HomeNorth CarolinaBuncombe County
Buncombe County, North Carolina: commercial real estate data.
Buncombe County, North Carolina has a population of 274,360 across 657 square miles, up 3.6 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $21.26 bn in 2024, 9,863 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 333 7(a) approvals worth $218.5 m.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Buncombe County
How many people live in Buncombe County
- Population274,360
- Households101,855
- Average household size2.69
- Median household income$74,436
- Median age42.6
- Median gross rent$1,362 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$391,800
- Home value to household income5.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher45.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over204,952
- Population under 1848,925
- Share under 1817.8 percent
- Population 65 and over58,291
- Share 65 and over21.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64167,144
- Civilian labor force136,517
- Unemployment rate4.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.6 percent
- Rank by population among North Carolina counties7th of 100
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents262nd
Buncombe County is the 7th largest of 100 North Carolina counties by population. A median home costs 5.3 times median household income, which is a stretched ownership market and usually shows up as rental demand. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 21.2 percent against 17.8 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single storey product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Buncombe County
Is Buncombe County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.63 percent
- Census 2020 base population269,425
- Births, 20242,421
- Deaths, 20242,903
- Natural change, 2024-482
- Net domestic migration, 20241,606
- Net international migration, 20241,282
- Total net migration, 20242,888
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20248,628
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents751st
The county has grown 3.63 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration alone is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Buncombe County
Where people moving to Buncombe County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving10,341
- People arriving, from those returns15,843
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.01 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$97,832
- Largest single originBuncombe County Non-migrants (104,349 households)
- Largest single destination (104,349 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buncombe County Non-migrants | 104,349 | 192,413 | $9.60 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 3,281 | 5,016 | $282.3 m |
| Other flows - South | 1,467 | 2,286 | $108.9 m |
| Henderson County | 809 | 1,394 | $54.1 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 646 | 924 | $70.4 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 604 | 901 | $52.9 m |
| Other flows - West | 564 | 905 | $50.1 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 358 | 537 | $21.8 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Buncombe County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Buncombe County
What the Buncombe County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$21.26 bn
- County GDP, 2023$20.11 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.7 percent
- GDP change over five years43.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among North Carolina counties7th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents244th
- GDP per resident$77,497
Output grew 5.7 percent in the latest year and 43.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Buncombe County
Who employs people in Buncombe County
- Covered employment, annual average136,495
- Establishments reporting13,107
- Average annual pay$58,785
- Average weekly wage$1,130
- Sector 62, employment23,432
- Sector 62, average annual pay$66,490
- Sector 72, employment17,364
- Sector 72, average annual pay$31,006
- Sector 44-45, employment17,265
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$36,955
- Sector 31-33, employment12,790
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$66,643
- Sector 54, employment6,949
- Sector 56, employment6,834
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 23,432 | 1,593 | $66,490 |
| Sector 72 | 17,364 | 1,036 | $31,006 |
| Sector 44-45 | 17,265 | 1,389 | $36,955 |
| Sector 31-33 | 12,790 | 400 | $66,643 |
| Sector 54 | 6,949 | 2,175 | $84,341 |
| Sector 56 | 6,834 | 862 | $51,779 |
| Sector 23 | 6,765 | 1,173 | $68,609 |
| Sector 81 | 5,756 | 1,121 | $44,112 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 23,432 jobs, 17.2 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Buncombe County
What businesses operate in Buncombe County
- Establishments, all industries9,863
- Employment at those establishments127,409
- Annual payroll$6.59 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents35.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Buncombe County
What is being built in Buncombe County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 20243,613
- Declared construction value permitted$948.6 m
- Single family units authorised1,379
- Multifamily units authorised2,234
- Multifamily share of units61.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$262,547
- Units authorised per 1,000 households35.5
Multifamily is 61.8 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Buncombe County
How much SBA lending happens in Buncombe County
- 7(a) approvals recorded333
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$218.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$656,109
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$31,100
- 90th percentile approval$1,824,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,936
- Jobs per approval11.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active74
- Distinct industries receiving approvals147
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer18.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms61
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter244
- Franchise loans55
- Franchise share of approvals16.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (25)
- Most active lenderMountain Bizcapital, Inc. (42)
- 504 approvals recorded81
- 504 gross approval dollars$73.3 m
- Average 504 approval$904,691
- Median 504 approval$438,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval10.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.0
- Most active CDCBusiness Expansion Funding Corporation (45)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals80.4 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$291.8 m
The average approval of $656,109 sits well above the median of $250,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 18.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buncombe County
Do SBA loans in Buncombe County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded57
- Paid in full53
- Charged off4
- Charge off rate on resolved loans7.0 percent
- Status: Paid in full53
- Status: Exempt from disclosure223
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed23
Of the 57 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buncombe County
Which parts of Buncombe County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending13
- Asheville, approvals225
- Arden, approvals33
- Candler, approvals20
- BLACK MOUNTAIN, approvals17
- WEAVERVILLE, approvals13
- FAIRVIEW, approvals9
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville | 225 | $139,855,700 |
| Arden | 33 | $27,926,600 |
| Candler | 20 | $14,873,200 |
| BLACK MOUNTAIN | 17 | $13,113,300 |
| WEAVERVILLE | 13 | $9,199,900 |
| FAIRVIEW | 9 | $7,285,000 |
| LEICESTER | 5 | $1,721,500 |
| Fletcher | 4 | $3,500,000 |
Asheville accounts for 225 approvals against 33 in Arden. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Buncombe County
How big is Buncombe County
- Land area657 sq mi
- Rank by land area among North Carolina counties19th of 100
- Width, east to west40.2 mi
- Height, north to south27.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land418
- Establishments per square mile15.01
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Buncombe County
What hazards affect Buncombe County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
The EPA places the county in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Buncombe County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Buncombe County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population274,360
- Households101,855
- Average household size2.69
- Median household income$74,436
- Median age42.6
Common questions
Buncombe County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Buncombe County, North Carolina?
274,360, in 101,855 households, ranking 7th of 100 North Carolina counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Buncombe County growing?
The population has grown 3.63 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 2,421 births against 2,903 deaths, with net migration of 2,888. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Buncombe County?
$74,436. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $391,800, which is 5.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,362 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Buncombe County?
9,863 establishments, employing 127,409 people with an annual payroll of $6.59 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Buncombe County?
Average annual pay is $58,785, or $1,130 a week, across 136,495 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Buncombe County?
333 7(a) approvals totalling $218.5 m since FY2020, across 74 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 81 504 approvals worth $73.3 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Buncombe County get paid back?
Of the 57 loans that have reached a final outcome, 53 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge off rate of 7.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Buncombe County?
3,613 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $948.6 m. Multifamily was 61.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Buncombe County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Buncombe County come from?
The largest single origin is Buncombe County Non-migrants, with 104,349 households. Arriving households report an average income of $97,832 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Buncombe County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Buncombe County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.