Asheville, NC Local Data & Statistics

State: NC

Total population: 94,535 Household income: $71,102 Rent: $1,402

Overview

Total population

94,535

Rent

$1,402

Year built

1982

Household income

$71,102

Per capita income

$45,430

Poverty rate

14.3%

Unemployment rate

7.2%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

North Carolina

Total population

94,535

Adults over 25

72,671

Total households

37,394

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$71,102

Per capita income

$45,430

Poverty rate

14.3%

Unemployment rate

7.2%

Rent over 30% of income

50.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,402

Year built

1982

Households that rent

48.1%

Households that own

51.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

80.3%

Black

8.2%

Asian

1.1%

Two or more races

7.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

6.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

79.9%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

20.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

19.8%

High school graduate or GED

18%

Some college or associate degree

8.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

53.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Asheville, NC with: North Carolina United States

Asheville, NC

Total population94,535

Rent$1,402

Year built1982

Household income$71,102

Per capita income$45,430

Poverty rate14.3%

Unemployment rate7.2%

North Carolina State

Total population10,730,404

Rent$1,228

Year built1991

Household income$72,388

Per capita income$41,385

Poverty rate13%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityAsheville, NC	StateNorth Carolina	CountryUnited States
Total population	94,535	10,730,404	334,922,499
Rent	$1,402	$1,228	$1,413
Year built	1982	1991	1980
Household income	$71,102	$72,388	$80,734
Per capita income	$45,430	$41,385	$44,673
Poverty rate	14.3%	13%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	7.2%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Asheville, NC, North Carolina and United States →

Summary for Asheville, NC

Asheville is located in North Carolina.

Rent & Income

In Asheville, the typical monthly rent is $1,402 and the typical household income is $71,102. Rent here is higher than North Carolina and similar to the U.S., and household income is similar to North Carolina and lower than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 14.3%, which is higher than in both North Carolina and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 48.1% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 50.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 53.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 7.2%, which is higher than both North Carolina and the national rate.

Asheville, NC — Rent vs Household Income

Asheville, NC — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Asheville, NC compares in North Carolina (22 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,402	12 / 22	from lower rent	$957 – $1,902
Household income	$71,102	12 / 22	from higher income	$49,748 – $144,135
Poverty rate	14.3%	12 / 22	from lower poverty	2.2% – 24.6%
Unemployment rate	7.2%	22 / 22	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 7.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in North Carolina with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Asheville, NC

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Asheville places 12th among 22 large places in North Carolina. Across the state, rents run from $957 in Rocky Mount, NC up to $1,902 in Apex, NC.

Household income

Asheville ranks 12th among 22 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $49,748 in Greenville, NC to $144,135 in Apex, NC.

Poverty rate

Asheville places 12th out of 22 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 2.2% in Apex, NC up to 24.6% in Greenville, NC.

Unemployment rate

In terms of unemployment, Asheville is ranked 22nd out of 22 major areas. Across North Carolina, rates go from 2.5% in Apex, NC up to 7.2% in Asheville, NC.

💰 Rent in Asheville, NC (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,402 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Asheville, NC

Annual Household Income: $71,102

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Asheville, NC

Estimated Rate: 14.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Asheville, NC

In Asheville, NC, households that rent: 17,981 (48.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	17,981	48.1%
Owner-Occupied	19,413	51.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Asheville, NC

In Asheville, NC, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 9,049 (50.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	9,049	50.3%
Other renter households	8,932	49.7%
Total renter households	17,981	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Asheville, NC

Less than High School: 14,383 people (19.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 13,074 people (18%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,426 people (8.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 38,788 people (53.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 72,671

📊 Unemployment Rate in Asheville, NC

Estimated Rate: 7.2%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Palm Coast, FL94,362 Sandy, UT94,723 Reading, PA94,836 Erie, PA94,156 San Marcos, CA94,078 Livonia, MI94,058 Plantation, FL94,002 Fall River, MA93,764 Tracy, CA95,358 Lawrence, KS95,459

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.