Moving, Retirement, and Real Estate in Asheville and Western NC

Thinking of moving to Asheville, NC? Often dubbed the "Paris of the South" and the "Land of the Sky," Asheville is a unique mountain city offering a lifestyle that draws you in from the first visit. Asheville’s vibrant downtown offers restaurants that rival the best of much larger cities, along with an incredible art scene and music scene. The surrounding beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes it the perfect location for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and fishing. It’s no secret why so many people love Asheville!

Asheville: One of the Top Places to Live

According to US News & World Report, Asheville ranked 29th as the top place people are moving in the USA for 2023-2024—one of the smallest metro areas on their list. In Money's 100 Best Places to Live 2019, Asheville came in at #27 for all cities in the USA! They reported, "Perfect for artistically-inclined nature lovers, Asheville contains a sublime blend of a vibrant arts and music culture paired with the great outdoors."

Here’s a small sampling of other accolades about the Asheville area:

• 15 Best Cities in the United States -Travel + Leisure
• Top 10 Music Cities in the U.S. - National Geographic Traveler
• 12 Best Places to Retire in the U.S. - Condé Nast Traveler
• The 28 Friendliest Neighborhoods in the US - National Geographic
• Happiest City For Women - Self Magazine
• Top 100 Best Places to Live - Liveability

Real Estate in Asheville, NC, and WNC

If you are looking for a full-time mountain home or a second home for endless getaways to the Asheville area, you can find real estate that fits your budget. From downtown condos to secluded mountain cabins, historic homes, and charming Arts & Crafts bungalows, you can find the perfect place to live in Western North Carolina. 

In 2023, Asheville home prices were up 5.9% compared to the previous year, selling for a median price of $540,000. 

Information about the Asheville Area

• Asheville City Population: 92,500 people
• Buncombe County Population: 259,000 people
• Asheville MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) Population: 459,000. The MSA includes Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison Counties. Other towns in the MSA include Hendersonville, Waynesville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Canton, Clyde, Flat Rock, Fletcher, Hot Springs, Laurel Park, Maggie Valley, Mars Hill, Marshall, Mills River, Montreat, Weaverville, and Woodfin.
• Elevation: Asheville is situated in a valley at 2,134 feet elevation, surrounded by much higher peaks, including Mt Mitchell at 6,684 feet, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
• Colleges: The University of North Carolina in Asheville is the largest college, with 3,600 students. See our guide to colleges in the Asheville area.
• Transportation: Asheville Regional Airport welcomes 1.5+ million passengers each year. Read more. The Asheville Transit Systems includes 16 bus lines. There is no passenger train service.
• Weather varies greatly in our mountains due to the elevation differences. We enjoy four distinct seasons, and our mountains protect our valleys from severe weather or extreme temperatures. The annual average rainfall in Asheville is 46 inches, while many areas of our mountains are temperate rain forests with 80+ inches each year at places like Gorges State Park. Annual snowfall is 10 inches on average in the city to 90 inches a year atop Mt. Mitchell. Read more about our weather.
• The Cost of Living Index for Asheville is 100.4 (the national average is 100). By comparison, Atlanta is 102.3, and Charlotte is 98.2.
• Read about Asheville's Towns & Communities like Hendersonville, Weaverville, Waynesville, and Black Mountain. Find many friendly small towns near Asheville in the 16 counties we promote for travel. Many people find lower real estate prices in these small towns, while still being an easy drive from Asheville. See our Top 40 Small Mountain Towns in Western NC.