Buncombe County, North Carolina Demographics 2026
Buncombe County, North Carolina has a population of 274,360, the 7th most populous county in North Carolina. The median household income is $74,436 and the median home value is $391,800. The poverty rate is 11.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Buncombe County Quick Facts
How Buncombe County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 271,790 | 274,360 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $70,578 | $74,436 | +5.5% |
| Median home value | $360,000 | $391,800 | +8.8% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Buncombe County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | 94,535 | $71,102 | 14.2% | $440,000 |
| Black Mountain | 8,513 | $77,042 | 5.9% | $358,900 |
| Woodfin | 8,048 | $71,384 | 14.1% | $366,700 |
| Swannanoa | 6,901 | $69,760 | 16.8% | $287,500 |
| Weaverville | 4,687 | $88,221 | 4.2% | $463,700 |
| Royal Pines | 4,325 | $107,885 | 1.5% | $400,200 |
| Avery Creek | 2,887 | $113,261 | 1.4% | $412,900 |
| Emma | 2,657 | $43,907 | 11.3% | $92,300 |
| Fairview | 2,298 | $92,132 | 25.1% | $439,600 |
| Biltmore Forest | 1,587 | $169,167 | 2.0% | $1,333,300 |
| Bent Creek | 1,384 | $72,176 | 15.6% | $404,000 |
| Montreat | 630 | $115,568 | 0.0% | $606,400 |
| Barnardsville | 445 | $97,610 | 9.7% | $153,000 |
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Population Overview
Buncombe County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 274,360. It is the 7th most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Buncombe County is 42.6 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436. This is 3% higher than the state median of $72,388. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.8%. This is 9% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $391,800. Housing costs are 36% higher than the state median of $288,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 66.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Buncombe County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.6%. The Black or African American population (4.8%) is well below the state average of 20.0%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.
Education
45.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Buncombe County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 29% 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 92.6%. Notably, 19.0% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Buncombe County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against North Carolina and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Buncombe County, North Carolina?
Buncombe County has a population of 274,360, making it the 7th most populous county in North Carolina.
What is the median income in Buncombe County?
The median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436 with a poverty rate of 11.8%.
How many cities are in Buncombe County, North Carolina?
Buncombe County contains 13 Census-designated places.