Neuse Forest, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Neuse Forest is a small community located in North Carolina, within Craven County. The total population is 2,671. It ranks as the 287th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Neuse Forest is 36.2 years. This is 7% lower than the state median of 39.1 years. With 29.8% of the population under 18, Neuse Forest has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Neuse Forest is $84,500. This is 17% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 5% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.6%. This is 65% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $228,000. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $288,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Neuse Forest is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Neuse Forest has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 8.1%. The Black or African American population (8.1%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 11.3%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

31.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Neuse Forest, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.