Asheville, NC Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 410,817 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Asheville, NC Metro Area

What is the median household income in Asheville, NC Metro Area?: The median household income in Asheville, NC Metro Area is $69,236 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Asheville, NC Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Asheville, NC Metro Area is 7.6% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Asheville, NC Metro Area?: $338,400 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Asheville, NC Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Asheville, NC Metro Area is $1,223 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Asheville, NC Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 41.2% of adults in Asheville, NC Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

410,817

Median Income

$69,236

Median Home Value

$338,400

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

3.4%

Median Age

43.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$16,501 (+31.3%) Home Value: +$117,800 (+53.4%) Poverty Rate: -0.3 pp (-3.8%) Bachelor's+: +5.7 pp (+16.1%) Unemployment: +0.1 pp (+3%)

Demographics

Total Population 410,817

Median Age 43.0

Female 51.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 9.3% White (non-Hisp.) 81.4% Black 4.6% Asian 1.2% Two or More 7.2% Other 2.8%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

0.2%

Chinese

0.2%

Filipino

0.2%

Korean

0.2%

Vietnamese

0.1%

Japanese

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

5.2%

Puerto Rican

0.7%

Cuban

0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $69,236 ±$1,507

Per Capita Income $92,483

Median Family Income $86,918

Poverty Rate 7.6%

Child Poverty Rate 13.3%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 9.3%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 29.2%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

4.5%

$10–15k

3.5%

$15–25k

7.5%

$25–35k

8.6%

$35–50k

12.1%

$50–75k

17.7%

$75–100k

14.1%

$100–150k

16.1%

$150–200k

7.4%

$200k+

8.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 200,730

Owner-Occupied 68.2%

Renter-Occupied 31.8%

Vacancy Rate 19.5%

Median Home Value $338,400

Median Gross Rent $1,223

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 19.5%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 40.6%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

5.2%

$50–100k

5.0%

$100–200k

5.2%

$200–300k

20.3%

$300–500k

32.9%

$500k–$1M

19.6%

$1M+

4.9%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

9.8%

$500–1k

24.0%

$1–1.5k

34.5%

$1.5–2k

21.8%

$2–2.5k

6.1%

$2.5–3.5k

1.3%

$3.5k+

2.7%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

4.6%

1 vehicle

32.5%

2 vehicles

40.0%

22.9%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

65.8%

Single-fam. att.

3.1%

2–4 units

1.9%

5–19 units

4.6%

20+ units

4.6%

Mobile home

13.5%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

9.1%

1940–1969

3.4%

1970–1999

11.4%

2000–2009

16.6%

2010+

12.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 91.9%

Bachelor's or Higher 41.2%

Graduate Degree 16.2%

Some College / Associate 17.8%

Less Than High School 3.1%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 58.8%

Unemployment Rate 3.4%

Work from Home 14.0%

Self-Employed 8.0%

Government Workers 12.2%

Private For-Profit 79.6%

Industry

Edu/Health

23.9%

Arts/Entmt.

12.8%

Retail

12.4%

Prof. Services

11.1%

Manufacturing

9.8%

Construction

8.6%

Finance

5.2%

Transportation

3.8%

Public Admin

3.4%

Wholesale

1.9%

Information

1.2%

Agriculture

1.1%

Occupation

Management

41.2%

Sales

19.4%

Food Prep

18.7%

Production

10.9%

Construction

9.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 21.8 min

Drove Alone 74.4%

Carpool 7.7%

Public Transit 0.6%

Work from Home 14.0%

Walked 1.7%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 161,494

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 49.2%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 15.0%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.6%

5–9

5.2%

10–14

5.2%

15–19

5.6%

20–24

5.1%

25–34

12.6%

35–44

13.1%

45–54

12.6%

55–64

6.8%

65–74

6.8%

75–84

13.2%

85+

6.6%

Under 18: 18.3% Working age (18–64): 81.7% 65 and over: 22.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 6.9%

Naturalized Citizen 43.8%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 4.3%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

55.5%

Europe

24.2%

Asia

14.2%

Africa

2.4%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 7.2%

With a Disability 14.4%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 88.2%

Uninsured 11.8%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 87.5%

Has a Computer 92.7%

Same House 1 Year Ago 88.7%

Moved from Abroad 0.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023