The New Bern Appearance Commissiâ¦ READ MORE. New Bern is centrally located along the coast of North Carolina. It is the largest city in Craven County, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is home to approximately 30,216 people. Research gathered during the 2012 census indicates that about 23% of city residents are under the age of 18 and about 16% are age 65 or older.