Living in Asheville, NC
Small city in North Carolina
Asheville is a small city in North Carolina, home to about 94,000 people, with 254,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
In short: Blue Ridge mountains, craft breweries and an artsy, relaxed vibe. A limited job market, and housing has become pricey.
Is Asheville a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Dog-friendly: 8 dog parks within 9 mi
- Low taxes: about $1,615 state income tax per resident, 0.68% property tax
- Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Smaller job market: about 254,000 people live within 31 mi
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Higher crime: violent crime is 2.0× the US rate (FBI 2019)
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Asheville ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Asheville: common questions
What is the cost of living in Asheville?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $451k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,910 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 97, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Asheville?
North Carolina collects about $1,615 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.68% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Asheville safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.0× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Asheville?
Asheville has cool winters: winter days average around 50°F and summer days around 84°F, with roughly 12″ of snow a year.
Does Asheville get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and cold waves: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.68 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Asheville?
The nearest major airport is TYS, about 83 mi away.
How Asheville scores
Each bar compares Asheville with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Asheville right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.