Buncombe County, North Carolina Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 7th-largest in North Carolina

The population of Buncombe County, North Carolina is 271,790 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 7th-largest county in North Carolina. The median household income is $70,578, the median home value is $360,000, and the median age is 42.4.

The population of Buncombe County has grown 17.0% since 2010 (238,743 → 279,210), a +1.12% annualized rate.

Buncombe County within North Carolina · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

271,790

Population

+1.12%

Annual growth

414

People / sq mi

$70,578

Median Income

$360,000

Median Home Value

Buncombe County covers 656 sq mi of land at 414.0 people per square mile.

About Buncombe County, NC

Buncombe County is a county in North Carolina with a population of 271,790. It ranks #7 among counties in North Carolina by population. The median age is 42.4, older than the national median. The population is 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

The median household income in Buncombe County is $70,578, below the US median of $74,580. 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $360,000, with monthly rent averaging $1,281. The homeownership rate of 64.4% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Buncombe County reflects 44.6% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 16.2% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 20.8 minutes each way.

Buncombe County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Buncombe County had a population of 238,743 in 2010 and 279,210 in 2024, a 17.0% growth over 14 years. The peak was 279,210 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.13%.

279,210

Population (2024)

238,743

Population (2010)

279,210

Peak (2024)

1.13%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	238,743	-	-	estimate
2011	241,226	+2,483	+1.04%	estimate
2012	243,761	+2,535	+1.05%	estimate
2013	246,952	+3,191	+1.31%	estimate
2014	249,265	+2,313	+0.94%	estimate
2015	252,160	+2,895	+1.16%	estimate
2016	255,222	+3,062	+1.21%	estimate
2017	257,408	+2,186	+0.86%	estimate
2018	259,726	+2,318	+0.90%	estimate
2019	262,049	+2,323	+0.89%	estimate
2020	269,704	+7,655	+2.92%	estimate
2021	271,984	+2,280	+0.85%	estimate
2022	274,112	+2,128	+0.78%	estimate
2023	276,789	+2,677	+0.98%	estimate
2024	279,210	+2,421	+0.87%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	83.1%
Black or African American	5.4%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.2%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

42.4

Median Age

51.7%

Female

48.3%

Male

20.8%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.6%

5–9

5.3%

10–14

4.9%

15–19

5.7%

20–24

5.1%

25–34

13.7%

35–44

13.9%

45–54

12.7%

55–59

6.6%

60–64

6.7%

65–74

12.4%

75–84

5.8%

85+

2.6%

Children (under 15): 14.8% · Seniors (65+): 20.8%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$70,578+$674 vs state
Mean household income	$98,793
Per-capita income	$40,879
Poverty rate	6.7%-2.7% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.1%
Employment-to-population	57.5%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

24.3%

Education & health care

13.9%

Finance & real estate

11.9%

Manufacturing

9.4%

Construction

8.2%

Information

5.1%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.7%

Retail trade

3.3%

The largest employment sector in Buncombe County is professional & business services, accounting for 24.3% of workers.

How residents commute

0.8%

Drive alone

2.1%

Carpool

72.6%

Public transit

16.2%

Work from home

20.8 min

Avg commute

Housing

$360,000+$100,600 vs state

Median home value

$1,281

Median rent

64.4%

Homeownership rate

132,191

Total housing units

77.7%

Occupied

22.3%

Vacant

35.6%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

88.1%

With health insurance

92.0%

With broadband internet

43.4%

Foreign-born

6.7%

Veterans (18+)

13.8%

With a disability

90.4%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

92.3%

High School+

44.6%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in North Carolina

Charlotte (886,283)Raleigh (470,763)Greensboro (298,564)Durham (288,465)Winston-Salem (250,887)Fayetteville (209,692)Cary (176,686)Wilmington (118,578)High Point (115,263)Concord (106,518)All North Carolina cities →

Other counties in North Carolina

Wake County (1,151,009)Mecklenburg County (1,130,906)Guilford County (542,987)Forsyth County (386,740)Cumberland County (336,749)Durham County (329,405)Union County (244,975)Gaston County (231,485)Cabarrus County (231,262)New Hanover County (231,214)All North Carolina counties →

Part of North Carolina

North Carolina demographic profile All North Carolina data →

Metro areas in North Carolina

Charlotte (2,712,818)Virginia Beach (1,782,590)Raleigh (1,449,594)Greensboro (779,894)Winston (683,637)Durham (594,291)Wilmington (440,578)Asheville (410,817)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Buncombe County, North Carolina has a population of 271,790 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 7th-largest county in North Carolina. Population density is 414 people per square mile.

The population of Buncombe County has grown 17.0% since 2010 (238,743 → 279,210), a +1.12% annualized rate.

The median household income in Buncombe County, North Carolina is $70,578, with mean (average) household income of $98,793 and per-capita income of $40,879. 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Buncombe County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (83.1%), Black or African American (5.4%), Hispanic or Latino (1.2%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Buncombe County, North Carolina is 42.4 years. Residents are 51.7% female and 48.3% male.

The median home value in Buncombe County is $360,000 and median monthly rent is $1,281. 64.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 132,191 total housing units, 22.3% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Buncombe County, North Carolina is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 24.3% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

Charlotte is among the largest cities associated with Buncombe County, North Carolina, with a population of 886,283.