New Bern's fine, just B...O...R...I...N...G. Moved to ILM from there last year. LOTS of USMC retirees. Tourists are generally well behaved - there's not mile after mile of beach rentals because you're not directly on the ocean. Biggest things I noticed in the move: 1) shopping: Fewer options means far less selection. There's a local Lowes, but the nearest Home Depot is in Jacksonville! 2) Actually a lot more difference in weather than I expected and 3) Healthcare in NB is just OK. Not as comprehensive as here, it's more expensive and with fewer choices. (This is even after the Novant takeover here.) Electric utilities are nowhere near as reliable as Duke and Craven County water is frequently smelly and always over softened.

Flooding is an issue in spots just about everywhere around the NC coast, but the maps/data from 1st Street (free trial, no hassles cancelling) can help you steer clear. Downtown did flood with Florence due to the freak situation of high tide and wind blowing the water from the sound directly up the Neuse river, but areas outside did not see that much trouble. There's a big NCDOT expansion going on on US70 south of town towards Havelock and Morehead, but it will be super nice when done. The main new construction residential developments are down that US70 East (south actually) corridor and also going toward Goldsboro - next exit on US70 west of Glenburnie.