RANK #977 / 1001 NAT · #51 / 51 NC · POP 274,360
1YR FORECAST: -2.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +9%
Buncombe County, North Carolina, draws attention for its location within the Blue Ridge Mountains and its county seat, Asheville, a hub for arts and outdoor recreation. The county is characterized by diverse landscapes, from rural farmlands to urban centers. Commuting within the county often involves personal vehicles, though public transit options like Mountain Mobility and Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) are available, with some routes connecting to neighboring counties. Residents have access to extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking trails in Pisgah National Forest, scenic overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and various county parks like Lake Julian Park and the Buncombe County Sports Park. The climate is temperate, with an average snowfall of 13 inches, allowing for year-round outdoor activities.
Life in Buncombe County appeals to a mix of young professionals and retirees, with a community feel that balances natural surroundings and city amenities. The public school system, Buncombe County Schools, is the largest in Western North Carolina, serving nearly 22,000 students across 47 schools and programs. The local economy is influenced by tourism, higher education, and creative industries. Recent economic developments include investments in energy efficiency, water conservation, and renewable energy through programs like NC C-PACE, which provides financing for commercial property owners. Additionally, there have been economic expansion announcements in manufacturing and other sectors, contributing to job growth.
Buncombe County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -4.5% runs below the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 13.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Asheville Combined Cycle Station
Duke Energy
|
$817M | Operating |
|
Buncombe County Capital Improvement Plan (Various Projects)
Buncombe County Government
|
$375M | Planned |
|
Asheville Energy Complex (Solar and Battery Storage)
Duke Energy
|
$120M | Planned |
|
Ferry Road Community Development
Buncombe County Government, Urban Atlantic
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
Manufacturing Expansions (Pratt & Whitney, System Logistics, BorgWarner)
Pratt & Whitney, System Logistics Corporation, BorgWarner
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Buncombe County Sports Park Improvements
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, AstroTurf
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Buncombe County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #977 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -1.4% and median household income of $74,436 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Buncombe County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $391,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,362/month on average.
Buncombe County is attracting residents (population +0.9% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -1.4%. Housing values changed -4.5% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.55% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Buncombe County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.