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METRO AREA

Asheville Metro

Asheville, NC · 3 counties · 422,345 residents (2025 est.) · 1,479.052 sq mi
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The short version

Asheville has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,812. Population has grown 32% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $374,605. With a median age of 44.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 97%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
414,711
+32%since 2000
from 315,138 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
280 / sq mi
+32%since 2000
from 213 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.1
+10%since 2000
from 40.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:422,345 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
246K292K338K384K430K1990201020202024Asheville
2024415K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,812
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,720 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,135
+107%since 2000
from $20,321 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.1%
+23.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.473
+6%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$374,605
+97%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $104,468 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,281
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $529 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 73.1% in 2000
30.7% rent
Vacancy rate
20.9%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.3%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.2%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.2
+83%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
88
RELATED:See current rent listings in Asheville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic88.8%(279,843)
Black5.8%(18,156)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(10,876)
Asian0.6%(1,940)
Other0%
Diversity Score23.1%(72,754)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81%(335,726)
Black4%(16,553)
Hispanic / Latino9.6%(39,778)
Asian1.1%(4,553)
Other4.4%(18,101)
Diversity Score41.5%(172,013)
Segregation Score27.1%(112,296)
Diversity Score
41
+80%since 2000
from 23 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
27
−5%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.5%
+18.1 ptssince 2000
from 24.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+10.7 ptssince 2000
from 81.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.0%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+59%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.2%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.2%
−21.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
6.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2012
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.2%
−72.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+12.0 ptssince 2017
from 77.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 91.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2016
from 5.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

AshevilleCENTRAL93,523
What's inside

3 component counties

Buncombe CountyCENTRAL277,417Henderson CountyCENTRAL122,375Madison County22,553
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Asheville

Springfield
Pop 464,338
Eugene
Pop 381,584
Fort Wayne
Pop 466,258
Davenport
Pop 380,452
Places similar to Asheville
Head to head

Compare Asheville side by side

ASHEVILLE VS
Springfield
Income$71,306−1%
Home value$298,800−20%
Population464,338+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHEVILLE VS
Eugene
Income$71,544same
Home value$430,600+15%
Population381,584−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHEVILLE VS
Fort Wayne
Income$71,372−1%
Home value$214,162−43%
Population466,258+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHEVILLE VS
Davenport
Income$73,139+2%
Home value$183,173−51%
Population380,452−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Asheville, NC?

Asheville, NC has about 414,711 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Asheville, NC?

The typical household in Asheville, NC earns about $71,812 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Asheville, NC expensive?

In Asheville, NC, the median home is worth about $374,605, and the typical rent is about $1,281 a month.

How educated are people in Asheville, NC?

About 42.5% of adults age 25 and over in Asheville, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Asheville, NC?

About 11.8% of people in Asheville, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Asheville, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Asheville, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 153,652 residents, a change of about 59 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →