Buncombe County, North Carolina
NC · FIPS 37021 · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
| Metric | Value | vs National | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 274,360 | — | #262 / 3,222 | |
| Median Household Income | $74,436 | -0.9% | #877 / 3,222 | |
| Median Age | 42.6 years | +9.5% | #1,327 / 3,222 | |
| Median Home Value | $391,800 | +39.0% | #311 / 3,222 | |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,362 | +17.1% | #348 / 3,222 | |
| Poverty Rate | 11.8% | -6.1% | #1,235 / 3,222 | |
Demographics
Buncombe County has a population of 274,360, making it the #262 most populous county in the US. The median age is 42.6 years, which is 9.5% above the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Household Type
Economy
The median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436, ranking #877 out of 3,222 counties — 0.9% below the national median. The poverty rate is 11.8% and unemployment stands at 4.3%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Poverty Rate Trend
Rankings →Housing
The median home value in Buncombe County is $391,800 (+39.0% vs national). Renters pay a median of $1,362/mo and the homeownership rate is 66.2%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Health
89.1% of residents in Buncombe County have health insurance coverage, which is 2.8% below the national rate.
About Buncombe County, North Carolina
Buncombe County, North Carolina has a total population of 274,360, making it the 262nd most populous county in the United States. The median age in Buncombe County is 42.6 years, which is 9.5% above the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436, which ranks #877 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 0.9% below the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 11.8%, lower than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 4.3%.
The median home value in Buncombe County is $391,800, 39.0% above the national median. Renters in Buncombe County pay a median gross rent of $1,362 per month. The homeownership rate is 66.2%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Buncombe County, 45.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 36.2% above the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 89.1% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 23.5 min.
Buncombe County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is White (non-Hispanic) at 80.8% of the population, followed by Hispanic or Latino (8.6%) and Black (non-Hispanic) (4.8%).
All data for Buncombe County, North Carolina comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.