Asheville city, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Asheville city is a mid-sized community located in North Carolina, within Buncombe County. The total population is 94,369. It ranks as the 11th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Asheville city is 40.7 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Asheville city is $67,221. This is 4% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 11% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $411,000. Housing costs are 58% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 50.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 24% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Asheville city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 9.7%. The Black or African American population (9.7%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

52.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Asheville city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 50% higher than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%. Notably, 21.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Asheville city, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.