Biltmore Forest, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Biltmore Forest is a small community located in North Carolina, within Buncombe County. The total population is 1,587. It ranks as the 384th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Biltmore Forest is 52.6 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 15.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Biltmore Forest is $169,167. This is 134% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 110% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.0%. This is 84% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $1,333,300. Housing costs are 362% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 97.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 46% higher than the state average of 66.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Biltmore Forest has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (97.2% vs 60.0%). The Black or African American population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 11.3%.

Education

87.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Biltmore Forest in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 145% higher than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 98.6%. Notably, 45.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Biltmore Forest, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.