Morristown, TN vs New Bern, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

New Bern, NC has a modeled overall cost index 0.2% lower than Morristown, TN.

Morristown, TN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,130 / month
New Bern, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,190 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Morristown, TN and New Bern, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $122/month in New Bern, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,458 in New Bern, NC

Regional cost estimates: Morristown, TN uses Lexington, KY. New Bern, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 0.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$122
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$1.5K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Morristown, TN

Population:32K
Cost Index:
85.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$251K

New Bern, NC

Population:32K
Cost Index:
85.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$285K

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Morristown, TN

The Volunteer State

32K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 32K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

New Bern, NC

The Tar Heel State

32K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 32K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Morristown, TN vs New Bern, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

All Utilities
↑ 15.1%
Morristown, TN
$518
New Bern, NC
$596
Difference
$77.93
more
Healthcare
↑ 6.6%
Morristown, TN
$615
New Bern, NC
$655
Difference
$40.48
more
Groceries
↓ 2.2%
Morristown, TN
$1,069
New Bern, NC
$1,046
Difference
$23.56
less
Housing
↑ 1.0%
Morristown, TN
$2,248
New Bern, NC
$2,270
Difference
$21.47
more
Transportation
↑ 1.0%
Morristown, TN
$1,298
New Bern, NC
$1,312
Difference
$13.18
more
Other
↓ 0.5%
Morristown, TN
$1,752
New Bern, NC
$1,744
Difference
$7.97
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$875
To$900
↑ $25.00
1 Bed
From$885
To$910
↑ $25.00
2 Bed
From$1,130
To$1,190
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,435
To$1,600
↑ $165
Morristown, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $870–$900/mo

New Bern, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Morristown, TN
$7,622
Monthly in New Bern, NC
$122
Difference

Home Values

Morristown
New Bern
$251K
Median Value
$285K
↑ +1.7%
YoY Change
↑ +2.1%
↑ +50.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +50.3%
$226K - $277K
Price Range
$262K - $308K

Homes in New Bern are 13% more expensive than Morristown

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $7.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$594
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Morristown, TN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Tennessee State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

New Bern, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Morristown, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%
Property Tax:0.7%

New Bern, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Morristown
New Bern
41 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
79.2%
Good Air Days
61.7%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
96 High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days

Before moving from Morristown, TN to New Bern, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in New Bern, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Morristown, TN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Morristown to New Bern moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to New Bern, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Morristown, TN vs New Bern, NC

How do the cost estimates for Morristown, TN and New Bern, NC compare?

New Bern, NC has a modeled overall cost index 0.2% lower than Morristown, TN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Morristown, TN, the model estimates $151,458 in New Bern, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Morristown, TN and New Bern, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Morristown, TN and $1,190/month in New Bern, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Tennessee and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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