Living in Asheville, NC
Asheville is the 375th-largest city in the US, home to about 94,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (96.5 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 93,523-1.3% since 2020
- Median home value
- $440,0006.2 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,402/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $71,102median, per year
- Price level
- 96.5US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 48° / 86°lows 29° / 65°
- Average commute
- 18 min20% work from home
- State income tax
- 3.99%top rate, flat
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County: Buncombe County
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Elevation: about 2,129 ft
Metro area: Asheville, NC
Cost of living in Asheville
The median home in Asheville is worth $440,000 and the median household earns $71,102 a year, so a typical home costs about 6.2 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,402 a month, about 24% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Asheville, NC metro area at 96.5, with housing at 93.4 and goods at 96.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $72,400 here. North Carolina taxes wages at a top rate of 3.99% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in North Carolina is 7.1%.
What would my salary be worth in Asheville?
Asheville weather
Average highs run from 48°F in January to 86°F in July, and January nights average 29°F. It gets 41 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 12 inches of snow. Nights drop below freezing about 77 times a year. The most comfortable months are April to October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Asheville
People and work
The median resident is 40.7 years old, and 53% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 52% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 18 minutes; 20% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 40.7468th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 53%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 52%of households
- People per sq mile
- 2,05645.5 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%3% walk, 0.6% bike
- Unemployment
- 5.1%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 14.3%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1982median year
Who moves to Asheville, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Raleigh (Wake County), St. Petersburg (Pinellas County) and Austin (Travis County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Raleigh (Wake County), Durham (Durham County) and Winston-Salem (Forsyth County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA rating for Buncombe County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: lightning, strong wind, ice storm, cold wave.
Home prices
+1.4% in a year
Up 45% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Asheville, NC area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
70% good days
0 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Asheville, NC area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Asheville
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Asheville
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville Airport AVL | 13 mi | 1,096,465 |
| Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport GSP | 53 mi | 1,412,702 |
| Tri-Cities Regional Airport TRI | 59 mi | 229,860 |
| McGhee Tyson Airport TYS | 83 mi | 1,639,080 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Asheville
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina Asheville | 2 mi | 2,910 | $14,999 | 52% |
| Mars Hill University | 14 mi | 1,044 | $20,442 | 46% |
| Montreat College | 13 mi | 762 | $25,095 | 43% |
| Warren Wilson College | 5 mi | 707 | $23,319 | 40% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Asheville
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 6, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 21 and the first frost comes around October 31.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Asheville, NC, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Asheville.
Wildfire smoke in Asheville
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Asheville on about 121 days a year, including about 17 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Asheville
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 37,394 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Asheville
Downtown Asheville is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe County Schools | Pre-K to 13 | 22,452 | 45 | 15.1 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Asheville City Schools (3,960 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Asheville's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Asheville's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Richmond, VA81% matchCompare
- Bentonville, AR78% matchCompare
- Charlottesville, VA76% matchCompare
- O'Fallon, MO73% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Asheville
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Asheville
- Wolf Ridge Ski Resort 23 miles
- Cataloochee Ski Area 32 miles
- Appalachian Ski Mountain 62 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Asheville
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data 7 months a year have comfortable weather by our rule.
- Data Commutes are short: 18 minutes each way on average.
Cons
- Nothing stands out in the data. Locals, what should newcomers know?
Asheville report card from locals
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Asheville through locals' eyes
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Cities near Asheville
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 54 mi | 75,310 | $487,500 | 93.3 | Compare |
| Gastonia, NC | 80 mi | 87,067 | $277,600 | 97.3 | Compare |
| Knoxville, TN | 84 mi | 202,021 | $239,700 | 92.6 | Compare |
| Rock Hill, SC | 88 mi | 75,911 | $295,100 | 97.3 | Compare |
| Charlotte, NC | 100 mi | 964,784 | $385,700 | 97.3 | Compare |
| Concord, NC | 113 mi | 114,598 | $353,700 | 97.3 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Asheville with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Asheville a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 7 comfortable months a year, short commutes; the trade-offs are expensive homes relative to local incomes. Compare Asheville side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Asheville?
The Census Bureau estimates Asheville had 93,523 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 94,738 in April 2020 (-1.3%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Asheville?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,400 in the Asheville area. The median household here earns $71,102.
When is the best time to visit Asheville?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, April to October are the most comfortable months. July averages 86°F and January 48°F for daytime highs.
What county is Asheville in?
Asheville is in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Asheville in?
Asheville is on Eastern Time (UTC-5, or UTC-4 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Asheville?
About 2,129 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. North Carolina has a flat income tax with a top rate of 3.99% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Asheville. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Asheville, NC metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Asheville, NC station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.