CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Buncombe County

North Carolina · 206,330 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 $36,666. Population has grown 18% since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $102,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.9
US median: 35.2
Average education
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
206,330
+18%since 1990
from 174,821 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
314 / sq mi
+18%since 1990
from 266 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
38.9
+6%since 1990
from 36.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
165K195K225K254K284K1990201020202024Buncombe County
2024274K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,666
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,847 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,384
+54%since 1990
from $13,211 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
11.4%
Unchangedsince 1990
from 11.4% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$102,200
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $64,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$551
+12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $372 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
70.3%
Unchangedsince 1990
from 70.3% in 1990
29.7% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+12%since 1990
from 2.5 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buncombe County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

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

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.3%
+6.1 ptssince 1990
from 19.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
81.9%
+7.4 ptssince 1990
from 74.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.9%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 6.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.3 min
−28%since 1990
from 18.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
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+86%
Home value$351,400+244%
Population122,375−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$58,531+60%
Home value$284,600+178%
Population22,553−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Yancey County
Income$58,709+60%
Home value$243,100+138%
Population19,084−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income$61,912+69%
Home value$279,200+173%
Population63,369−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

Buncombe County, North Carolina has about 206,330 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Buncombe County, North Carolina earns about $36,666 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 $102,200, and the typical rent is about $551 a month.

How educated are people in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

About 25.3% 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.

Has Buncombe County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Buncombe County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 31,509 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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 →