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METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Asheville Metro

Asheville, NC · 3 counties · 315,138 residents · 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 $36,720. Population has grown 21% since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $104,468.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 40.0
US median: 35.2
Average education
24% 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
315,138
+21%since 1990
from 261,059 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
213 / sq mi
+21%since 1990
from 177 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
40.0
+6%since 1990
from 37.9 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
246K292K338K384K430K1990201020202024Asheville
2024415K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$36,720
+8%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,697 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,321
+55%since 1990
from $13,078 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
11.2%
−0.5 ptssince 1990
from 11.7% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$104,468
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $66,985 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$529
+11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $363 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
73.1%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 72.5% in 1990
26.9% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+9%since 1990
from 2.6 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Asheville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic92.7%(242,112)
Black6.3%(16,439)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(1,902)
Asian0.5%(1,276)
Diversity Score18.5%(48,387)
2000
White, non-Hispanic88.8%(279,843)
Black5.8%(18,156)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(10,876)
Asian0.6%(1,940)
Diversity Score23.1%(72,754)
Diversity Score
23
+25%since 1990
from 19 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.4%
+5.7 ptssince 1990
from 18.7% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
81.5%
+7.7 ptssince 1990
from 73.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
8.7%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 6.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.9 min
−27%since 1990
from 19.2 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.

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+94%
Home value$298,800+186%
Population464,338+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHEVILLE VS
Eugene
Income$71,544+95%
Home value$430,600+312%
Population381,584−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHEVILLE VS
Fort Wayne
Income$71,372+94%
Home value$214,162+105%
Population466,258+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ASHEVILLE VS
Davenport
Income$73,139+99%
Home value$183,173+75%
Population380,452−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Asheville, NC?

Asheville, NC has about 315,138 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Asheville, NC?

The typical household in Asheville, NC earns about $36,720 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 $104,468, and the typical rent is about $529 a month.

How educated are people in Asheville, NC?

About 24.4% 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 11.2% 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 54,079 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.

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

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