What are the schools like in Asheville, NC?

Asheville is served primarily by Buncombe County Schools. The district operates 23 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 10 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Asheville?

The median household income in Asheville, NC is $63,810 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Asheville, NC?

Asheville has an average high temperature of 47.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 11.5 inches.

Asheville, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Asheville, NC affordable or expensive?

Asheville's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Asheville is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $376,800 and the median rent is $1,250 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Asheville, NC?

Asheville has a violent crime rate of 796.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3895.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Asheville, NC a Good Place to Live?

Asheville is a mid-sized city of 93,695 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $63,810 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Asheville stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Asheville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Asheville city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.1

Asheville's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Asheville costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Asheville, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$376,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,250	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,810	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Asheville's violent crime rate is 796.1 per 100,000 residents — 110% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

796.1 /100k

Property Crime

3895.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Asheville is served primarily by Buncombe County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Asheville, NC	National Avg
School District	Buncombe County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	23	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	10	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	51.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Asheville sees average highs of 47.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July, with 46.8 inches of annual precipitation and 11.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Asheville, NC
Average High — January	47.7°F
Average High — July	85.9°F
Annual Precipitation	46.8"
Annual Snowfall	11.5"

Demographics

Metric	Asheville, NC	National Avg
Population	93,695	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	16.7%	22.2%
65 and over	19.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Biltmore Forest, NC 3 mi Emma, NC 3 mi Bent Creek, NC 5 mi Woodfin, NC 6 mi Royal Pines, NC 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Asheville

Asheville, NC is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

28806 28803 28805 28801 28715

Asheville vs Other Cities

Asheville, NC vs Biltmore Forest, NC Asheville, NC vs Emma, NC Asheville, NC vs Bent Creek, NC Asheville, NC vs Woodfin, NC Asheville, NC vs Royal Pines, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Asheville, NC affordable or expensive?

Asheville's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Asheville roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $376,800 and median rent is $1,250/month.

What is the crime rate in Asheville, NC?

Asheville's violent crime rate is 796.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3895.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Asheville?

Public schools in Asheville are operated by Buncombe County Schools. The district has 23 elementary, 11 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 51.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Asheville, NC a good place to live?

Asheville, NC has a population of 93,695, a median household income of $63,810, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Asheville?

Asheville averages 47.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.8 inches with about 11.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Asheville?

Asheville, NC is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 28806, 28803, 28805, 28801, 28715.

What is the population of Asheville?

The population of Asheville, North Carolina is 93,695 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Asheville?

Key numbers for living in Asheville: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $376,800, median household income $63,810, crime index 200 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Asheville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.