Asheville, North Carolina

Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Asheville.

MapsToIt planning snapshot

How much does it cost to live in Asheville?

Asheville, NC has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 116 (above the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $411,000 and median rent about $1,303, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $67,221. Typical commute is 21 minutes; summer highs average 84°F. Violent-offense rates run about 742.2 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10 · Source vintages vary — see per-metric labels below · Methodology & sources

Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.

Housing cost index: 116U.S. avg 100
Median home value: $411,000U.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,303U.S. $1,348
Median income: $67,221U.S. $78,538
Unemployment: 3.4%U.S. 4.2%
Avg commute: 21 minCatalog avg 25 min
Violent crime: 742.2per 100k · avg 586.6
Summer high: 84°FCatalog avg 87°F

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Key figures

Each metric shows how Asheville compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).

Population: 94,992City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Median household income: $67,221Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year14% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538
Housing cost index: 116ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year16% above U.S. avgU.S. 100
Median home value: $411,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year35% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400
Median rent: $1,303City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348
Unemployment: 3.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts
Avg commute: 21 min16% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
Walk Score: 3522% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
Violent crime rate: 742.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)27% above U.S. avgU.S. 586.6
Property crime rate: 6325.2annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)105% above U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9
Summer high: 84°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
Winter low: 31°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
Annual rainfall: 40.6 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals23% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
Sunny days: 235As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12% below U.S. avgU.S. 268

Population trend

Asheville grew 13.8% from 83,459 in 2010 to 94,992 in 2024.

Dec 202494,992 people+13.8% vs 2010

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.

Is Asheville expensive compared to the U.S. average?

Asheville's housing cost index is 116 versus 100 nationally — above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($411,000 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,303 vs $1,348).

Housing cost index 116 (U.S. 100)
Median home $411,000 vs U.S. $303,400
Median rent $1,303 vs U.S. $1,348

How much does housing cost in Asheville?

Typical ownership costs center near $411,000, while median gross rent is about $1,303 a month. Against a median household income of $67,221, rent alone is roughly 23% of income on an annualized basis.

Median home value $411,000
Median rent $1,303/month
Median household income $67,221

What is the job market like in Asheville?

County unemployment recently ran 3.4% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Asheville is about $67,221 (U.S. $78,538).

Unemployment 3.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
Median income $67,221

How long is the typical commute in Asheville?

Average one-way commute time is about 21 minutes, with Walk Score near 35/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.

21 minutes average one-way
Walk Score 35/100

Is Asheville safer than similar U.S. cities?

Published violent-offense rates are about 742.2 per 100k and property about 6325.2 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.

Violent 742.2 per 100k
Property 6325.2 per 100k

What is the climate like year-round in Asheville?

Normals show summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 31°F, about 40.6 inches of rain, and roughly 235 sunny days a year.

Summer high 84°F
Winter low 31°F
40.6 in rain · 235 sunny days

Compare Asheville to another city Find cities like Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina counts about 94,992 residents inside the city limits. Median household income is roughly $67,221, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 116 — above the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). A typical home near $411,000 and rents around $1,303 frame most shortlists.

Asheville is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Asheville with nearby alternatives before you relocate.

Piedmont research corridors and coastal storm exposure both matter. The normals show about 40.6 inches of rain and 235 sunny days across a typical year. Plan on roughly 21 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 35. Unemployment recently ran near 3.4%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Violent-offense rates near 742.2 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.

Nearby & similar cities

Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.

Sources

Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Asheville city, 1600000US3702140) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
BLS: BLS LAUS · Buncombe County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013872 ASHEVILLE) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024

Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10

Canonical profile · All North Carolina cities · Full city index