United States › North Carolina › Buncombe County COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS
Buncombe County North Carolina · 174,821 residents · 656 sq mi
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The short version
With 174,821 people, Buncombe County is a county in North Carolina. At a median age of 36.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Median home value sits at $64,300. Owners hold 70% of the housing stock. There are 31,509 fewer people here than in 2000. The median household earns $25,847, about 14% below the national median.
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 vs 38.9 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
165K 195K 225K 254K 284K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Buncombe County Age distribution, 1990
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $25,847
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $36,666 in 2000
US average: $30,130
vs $20,384 in 2000
US average: $14,340
vs 11.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
$64,300
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $102,200 in 2000
US average: $93,722
$372
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $551 in 2000
US average: $450
vs 70.3% in 2000
29.7% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 87.6%(180,721)
Hispanic / Latino 2.8%(5,730)
1990
White, non-Hispanic 91%(159,005)
Hispanic / Latino 0.7%(1,161)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data vs 25.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
vs 81.9% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
vs 8.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06
Commute & transportation 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.
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 39.9%(44,730)
Women 15+
Never married 32.5%(39,808)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 16.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 49.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 15.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 67.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 34.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 19.3%(2,736)
Gulf War (1990s) 21.8%(3,093)
Share of the 14,160 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
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%
Population 122,375 −56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income $58,531 +126%
Home value $284,600 +343%
Population 22,553 −92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Yancey County
Income $58,709 +127%
Home value $243,100 +278%
Population 19,084 −93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income $61,912 +140%
Home value $279,200 +334%
Population 63,369 −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.
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