Cost of Living in Buncombe County, North Carolina
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Buncombe County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Buncombe County ranks #2,680 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Buncombe County Median Home Value Exceeds State Unweighted Mean
Median home value in Buncombe County is $391,800, which is higher than the North Carolina unweighted county mean of $235,312. Median monthly owner costs are $1,195, while the state unweighted mean is $927. The official ACS B25071 GRAPI for the county is 31.6%, a value 2.7 percentage points above the North Carolina unweighted county mean of 28.9%. Median gross rent is estimated at $1,362 per month. Renter-households have a median income of $47,419. These statistics are derived from the 2020-2024 5-year estimates and report static conditions at the time of the survey. See ACS table B25077 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Buncombe County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.6% of renter household income in Buncombe County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,362 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,195. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $54,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Buncombe County's $1,362 median is 39.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Buncombe County
Rent Burden
22.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,737
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.3%
of gross income
The median home in Buncombe County may be a stretch
Median home value is $391,800. Estimated monthly cost: $3,128 vs. your max of $1,737.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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