Population 125,132 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Asheville
Household size in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.38 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Asheville run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.18, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.9 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Asheville is 42.6 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 40.0 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Asheville, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Asheville
Renters in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.0% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 43.3% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.9% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.2% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Asheville than nationally: 41.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 42.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 28 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +13.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 24.1% of the housing in Asheville, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 13.8 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1982 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
The typical home in Asheville was built around 1982, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $756 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $852 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,025 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,365 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$608 | +$528 | +$606 |
Rent in Asheville runs $1,365 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $608 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Asheville
Bachelor's degrees in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.7% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 40.7% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.5% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.6 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Asheville: 52.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 16.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 26 of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.8% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.1 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Asheville is above the national rate: 93.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 6.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Asheville
| Period | Asheville | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Asheville runs below the national rate: 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 3.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Asheville compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | 2.56 | 42.6 | 8.5% | 41.2% | 24.1% | 1982 | $1,365 | 52.3% | 93.9% | 4.1% |
| Biltmore Forest | 2.70 | 50.5 | 2.2% | 5.8% | 24.4% | 1960 | $1,564 | 87.2% | 98.2% | 2.7% |
| Woodfin | 2.80 | 42.3 | 8.7% | 38.4% | 25.5% | 1989 | $1,434 | 48.8% | 92.5% | 3.5% |
| Oak Forest | 2.69 | 50.2 | 3.8% | 35.9% | 24.8% | 2003 | $1,959 | 82.3% | 98.4% | 6.0% |
| Avery Creek | 2.19 | 46.2 | 7.0% | 38.9% | 18.4% | 1987 | $1,747 | 45.1% | 92.2% | 8.1% |
| Arden | 2.79 | 40.6 | 12.0% | 42.0% | 26.0% | 1998 | $1,349 | 39.3% | 91.0% | 5.7% |
| Candler | 2.84 | 42.1 | 12.0% | 27.1% | 19.0% | 1994 | $1,262 | 29.5% | 92.4% | 4.1% |
| Swannanoa | 3.07 | 43.2 | 9.0% | 24.4% | 20.0% | 1986 | $936 | 36.8% | 85.9% | 5.2% |
| Alexander | 3.05 | 41.2 | 9.1% | 18.8% | 17.3% | 1996 | $1,133 | 36.5% | 90.3% | 4.5% |
| Fairview | 2.68 | 47.8 | 10.3% | 15.8% | 24.0% | 1996 | $1,241 | 50.2% | 97.3% | 2.0% |
| Summerhaven | 3.49 | 38.5 | 7.3% | 18.7% | 21.4% | 1985 | $767 | 39.2% | 76.0% | 9.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Stafford, VA · Staten Island, NY · Springfield, MO · Snellville, GA · St. Charles, MO · Pittsburgh, PA · Plant City, FL · Pasadena, TX · Pharr, TX · Plainfield, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Asheville. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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