Buncombe County, NC Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Buncombe County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 270,373 | 10,790,063 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 409.8 | 200.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.20% | 0.90% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.1 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 102,653 | 4,184,344 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Buncombe County grew by 20.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 271,726 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Buncombe County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Buncombe County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,631 | $69,937 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.05% | 5.43% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Buncombe County is about 1% higher than in North Carolina.
Housing
| Metric | Buncombe County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $395,228 | $265,624 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,281 | $1,162 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.4% | 66.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Buncombe County is about 25.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,281 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Buncombe County spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 170 hours, about 7.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Buncombe County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.4 | 21.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 40.9 | 43.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 170 | 182 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,282 | $5,630 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 14.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 11,510 | 8,330 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,886 | 1,609 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
North Carolina:
Macon County (17.1 min), Dare County (17.2 min), Graham County (17.2 min).
Slowest:
Gates County (36.3 min), Currituck County (33.6 min), Franklin County (32.4 min).
The average commute time in Buncombe County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in North Carolina.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Buncombe County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Buncombe County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.9% | 31.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.58 | 2.46 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.5), Wake County (0.4), Durham County (0.4).
Lowest:
Hyde County (0.2), Greene County (0.2), Tyrrell County (0.2).
Health
Buncombe County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Buncombe County | North Carolina Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 77.1 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.2% | 16.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.9% | 20.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
North Carolina:
Orange County (0.8), Wake County (0.8), Watauga County (0.8).
Lowest:
Robeson County (0.8), Lenoir County (0.8), Halifax County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Buncombe County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Buncombe County, North Carolina?
The population of Buncombe County, North Carolina is 270,373, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Buncombe County, North Carolina?
The population density of Buncombe County, North Carolina is 409.8 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Buncombe County, North Carolina?
The median household income in Buncombe County, North Carolina is $70,631, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Buncombe County, North Carolina?
The median home price in Buncombe County, North Carolina is $395,228, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Buncombe County, North Carolina?
The unemployment rate in Buncombe County, North Carolina is 3.5%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.