Buncombe County, North Carolina
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 66.2%
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 277,417
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 279,210
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 269,430
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 269,425
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 3.0%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 3.6%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 269,452
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 238,318
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.3%
Persons under 18 years, percent 17.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 22.2%
Female persons, percent 51.9%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 89.2%
Black alone, percent(a) 6.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.6%
Asian alone, percent(a) 1.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.2%
Two or More Races, percent 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 9.1%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 81.1%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 14,160
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 6.7%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 142,799
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 66.2%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $391,800
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,785
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $505
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $1,362
Building Permits, 2025 2,028
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 101,855
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.62
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 88.7%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 9.4%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 93.4%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 90.3%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 92.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 45.9%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 10.3%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.7%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 59.0%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 54.0%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,661,624
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 4,514,888
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 274,895
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 6,149,781
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $22,462
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 21.1
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $74,436
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $43,371
Persons in poverty, percent 12.4%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 9,863
Total employment, 2023 127,409
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 6,594,708
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 1.8%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 31,197
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 8,180
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 4,183
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 2,140
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 550
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 6,629
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 320
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 6,849
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 410.4
Population per square mile, 2010 362.9
Land area in square miles, 2020 656.50
Land area in square miles, 2010 656.67
FIPS Code 37021