CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Buncombe County

North Carolina · 269,452 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 $55,032. Population has grown 31% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $250,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.1
US median: 38.8
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 63%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
269,452
+31%since 2000
from 206,330 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
410 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 314 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.1
+8%since 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
165K195K225K254K284K1990201020202024Buncombe County
2024274K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,032
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,666 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,835
+66%since 2000
from $20,384 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
36.0%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.8%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance2.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$250,600
+63%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $102,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,019
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $551 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
62.9%
−7.4 ptssince 2000
from 70.3% in 2000
37.1% rent
Afford Score
4.6
+63%since 2000
from 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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic79.7%(214,862)
Black5.6%(15,017)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(21,922)
Asian1.2%(3,274)
Other2.6%(7,049)
Diversity Score39.6%(106,752)
Segregation Score28.2%(75,928)
Diversity Score
40
+57%since 2000
from 25 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
28
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.4%
+16.1 ptssince 2000
from 25.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
91.7%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 81.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
16.3%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+53%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−4.5 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 63.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
39.8%
−24.9 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
52.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
6.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.1%
−72.3 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+24%
Home value$351,400+40%
Population122,375−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$58,531+6%
Home value$284,600+14%
Population22,553−92%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Yancey County
Income$58,709+7%
Home value$243,100−3%
Population19,084−93%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUNCOMBE COUNTY VS
Haywood County
Income$61,912+13%
Home value$279,200+11%
Population63,369−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

Buncombe County, North Carolina has about 269,452 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Buncombe County, North Carolina earns about $55,032 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 $250,600, and the typical rent is about $1,019 a month.

How educated are people in Buncombe County, North Carolina?

About 41.4% 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 11.5% 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 94,631 residents, a change of about 54 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 →