Buncombe County, NC

County

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2020 Population

259,576

1.05% 1-year growth

US Senator

Richard Burr

Republican Party

US Senator

Thom Tillis

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

42.3

0.237% 1-year increase

2020 Poverty Rate

11.5%

5.79% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$55,032

5.41% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$250,600

5.21% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

128,399

0.985% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Buncombe County, NC had a population of 260k people with a median age of 42.3 and a median household income of $55,032. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Buncombe County, NC grew from 256,886 to 259,576, a 1.05% increase and its median household income grew from $52,207 to $55,032, a 5.41% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Buncombe County, NC are White (Non-Hispanic) (83.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (6.13%), White (Hispanic) (4.46%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.06%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.24%).

None of the households in Buncombe County, NC reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.6% of the residents in Buncombe County, NC are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Buncombe County, NC are Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (1,427 degrees awarded in 2020), University of North Carolina at Asheville (814 degrees), and Montreat College (180 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Buncombe County, NC was $250,600, and the homeownership rate was 63.4%. Most people in Buncombe County, NC drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Buncombe County, NC was 2 cars per household.

Buncombe County, NC borders Haywood County, NC, Henderson County, NC, McDowell County, NC, Madison County, NC, Rutherford County, NC, Transylvania County, NC, and Yancey County, NC.

About the photo: North Carolina Welcome Center

Photo by David Ellis

United States North Carolina Asheville, NC

Diversity

Buncombe County, NC is home to a population of 260k people, from which 96.6% are citizens. As of 2020, 6.04% of Buncombe County, NC residents were born outside of the country (15.7k people).

In 2020, there were 13.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (216k people) in Buncombe County, NC than any other race or ethnicity. There were 15.9k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 11.6k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Buncombe County, NC

White (Non-Hispanic)
216k ± 320
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
15.9k ± 569
White (Hispanic)
11.6k ± 825

6.7%

Hispanic Population

17.4k people

6.7% of the people in Buncombe County, NC are hispanic (17.4k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Buncombe County, NC as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

6.04%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

15.7k people

6.21%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

16k people

As of 2020, 6.04% of Buncombe County, NC residents (15.7k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Buncombe County, NC was 6.21%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Buncombe County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
224,275 ± 11,501 people
India
74,765 ± 6,689 people
Honduras
37,815 ± 4,766 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of North Carolina was Mexico, the natal country of 224,275 North Carolina residents, followed by India with 74,765 and Honduras with 37,815.

Citizenship

96.6%

2020 Citizenship

96.5%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 96.6% of Buncombe County, NC residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Buncombe County, NC was 96.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Buncombe County, NC compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
6,263 ± 616
Gulf War (2001-)
2,854 ± 492
Gulf War (1990s)
1,811 ± 370

Buncombe County, NC has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.19 times greater than any other conflict.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for North Carolina. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in North Carolina, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in North Carolina. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in North Carolina.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of North Carolina across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Economy

Median household income in Buncombe County, NC is $55,032. In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Buncombe County, NC was Census Tract 21.01 with a value of $153,036, followed by Census Tract 17 and Census Tract 5, with respective values of $97,269 and $93,026.

Males in North Carolina have an average income that is 1.32 times higher than the average income of females, which is $49,357. The income inequality in North Carolina (measured using the Gini index) is 0.47, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Buncombe County, NC employs 128k people. The largest industries in Buncombe County, NC are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,577 people), Retail Trade (16,487 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (14,237 people), and the highest paying industries are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($53,183), Finance & Insurance ($50,563), and Public Administration ($47,795).

Wages

Median Household Income

$55,032

2020 value

± $1,434

5.41%

1 Year Growth

± 3.15%

Households in Buncombe County, NC have a median annual income of $55,032, which is less than the median annual income of $64,994 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $52,207 in 2019, which represents a 5.41% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Buncombe County, NC compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Sex in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

$65,285

Average Male Salary in North Carolina

± $1,177

$49,357

Average Female Salary in North Carolina

± $863

In 2020, full-time male employees in North Carolina made 1.32 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the sex-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in North Carolina by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for North Carolina.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in North Carolina

Asian
$68,761 ± $4,586
White
$55,155 ± $864
Two or More Races
$42,126 ± $3,548

In 2020 the highest paid race/ethnicity of North Carolina workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.25 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in North Carolina.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in North Carolina by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Buncombe County, NC is from North Carolina.

0.47

2020 Wage GINI in North Carolina

0.472

2019 Wage GINI in North Carolina

In 2020, the income inequality in North Carolina was 0.47 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.395% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for North Carolina was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in North Carolina in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in North Carolina across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 21.01
Census Tract 17
Census Tract 5

In 2020, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Buncombe County, NC was Census Tract 21.01 with a value of $153,036, followed by Census Tract 17 and Census Tract 5, with respective values of $97,269 and $93,026.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Buncombe County, NC colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Sex

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

11.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Buncombe County, NC (29.1k out of 253k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 55 - 64 and then Females 18 - 24.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
23,266 ± 1,375
Hispanic
5,268 ± 715
Black
2,813 ± 427

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Buncombe County, NC is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

128k

2020 Value

± 3,398

0.985%

1 Year growth

± 3.41%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Buncombe County, NC grew at a rate of 0.985%, from 127k employees to 128k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Buncombe County, NC, are Sales & Related Occupations (15,142 people), Management Occupations (12,378 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,180 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Buncombe County, NC.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Buncombe County, NC, by number of employees, are Sales & Related Occupations (15,142 people), Management Occupations (12,378 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (12,180 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Buncombe County, NC has an unusually high number of residents working as Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, & Media Occupations (1.77 times higher than expected), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1.62 times), and Community & Social Service Occupations (1.52 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Buncombe County, NC, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($90,099), Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations ($65,317), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($65,097).

Industries

Employment by Industries

128k

2020 Value

± 3,398

0.985%

1 Year growth

± 3.41%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Buncombe County, NC grew at a rate of 0.985%, from 127k employees to 128k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Buncombe County, NC, are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,577 people), Retail Trade (16,487 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (14,237 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Buncombe County, NC, though some of these residents may live in Buncombe County, NC and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Buncombe County, NC, by number of employees, are Health Care & Social Assistance (22,577 people), Retail Trade (16,487 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (14,237 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Buncombe County, NC has an unusually high number of Accommodation & Food Services (1.53 times higher than expected), Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (1.32 times), and Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (1.28 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Buncombe County, NC, by median earnings, are Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($53,183), Finance & Insurance ($50,563), and Public Administration ($47,795).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina product (by dollars) was Mixed freight with $53.9B, followed by Machinery ($49B) and Pharmaceuticals ($48.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound North Carolina products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for North Carolina.

$488B

2020 Value in North Carolina

$926B

Projected 2050 Value in North Carolina

89.6% growth

In 2020, total outbound North Carolina trade was $488B. This is expected to increase 89.6% to $926B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound North Carolina trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from North Carolina to other states, or from other states to North Carolina.

Most Common Trade Partners

South Carolina
$35.1B
Virginia
$27B
Georgia
$18.5B

In 2020, the top outbound North Carolina domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was South Carolina with $35.1B, followed by Virginia with $27B and Georgia and $18.5B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that North Carolina shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Buncombe County, NC went to Joseph R Biden Jr. with 59.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.6%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (0.904%). The most partisan county was Durham County, NC with 80.4% of the vote going to Joseph R Biden Jr. running for the Democratic Party.

Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing the state of North Carolina. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Joseph R Biden Jr. (59.7%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (38.6%)
Republican Party
Jo Jorgensen (0.904%)
Libertarian Party

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Buncombe County, NC for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of North Carolina.

Joseph R Biden Jr.

Popular Vote for Buncombe County, NC

59.7% for the Democratic Party

Most Partisan Counties in North Carolina

Durham County, NC
80.4% for Joseph R Biden Jr. (Democratic Party)
Yadkin County, NC
80% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Graham County, NC
79.5% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2020 presidential election, the most partisan county in North Carolina was Durham County, NC with 80.4% of the vote going to Joseph R Biden Jr. running for the Democratic Party.

The following map shows the counties in North Carolina colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from North Carolina

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

Richard Burr

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2005

Thom Tillis

Senator from North Carolina

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Richard Burr and Thom Tillis are the senators currently representing North Carolina.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in North Carolina over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from North Carolina

North Carolina is currently represented by 13 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for North Carolina have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Buncombe County, NC awarded 2,648 degrees. The student population of Buncombe County, NC is skewed towards women, with 4,676 male students and 7,127 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Buncombe County, NC are White (2,081 and 79.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (199 and 7.63%), Black or African American (114 and 4.37%), and Two or More Races (93 and 3.57%).

The largest universities in Buncombe County, NC by number of degrees awarded are Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (1,427 and 53.9%), University of North Carolina at Asheville (814 and 30.7%), and Montreat College (180 and 6.8%).

The most popular majors in Buncombe County, NC are Liberal Arts & Sciences (387 and 14.6%), Registered Nursing (123 and 4.65%), and General Business Administration & Management (121 and 4.57%).

The median tuition costs in Buncombe County, NC are $33,000 for private four year colleges, and $4,122 and $21,470 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
89 degree-majorss awarded
Environmental Studies
81 degree-majorss awarded
General Psychology
120 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Buncombe County, NC was General Business Administration & Management with 89 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Buncombe County, NC according to their major.

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
1,427 degrees awarded
University of North Carolina at Asheville
814 degrees awarded
Montreat College
180 degrees awarded

$4,122

Median In-State Public

$33,000

Median Private

In 2020, the Buncombe County, NC institution with the largest number of graduating students was Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College with 1,427 degrees awarded.

Student Sex for Common Institutions

1,114

Degrees Awarded to Men

1,534

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2020, 1,114 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Buncombe County, NC, which is 0.726 times less than the 1,534 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 institutions in Buncombe County, NC by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,081 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
199 degrees awarded
Black or African American
114 degrees awarded

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions in Buncombe County, NC was White students. These 2,081 degrees mean that there were 10.5 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 199 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Buncombe County, NC was $250,600 in 2020, which is 1.09 times larger than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $238,200 to $250,600, a 5.21% increase. The homeownership rate in Buncombe County, NC is 63.4%, which is lower than the national average of 64.4%. People in Buncombe County, NC have an average commute time of 20.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Buncombe County, NC is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$250,600

2020 Median

± $6,743

$238,200

2019 Median

± $4,231

In 2020, the median property value in Buncombe County, NC grew to to $250,600 from the previous year's value of $238,200.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Buncombe County, NC compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Buncombe County, NC the largest share of households have a property value in the $300k - $400k range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$55,032

Median Household Income

± $1,434

105k

Number of Households

± 2,703

In 2020, the median household income of the 105k households in Buncombe County, NC grew to $55,032 from the previous year's value of $52,207.

The following chart displays the households in Buncombe County, NC distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

$800 - $1,499

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Buncombe County, NC distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Buncombe County, NC the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

Rent vs Own

63.4%

2020 Homeownership

63.4%

2019 Homeownership

In 2020, 63.4% of the housing units in Buncombe County, NC were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 63.4%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 64.4%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Buncombe County, NC compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

20.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Buncombe County, NC have a shorter commute time (20.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 1.07% of the workforce in Buncombe County, NC have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Buncombe County, NC compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (77.5%)
Worked At Home (11.4%)
Carpooled (7.19%)

In 2020, 77.5% of workers in Buncombe County, NC drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (11.4%) and those who carpooled to work (7.19%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Buncombe County, NC distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Buncombe County, NC have 2 cars, followed by false.

Health

88.9% of the population of Buncombe County, NC has health coverage, with 43% on employee plans, 12.8% on Medicaid, 14.6% on Medicare, 16.7% on non-group plans, and 1.73% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in North Carolina was $7,264 in 2014. This is a 3.37% increase from the previous year ($7,027).

Primary care physicians in Buncombe County, NC see 702 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.862% increase from the previous year (696 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1299 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 152 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Jones County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (27.2%). Additionally, Bladen County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (49.1%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

702 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Buncombe County, NC

Primary care physicians in Buncombe County, NC see an average of 702 patients per year. This represents a 0.862% increase from the previous year (696 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Buncombe County, NC in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for North Carolina.

$7,264

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in North Carolina

$3,859

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$7,225

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$10,260

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in North Carolina (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 3.37%, from $7,027 to $7,264.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

11.1%

Uninsured

43%

Employer Coverage

12.8%

Medicaid

14.6%

Medicare

16.7%

Non-Group

1.73%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Buncombe County, NC grew by 4.51% from 10.7% to 11.1%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Buncombe County, NC changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.