County profile · North Carolina
Buncombe County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Buncombe County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 277,417
- +2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 101,855
- Median household income
- $74,436
- +42.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $391,800
- Jobs located here
- 142,929
- Highest market score
- 75
- Funeral homes, #151 of 1,472 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Buncombe County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Buncombe County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 277,417 people live in Buncombe County, in 101,855 households. Population estimates show Buncombe County grew 2.9% from 2020 to 2025, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436 a year, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 42.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Buncombe County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (77).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Buncombe County are for funeral homes (75), barbershops (74) and convenience stores (72). Buncombe County ranks #151 of 1,472 scored counties for funeral homes.
Buncombe County is part of the Asheville metro area. For its number of households, Buncombe County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for oil change and quick-lube shops (3.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for barbershops (43% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Buncombe County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Buncombe County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral homes | 75 | #151 of 1,472 | 23 | 2.3 | $784K | 116 | 14 |
| Barbershops | 74 | #152 of 1,356 | 31 | 3.0 | $3M | 158 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 72 | #375 of 2,261 | 80 | 7.9 | $7.7M | 98 | 18 |
| Dry cleaners | 69 | #74 of 507 | 7 | 0.7 | $27.9M | 178 | 8 |
| Laundromats | 64 | #213 of 785 | 11 | 1.1 | $17.7M | 142 | 7 |
| Insurance agencies | 64 | #662 of 2,272 | 132 | 13.0 | $1.9M | 150 | 90 |
| Gas stations | 61 | #707 of 2,358 | 118 | 11.6 | $2.5M | 103 | 110 |
| Child care and preschools | 60 | #552 of 1,611 | 55 | 5.4 | $872K | 87 | 47 |
| Pest control | 57 | #267 of 699 | 16 | 1.6 | $9.5M | 93 | 15 |
| Roofing and gutters | 57 | #437 of 1,177 | 46 | 4.5 | $6.5M | 77 | 15 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 55 | #538 of 1,327 | 26 | 2.6 | $3.5M | 114 | 28 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 51 | #820 of 1,707 | 68 | 6.7 | $4.4M | 92 | 123 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 51 | #1,170 of 2,402 | 233 | 22.9 | $2.7M | 78 | 81 |
| House cleaning | 47 | #480 of 847 | 26 | 2.6 | $5.9M | 92 | 86 |
| Nail salons | 46 | #815 of 1,328 | 68 | 6.7 | $1.4M | 81 | 17 |
| Grocery stores | 45 | #1,183 of 2,070 | 82 | 8.1 | $7.5M | 81 | 63 |
| Pizza | 44 | #1,266 of 2,090 | 97 | 9.5 | $4M | 79 | 266 |
| Home repair trades | 43 | #1,375 of 2,057 | 152 | 14.9 | $2M | 81 | 244 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 42 | #211 of 325 | 5 | 0.5 | $23M | 94 | 11 |
| Car washes and detailing | 42 | #933 of 1,451 | 43 | 4.2 | $2.1M | 85 | 20 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 41 | #1,466 of 2,222 | 156 | 15.3 | $2.5M | 82 | 266 |
| Auto repair shops | 40 | #1,672 of 2,378 | 252 | 24.7 | $364K | 82 | 103 |
| Electricians | 39 | #846 of 1,160 | 38 | 3.7 | $7.9M | 65 | 106 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 37 | #1,103 of 1,493 | 97 | 9.5 | $1.6M | 54 | 147 |
| Veterinarians | 36 | #1,077 of 1,485 | 60 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 57 | 60 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 36 | #1,391 of 1,771 | 139 | 13.6 | $1.1M | 65 | 248 |
| Pet businesses | 36 | #1,695 of 2,200 | 180 | 17.7 | $516K | 59 | 119 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 34 | #1,105 of 1,461 | 69 | 6.8 | $1.3M | 53 | 43 |
| Hair salons | 34 | #1,918 of 2,339 | 271 | 26.6 | $341K | 79 | 78 |
| Pet stores | 33 | #743 of 974 | 35 | 3.4 | $2.7M | 59 | 16 |
| Auto repair and car care | 33 | #1,920 of 2,401 | 426 | 41.8 | $215K | 80 | 176 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 32 | #1,061 of 1,302 | 57 | 5.6 | $2M | 64 | 23 |
| Tire shops | 32 | #1,199 of 1,530 | 52 | 5.1 | $1.8M | 70 | 33 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 31 | #1,128 of 1,334 | 59 | 5.8 | $1.3M | 65 | 39 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 31 | #1,688 of 2,087 | 255 | 25.0 | $765K | 60 | 167 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 31 | #2,018 of 2,405 | 794 | 78.0 | $490K | 74 | 338 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 30 | #782 of 887 | 58 | 5.7 | Index only | 69 | 31 |
| Gyms | 30 | #1,497 of 1,792 | 98 | 9.6 | $788K | 61 | 49 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 30 | #1,625 of 1,889 | 143 | 14.0 | $2.7M | 66 | 137 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 30 | #1,760 of 2,063 | 183 | 18.0 | $2.1M | 57 | 124 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 30 | #1,858 of 2,210 | 346 | 34.0 | $564K | 64 | 182 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,047 of 2,405 | 1,573 | 154.4 | $248K | 67 | 732 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 30 | #2,136 of 2,385 | 555 | 54.5 | $167K | 78 | 150 |
| Home inspectors | 29 | #367 of 415 | 10 | 1.0 | Index only | 59 | 17 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 27 | #2,103 of 2,176 | 486 | 47.7 | Index only | 59 | 381 |
| Real estate | 27 | #2,154 of 2,229 | 604 | 59.3 | Index only | 60 | 587 |
| Property management | 26 | #832 of 910 | 50 | 4.9 | Index only | 56 | 114 |
| Chiropractors | 26 | #1,350 of 1,490 | 85 | 8.3 | $1.4M | 57 | 58 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 26 | #1,463 of 1,656 | 108 | 10.6 | $1.1M | 60 | 358 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 26 | #1,746 of 1,886 | 145 | 14.2 | $793K | 81 | 131 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 26 | #1,892 of 2,088 | 224 | 22.0 | $345K | 52 | 88 |
| Spas and skin care | 24 | #1,655 of 1,769 | 170 | 16.7 | $544K | 62 | 51 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 22 | #2,268 of 2,394 | 1,361 | 133.6 | $84K | 55 | 657 |
| Physical therapy | 21 | #1,340 of 1,422 | 134 | 13.2 | $858K | 36 | 76 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 20 | #759 of 777 | 67 | 6.6 | $1.2M | 28 | 49 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 19 | #452 of 479 | 22 | 2.2 | $4.2M | 30 | 16 |
Household spending in Buncombe County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $91.7M | $900 | 94 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $291M | $2,857 | 110 |
| Food away from home | $389.4M | $3,823 | 94 |
| Groceries | $617.9M | $6,066 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $92.5M | $908 | 90 |
| Child care and other personal services | $48M | $471 | 81 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $77.3M | $759 | 77 |
| Medical and dental services | $115M | $1,129 | 88 |
| Pets | $92.9M | $912 | 100 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $195M | $1,915 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $248.6M | $2,440 | 125 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $298.6M | $2,932 | 97 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $152.8M | $1,500 | 106 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.6B | $15,301 | 92 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Buncombe County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 277,417+2.9% since 2020
- Households
- 101,855
- Median age
- 43.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 657 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 418
- Median household income
- $74,436+42.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $105,560
- Median home value
- $391,800
- Jobs located here
- 142,929
- Daytime population
- 299,325Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Buncombe County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Buncombe County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in North Carolina 8
- Henderson County, NC118,484 people
- Madison County, NC21,867 people
- Haywood County, NC62,662 people
- Yancey County, NC18,797 people
- Transylvania County, NC33,691 people
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
- Polk County, NC19,891 people
- Mitchell County, NC14,992 people
Questions
How fast is Buncombe County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Buncombe County at 277,417 people in 2025, up 2.9% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 101,855 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 42.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Buncombe County, NC spend?
Households in Buncombe County spend about $1.6B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $617.9M on groceries and $389.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Buncombe County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 125, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (77).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Buncombe County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Buncombe County, funeral homes (75), barbershops (74) and convenience stores (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For funeral homes, that ranks #151 of 1,472 scored counties.
How does Buncombe County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Buncombe County is $74,436, 8% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $391,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for oil change and quick-lube shops (3.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for barbershops (43% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Buncombe County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Buncombe County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Buncombe County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Buncombe County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.