Population 274,360 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buncombe County
Household size in Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.70 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.40 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Buncombe County average 2.70 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in North Carolina as a whole, where it has 2.52 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.30, even as the national average fell. Of North Carolina's 100 counties, only seven have larger households.
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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.0 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.6 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Buncombe County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.5, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.9, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the north.
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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Buncombe County than nationally: 9.2%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Buncombe County
Renters in Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.4% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.0% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.6% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Buncombe County rent their homes (33.8%), close to the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (43.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, as it has nationally.
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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +12.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.3% of the housing in Buncombe County, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 12.4 points, 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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
Buncombe County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the center.
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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $743 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $847 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $975 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,316 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$572 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Buncombe County pays $1,316 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $572 a month from 2006–10, a 77% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the south.
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 Buncombe County
Bachelor's degrees in Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.2% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.9% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.8% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 45.2% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Buncombe County than nationally: 45.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 13.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only six of North Carolina's 100 counties 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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.1% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.1% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.6% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Buncombe County is above the national rate: 92.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Buncombe County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of North Carolina counties.
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 Buncombe County
| Period | Buncombe County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.1% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Buncombe County than nationally: unemployment was 4.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.9 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).
Buncombe County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe County | 2.70 | 43.5 | 9.2% | 33.8% | 23.3% | 1988 | $1,316 | 45.2% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Haywood County | 2.33 | 47.7 | 9.5% | 25.1% | 21.9% | 1980 | $1,069 | 29.6% | 91.3% | 3.3% |
| McDowell County | 2.38 | 44.8 | 10.8% | 24.4% | 14.5% | 1983 | $823 | 17.4% | 85.4% | 3.9% |
| Swain County | 2.31 | 41.5 | 15.2% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1989 | $703 | 21.4% | 86.8% | 7.9% |
| Catawba County | 2.48 | 41.6 | 12.8% | 27.8% | 9.8% | 1984 | $1,007 | 25.9% | 88.0% | 3.7% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 44.8 | 10.2% | 21.1% | 7.4% | 1993 | $1,145 | 29.3% | 90.0% | 3.6% |
| Iredell County | 2.62 | 40.9 | 10.5% | 28.1% | 9.3% | 1994 | $1,373 | 35.2% | 91.8% | 4.2% |
| Monroe County | 2.44 | 44.7 | 13.3% | 27.8% | 9.9% | 1989 | $748 | 16.3% | 85.3% | 4.5% |
| Rowan County | 2.52 | 41.4 | 12.7% | 27.7% | 9.9% | 1981 | $1,054 | 23.0% | 89.0% | 5.2% |
| McMinn County | 2.55 | 43.2 | 12.8% | 24.2% | 12.5% | 1981 | $864 | 18.6% | 87.4% | 5.0% |
| Meigs County | 2.56 | 45.4 | 5.7% | 19.0% | 15.2% | 1994 | $875 | 13.6% | 84.8% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Sussex County, DE · Webb County, TX · Weber County, UT · Whatcom County, WA · St. Tammany Parish, LA · Yolo County, CA · Barnstable County, MA · Anoka County, MN · York County, ME · Atlantic County, NJ
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 Buncombe County. 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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