1st Advantage MortgageThe median Buncombe County household earns $74,436, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Buncombe County
- How Buncombe County residents earn a living
- Income in Buncombe County compared with North Carolina
- Renting and owning in Buncombe County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Buncombe County
- The counties around Buncombe County
- More Buncombe County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Buncombe County
- Room for a loan payment in Buncombe County
- Four steps for Buncombe County borrowers
- North Carolina rules that apply in Buncombe County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Buncombe County
Roughly 274,360 residents live in Buncombe County, North Carolina, 7th by population among the state's 100 counties and county equivalents. It covers 656 square miles of land, or about 418 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Asheville, NC metropolitan area. Of the 13 Census places inside Buncombe County, Asheville leads by population with about 94,535; 6 of the 13 are incorporated.
How Buncombe County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Buncombe County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 13% locally and 8% for North Carolina. The survey's unemployment rate for Buncombe County averages 4.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home. Only 4.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Buncombe County workers | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.9% | +4.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.7% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Buncombe County compared with North Carolina
The median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436; statewide it is $72,388, so Buncombe County runs 3% above North Carolina as a whole. That places it 19th among North Carolina's 100 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Buncombe County | +/- vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.3% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.8% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.9% | +0.5 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.8%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.0%. A household earning below the $74,436 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Buncombe County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,362 in Buncombe County versus $1,228 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $391,800, or 5.3 years of median income. Owners occupy 66% of homes.
| Measure | Buncombe County | North Carolina | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,362/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $391,800 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.9% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 13% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Buncombe County
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 51% of Buncombe County residents live in one of the 13. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,907 in Emma to $169,167 in Biltmore Forest. Median rent ranges from $788 in Swannanoa to $1,783 in Weaverville. Live in one of these Buncombe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | city | 94,535 | $71,102 | $1,402 | 3 mi |
| Black Mountain | town | 8,513 | $77,042 | $1,652 | 12 mi |
| Woodfin | town | 8,048 | $71,384 | $1,546 | 4 mi |
| Swannanoa | CDP | 6,901 | $69,760 | $788 | 8 mi |
| Weaverville | town | 4,687 | $88,221 | $1,783 | 6 mi |
| Royal Pines | CDP | 4,325 | $107,885 | $1,596 | 9 mi |
| Avery Creek | CDP | 2,887 | $113,261 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Emma | CDP | 2,657 | $43,907 | $1,064 | 4 mi |
| Fairview | CDP | 2,298 | $92,132 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Biltmore Forest | town | 1,587 | $169,167 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Bent Creek | CDP | 1,384 | $72,176 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Montreat | town | 630 | $115,568 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Barnardsville | CDP | 445 | $97,610 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
The counties around Buncombe County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Buncombe County's, from 19 to 31 miles away. Income ranges from $57,168 in McDowell County to $68,187 in Henderson County; none of these neighbors top Buncombe County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe County | - | $74,436 | $1,362/mo | 66% |
| Henderson County, NC | 19 mi | $68,187 | $1,187/mo | 75% |
| Madison County, NC | 20 mi | $58,531 | $780/mo | 77% |
| Yancey County, NC | 23 mi | $58,709 | $882/mo | 79% |
| Haywood County, NC | 26 mi | $61,912 | $1,067/mo | 75% |
| McDowell County, NC | 28 mi | $57,168 | $806/mo | 76% |
| Polk County, NC | 31 mi | $67,758 | $1,178/mo | 77% |
More Buncombe County figures
College graduates make up 46% of the adult population. 10.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.9% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Buncombe County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 54.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Buncombe County
Where the Buncombe County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Buncombe County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Renters under pressure. When 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Buncombe County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Room for a loan payment in Buncombe County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Buncombe County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Buncombe County: $6,203
- Housing at the median rent of $1,362 uses 22%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,481 total minus rent leaves $1,119
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Buncombe County borrowers
Steps that save money for Buncombe County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Buncombe County-area credit union.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Buncombe County credit union about member loans.
North Carolina rules that apply in Buncombe County
Buncombe County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on North Carolina: North Carolina personal loans.
Related local guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Buncombe County earn?
The median is $74,436; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Buncombe County rent compare with North Carolina?
$1,362 locally versus $1,228 for the state, 11% above.
What are the biggest places in Buncombe County?
By population: Asheville, Black Mountain, Woodfin, Swannanoa, Weaverville. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Are Buncombe County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Buncombe County?
Start with the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.