← Map/← North Carolina/Counties/Buncombe

Buncombe
North Carolina

269K

Population

$67K

Median Income

$457K

Median Home

D+21

Politics

Economy

Median Household Income$67K

This county

national avg ~$75K

Poverty Rate12.3%

This county

national avg ~11.5%

Unemployment Rate3.0%

This county

national avg ~3.8%

GDP per Capita$72,903

Federal Spending per Capita$1,265

Median Individual Earnings$39K

This county

national avg $45K

Professional/Management Workers41.6%

Average Adjusted Gross Income$87K

Avg Credit Score676

Work From Home %14.4%

This county

national avg 17.0%

Population Under 1818.0%

This county

national avg 22.0%

Single-Person Households31.3%

This county

national avg 28.0%

Banks & Finance Firms175

Income (20th Percentile)$29K

Income (80th Percentile)$132K

Income (95th Percentile)$250K

Bachelor's Degree or Higher36.0%

This county

national avg 35.0%

Less Than High School7.9%

This county

national avg 11.0%

Knowledge Economy GDP %14.5%

Dependency Ratio0.92

Medicare Spending / Person$2,952

SS Benefits / Person$4,488

Education Wage Premium2.15x

Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$49K

Median Earnings (Graduate)$64K

Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$30K

Public Assistance Recipients1.2%

Average Annual Wage$59K

Professional Services Concentration0.75x national

This county

1.0 = national average share

Housing

Median Home Value$455K

This county

$335K state avg

$303K national

Median Sale Price$455K

This county

$303K national

Market Rent (ZORI)$1713/mo

This county

$1450/mo state avg

$1400/mo national

Property Tax Rate0.61%

This county

0.70% state avg

1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $2,012

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,835/mo

Home Price Change (1 yr)+1.2%

Home Value to Income Ratio3.9x income

Severely Cost-Burdened Households11.2%

Homeownership Rate64.4%

This county

national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sale-to-List Ratio— Buyers market — homes selling below list

95.9%

Listings with Price Cuts— Low — market moving fast

21.8%

Sold Above List Price

6.8%

Median Days to Close

25 days

Active Listings

1,556

New Listings / Month

392

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage

62 days

Months of Supply (Redfin)— High inventory — buyers market

6.8 mo

Sold Above List (Redfin)

13.3%

Sale-to-List Cross-Reference

Zillow 95.9% · Redfin 97.4%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy77.8 yrs

This county

national avg ~78.5 years

Hospital Rating3.5 / 5

This county

national avg 3.0 stars

Food Insecurity11.9%

This county

national avg ~11%

Food Environment Index7.3 / 10

This county

higher = better access

Primary Care Shortage Score19

This county

national avg 5

Mental Health Shortage Score20

Dental Care Shortage Score25

Healthcare Shortage Score21.3

Healthcare Offices977

Obesity Rate (BRFSS)31.2%

This county

national avg 32.0%

Smoking Rate (BRFSS)12.5%

This county

national avg 14.0%

Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)15.7%

This county

national avg 18.0%

Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)19.2%

This county

national avg 24.0%

High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)31.2%

This county

national avg 32.0%

Active Physicians1,592

Nursing Home Rating3.2 / 5

This county

national avg ~3 stars

ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients412 / 1,000

Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$10,594

Uninsured (under 65)11.7%

This county

national avg ~10%

Adults with Depression25.9%

Education

Math Test Scores3.19 grade level

Reading Test Scores3.35 grade level

HS Diploma Holders38,949

Bachelor's Degree Holders17,543

HS Completion Rate92.1%

This county

national avg ~85%

Private Schools198

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.2 / 1,000

This county

national avg ~4.0

Firearm Fatality Rate13.8 / 100K

This county

national avg ~13.6/100K

Homicide Rate4.3 / 100K

This county

national avg ~7.5/100K

Drug Overdose Rate41.4 / 100K

This county

national avg ~21/100K

Traffic Fatalities96

Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)60th pct

Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)33.7 / 100K

Suicide Rate17.9 / 100K

This county

national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale2.2

January Sunshine0.59

January Temperature0.42

Average Temp55°F

Avg High Temp66°F

Avg Low Temp44°F

Median AQIAQI 43

Good Air Days261 days/yr

Unhealthy Air Days0 days/yr

Annual Precipitation42.3 in/yr

Avg Storm Events6.8 storms/yr

Avg Annual Storm Damage$239K

Ozone Days133 days/yr

This county

national avg 50 days/yr

Drought Index (2022)-0.13

Heating Degree Days4,384 HDD/yr

This county

national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr

Cooling Degree Days720 CDD/yr

This county

national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr

Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)4,850 HDD/yr

Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)573 CDD/yr

Avg Tornadoes / Year0.0

Avg Flood Events / Year1.0

Avg Hail Events / Year1.8

Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00

Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0

Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0

Avg Heat Events / Year0.0

Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)81 / 100

Community Resilience (FEMA)60 / 100

Federal Disaster Declarations21 since 1953

Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)5.1 µg/m³

This county

EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

National Park Units1 unit

Historic Places (NRHP)127 properties

FAA-Registered Airports6 total

Airports (excl. heliports)4 airports

Brewery Scene

Total Breweries26 breweries

Microbreweries12 microbreweries

Brewpubs9 brewpubs

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed247 Mbps

This county

national avg ~120 Mbps

Upload Speed64 Mbps

Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)358 Mbps

Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)268 Mbps

Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)23 Mbps

Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)45 ms

Households with 100Mbps+98.8%

This county

national avg 75.0%

Cellular-Only Internet11.2%

This county

national avg 8.0%

Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)102 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations88 stations

DC Fast Chargers87 chargers

Level 2 EV Chargers227

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers18,744 workers

Public Transit Commuters1,092 workers

Walk to Work2,687 workers

Extreme Commutes (90+ min)1,114 workers

Bike Commuters0.2%

Walk to Work2.1%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden31.2%

This county

national median ~27% of household income

Childcare Centers7.9 per 10K residents

Childcare Facilities45

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout79.5%

This county

national avg ~55%

Volunteering Rate1.0%

Income Inequality (Gini)4.537

Nonprofit Organizations1,632

Veterans Share7.2%

This county

national avg 7.0%

Married Adults46.4%

Never-Married Adults34.7%

Divorced Adults12.2%

Religious Organizations230

Asian Population1.1%

Native American Population0.2%

Membership Associations12.7 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants1.17 per 1K residents

Colleges & Universities8

Nursing & Care Facilities81

Grocery Stores81

Arts & Entertainment Venues104

Hotels & Lodging137

Recreation Businesses102

Professional Services Firms1,175

Veterinary Practices127

Real Estate Firms680

Museums10

Debt Burden

Avg Mortgage Balance$73K

Avg Student Loan Balance$9K

Avg Credit Card Balance$4K

Loan Delinquency Rate45.3%

This county

national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.15%

Politics

D+21

2024 Presidential · North Carolina was R+3 statewide

vs North Carolina State

Income tax

4.5%Same (state law)

Property tax

0.61%0.7% state avg

Politics

D+21R+3

COL Index

County data94 (state)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +2K

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Wealthier people moving in (IRS: 1.13x avg income)

Economic Mobility

38%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Buncombe County

Median home value: $457K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

Opens in a new tab

Local News — Buncombe

FOX Carolina News · قبل يوم واحد

Deputies: SBI investigating after Buncombe County detainee dies following hospitalization

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office said the North Carolina …

The Asheville Citizen Times · قبل 23 ساعة

Third Buncombe County jail detainee death this year under investigation

Amy Beth Owenby died after medical distress at the Buncombe County jail, the third detainee death as…

WSPA 7News · قبل 3 أيام

Measles case confirmed in Buncombe County, NCDHHS says

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — A case of measles has been confirmed in western North Carolina, state…

USAFacts · 06‏/04‏/2026

How many people live in Buncombe County, NC?

How many people live in Buncombe County, NC ? · What are Buncombe County, NC's age demographics? · A…

WLOS · قبل 3 أسابيع

BACK TO SCHOOL: Year begins this week for 4 western North Carolina districts

POLK COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Four western North Carolina school districts will begin the 2026-27 year …

Blue Ridge Public Radio · 07‏/04‏/2026

Buncombe County lost population for the first time in ages. Here's why

Western North Carolina's most populous county lost residents last year after more than two decades o…

Explore Other North Carolina Counties

Alamance County, North Carolina Alexander County, North Carolina Alleghany County, North Carolina Anson County, North Carolina Ashe County, North Carolina Avery County, North Carolina Beaufort County, North Carolina Bertie County, North Carolina Bladen County, North Carolina Brunswick County, North Carolina Burke County, North Carolina Cabarrus County, North Carolina All North Carolina counties →

Full North Carolina profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

View North Carolina →

Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

BuncombeNorth Carolina

Buncombe
North Carolina