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CITY · INCORPORATED 1797 · 2020 ACS

Asheville

North Carolina · 94,589 residents · 45.465 sq mi
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The short version

Asheville has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $53,621. Population has grown 37% since 2000. 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $291,800. 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
50% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 85%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
94,589
+37%since 2000
from 68,889 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,080 / sq mi
+37%since 2000
from 1,515 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.4
+1%since 2000
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
58K68K78K88K98K1990201020202024Asheville
202495K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,621
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,772 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,035
+75%since 2000
from $20,024 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.2%
+12.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information10.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.2%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance2.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$291,800
+85%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $105,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,084
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $562 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
48.0%
−8.7 ptssince 2000
from 56.8% in 2000
52.0% rent
Afford Score
5.4
+70%since 2000
from 3.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Asheville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic76%(52,340)
Black17.5%(12,054)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(2,589)
Asian0.9%(630)
Other0%
Diversity Score45.9%(31,639)
2020
White, non-Hispanic74.3%(70,252)
Black10.3%(9,752)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(7,657)
Asian1.6%(1,504)
Other3%(2,795)
Diversity Score49.6%(46,942)
Diversity Score
50
+8%since 2000
from 46 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
49.9%
+19.5 ptssince 2000
from 30.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.6%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
20.2%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.7 min
+53%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.3%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 65.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
43.3%
−24.5 ptssince 2009
from 67.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
52.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
7.3%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.3%
−71.0 ptssince 2013
from 82.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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Compare Asheville to nearby cities

ASHEVILLE VS
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Income$71,384+33%
Home value$366,700+26%
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ASHEVILLE VS
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Home value$331,100+13%
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ASHEVILLE VS
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Home value$358,900+23%
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ASHEVILLE VS
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Home value$317,000+9%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Asheville, North Carolina?

Asheville, North Carolina has about 94,589 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Asheville, North Carolina?

The typical household in Asheville, North Carolina earns about $53,621 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Asheville, North Carolina expensive?

In Asheville, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $291,800, and the typical rent is about $1,084 a month.

How educated are people in Asheville, North Carolina?

About 49.9% of adults age 25 and over in Asheville, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Asheville, North Carolina?

About 13.3% of people in Asheville, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Asheville, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Asheville, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 32,935 residents, a change of about 53 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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