Buncombe County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Buncombe County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 271,790. It is the 7th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Buncombe County is 42.4 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Buncombe County is $70,578. This is about average than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.8%. This is 11% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $360,000. Housing costs are 39% higher than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 64.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Buncombe County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.3%. The Black or African American population (5.4%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

44.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Buncombe County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 29% 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 92.3%. Notably, 18.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.