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METRO AREA

Asheville Metro

Asheville, NC · 3 counties · 422,345 residents (2025 est.) · 1,479 sq mi
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The short version

Asheville is a metro area of 414,711 people. Few US metro areas rank higher on income. The median age is 44.1, about 5 years above the US median. The population is up 32% since 2000. About 43% of adults have finished a four-year degree. 7% of residents were born outside the United States.

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
422,345 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
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
Land area
1,479 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
246K292K338K384K430K19902000201020202024Asheville
2024415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(18,624)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(21,599)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145%(20,660)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.5%(22,893)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(21,211)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.6%(52,377)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.2%(54,820)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.6%(52,050)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.4%(55,731)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.3%(55,160)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847%(29,037)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.5%(10,549)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: 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%
Persons per household
2.52 people
+11%since 2009
from 2.28 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
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
+29%since 2009
from 4.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
88
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
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%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81%(335,726)
Black4%(16,553)
Hispanic / Latino9.6%(39,778)
Asian1.1%(4,553)
Other4.4%(18,101)
Diversity Score
41
+37%since 2009
from 30 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
27
−5%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.3%(22,084)
Central American1.4%(5,530)
Puerto Rican0.8%(3,306)
Salvadoran0.5%(1,904)
Honduran0.4%(1,684)
Guatemalan0.4%(1,663)
Colombian0.4%(1,524)
Cuban0.3%(1,183)
Spaniard0.2%(762)
Ecuadorian0.2%(652)
Dominican0.1%(583)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Venezuelan0.1%(566)
Chilean0.1%(390)
Argentine0.1%(356)
Peruvian0%(132)
Nicaraguan0%(119)
Bolivian0%(102)
Uruguayan0%(48)
Asian origin
Korean0.2%(739)
Filipino0.2%(731)
Chinese0.2%(639)
Asian Indian0.2%(598)
Japanese0.1%(405)
Vietnamese0.1%(317)
Cambodian0.1%(307)
Nepalese0.1%(241)
Thai0%(191)
Pakistani0%(122)
Taiwanese0%(84)
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data
Laotian0%(64)
Burmese0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(75)
Samoan0%(48)
Fijian0%(21)
Ancestry
English23.8%(98,507)
German12.3%(51,002)
Irish11%(45,494)
American7.7%(31,880)
Scottish3.9%(16,276)
Italian3.6%(15,080)
Scotch-Irish2.9%(12,065)
French2.4%(10,068)
Polish1.6%(6,827)
Dutch0.9%(3,814)
Russian0.9%(3,661)
Swedish0.8%(3,479)
+ 49 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.8%(3,342)
Welsh0.8%(3,307)
British0.8%(3,244)
Hungarian0.5%(2,058)
Greek0.5%(2,050)
Ukrainian0.4%(1,724)
French Canadian0.4%(1,599)
West Indian0.3%(1,284)
Arab0.3%(1,066)
Czech0.2%(1,000)
Jamaican0.2%(975)
Austrian0.2%(871)
Romanian0.2%(840)
Slovak0.2%(839)
Swiss0.2%(833)
Finnish0.2%(784)
Danish0.2%(764)
Lithuanian0.2%(715)
Portuguese0.1%(617)
Lebanese0.2%(593)
Belgian0.1%(494)
Canadian0.1%(388)
Croatian0.1%(307)
Brazilian0.1%(262)
Bulgarian0%(186)
Haitian0%(173)
Palestinian0.1%(160)
Ethiopian0%(155)
Armenian0%(152)
Australian0%(134)
Turkish0%(131)
Kenyan0%(122)
Israeli0%(108)
Nigerian0%(104)
Slovene0%(94)
Latvian0%(89)
Moroccan0%(86)
Syrian0%(78)
Serbian0%(78)
Iranian0%(76)
Jordanian0%(60)
Guyanese0.1%(60)
Egyptian0%(59)
Ghanaian0%(16)
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%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
71.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 72.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
10.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.2%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 33.9% 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%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% 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%
−5.4 ptssince 2013
from 16.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+12.0 ptssince 2017
from 77.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
93.7%
+5.0 ptssince 2020
from 88.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
89.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 87.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
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%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.6%(60,349)
Married51.7%(87,624)
Widowed2.9%(4,918)
Divorced9.8%(16,698)
Women 15+
Never married28.8%(53,092)
Married48.4%(89,250)
Widowed10.4%(19,089)
Divorced12.4%(22,808)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
11.2%
−5.4 ptssince 2013
from 16.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
47.8%
−1.4 ptssince 2020
from 49.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
19.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 19.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
24.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 23.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
16.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 15.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
65.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 66.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
38.8%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 36.8% 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)18.7%(4,343)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.8%(4,821)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.8%(9,242)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War5.3%(1,219)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.9%(205)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 23,216 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
In this metro

Largest cities

AshevilleCENTRAL93,523Hendersonville15,867Black Mountain8,491Fletcher8,373Woodfin8,229Etowah7,968Mills River7,504Swannanoa6,901East Flat Rock6,323Weaverville4,790Royal Pines4,325Dana4,147Flat Rock3,643Mountain Home3,437Avery Creek2,887Edneyville2,716Valley Hill2,675Emma2,657Fruitland2,398Laurel Park2,360Fairview2,298Mars Hill2,280Hoopers Creek1,683Horse Shoe1,490Biltmore Forest1,469Bent Creek1,384Balfour1,134Barker Heights1,074Montreat1,024Marshall802

The 30 most populous of 34 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

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 →