CensusEasy
COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Buncombe County

North Carolina · 174,821 residents · 656.49 sq mi
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The short version

Buncombe County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $25,847. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 31,509 residents. Median home value is $64,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 36.8
US median: 33.0
Average education
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 17%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
174,821
−15%vs 2000
vs 206,330 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
266 / sq mi
−15%vs 2000
vs 314 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
Median age
36.8
−5%vs 2000
vs 38.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
165K195K225K254K284K1990201020202024Buncombe County
2024274K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$25,847
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $36,666 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,211
−35%vs 2000
vs $20,384 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
11.4%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 11.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$64,300
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $102,200 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$372
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $551 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
70.3%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 70.3% in 2000
29.7% rent
Afford Score
2.5
−11%vs 2000
vs 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buncombe County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic87.6%(180,721)
Black7.4%(15,310)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(5,730)
Asian0.7%(1,354)
Other0%
Diversity Score25.2%(52,054)
1990
White, non-Hispanic91%(159,005)
Black8.1%(14,108)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(1,161)
Asian0.5%(943)
Other0.4%(765)
Diversity Score22.1%(38,704)
Diversity Score
22
−12%vs 2000
vs 25 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.1%
−6.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 25.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
74.5%
−7.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 81.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
6.7%
−2.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+38%vs 2000
vs 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Buncombe County

Canyon County
Pop 275,123
Madison County
Pop 263,110
Kalamazoo County
Pop 263,795
Atlantic County
Pop 278,657
Places similar to Buncombe County
Head to head

Compare Buncombe County to nearby counties

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Henderson County
Income$68,187+164%
Home value$351,400+447%
Population122,375−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$58,531+126%
Home value$284,600+343%
Population22,553−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Yancey County
Income$58,709+127%
Home value$243,100+278%
Population19,084−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income$61,912+140%
Home value$279,200+334%
Population63,369−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

Buncombe County, North Carolina has about 174,821 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

The typical household in Buncombe County, North Carolina earns about $25,847 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buncombe County, North Carolina expensive?

In Buncombe County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $64,300, and the typical rent is about $372 a month.

How educated are people in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

About 19.1% of adults age 25 and over in Buncombe County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

About 11.4% of people in Buncombe County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

65 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 30.02Census Tract 22.04Census Tract 22.05Census Tract 26.04Census Tract 23.03Census Tract 22.03Census Tract 30.03Census Tract 26.06Census Tract 20Census Tract 32.03Census Tract 25.05Census Tract 21.02Census Tract 18.02Census Tract 24.02Census Tract 23.05Census Tract 28.04Census Tract 25.04Census Tract 25.03Census Tract 22.06Census Tract 27.02
16 ZIP codes
ZIP 28806ZIP 28803ZIP 28715ZIP 28804ZIP 28704ZIP 28787ZIP 28805ZIP 28801ZIP 28778ZIP 28711ZIP 28748ZIP 28730ZIP 28701ZIP 28709ZIP 28757ZIP 28770
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →