the downtown area that services (small) Delta and American jets.
I may be rationalizing or trying to convince myself, but I think we made a very good choice retiring to New Bern. Please feel free to contact me with questions....but remember that I'm a newbie!
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New Bern observations
