The Asheville metro is home to 410,817 people (down 8.7% over five years), with a median household income of $69,236. Typical rent of $1,702/month works out to 29.5% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Asheville's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 23.9% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 12.8% |
| Retail trade | 12.4% |
| Professional & management | 11.1% |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 29.5% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Asheville market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,702/month suggests a household income around $68,000/year. The metro's median household income is $69,236.
By workforce share: Education & health care (23.9%), Arts, food & hospitality (12.8%), Retail trade (12.4%) (Census ACS 5-year).