Asheville is open, a Southern city in a period of recovery
The largest city in Western North Carolina, Asheville is defined by its Indigenous heritage, Gilded Age extravagance and quirky, inclusive spirit. This booming resort town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, known for a mixture of merits, from its edgy art and music scene to its of-the-moment eateries and mountainous landscapes, garners a level of acclaim on par with larger destination cities. Asheville and the rapidly evolving region appeal to adventurous foodies, working creatives, diehard outdoors enthusiasts, and those simply seeking a scenic retreat. The city is home to over 95,000 people, a number that’s steadily growing as more seek its lively urban center surrounded by mountain scenery.
Asheville welcomes newcomers and visitors as it continues the arduous recovery following Hurricane Helene in September 2024. The storm caused catastrophic damage throughout the region as the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers flooded, and torrential rain triggered landslides. “We had a beautiful River Arts District, and that took a severe hit. We’ve lost some of our favored areas and some of the areas that attracted people to Asheville, but plans are underway, and discussions are being had on how to rebuild in the most resilient way possible,” says Kim Miller, the city’s communications specialist, who adds that the worst of the storm brought out the best in people. “It was the outpouring of neighbor-to-neighbor help, taking the initiative to make sure people were okay. The storm exemplified the communal spirit and resilience of the Asheville community.”
The River Arts District is slowly recovering from the damages of Helene.
Asheville is a city set between mountains and rivers in NC's Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Peak adventure in the Appalachians
Asheville comes with commanding views and endless outdoor entertainment. It’s hugged by a sweeping curve of the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which is partially reopened following Helene. Known as America’s Favorite Drive, the recreational route extends a meandering 469 miles, its many stops branching off into arduous hikes that lead to blue-misted mountain vistas. The French Broad River provides scenic views and racing rapids for an exciting day outdoors. Ashevillians also have easy access to the sprawling Pisgah National Forest, which offers a wealth of trails carved throughout 500,000 acres of mountainous land.
The city itself is full of neighborhood pocket parks and green spaces. While most are fully open, some remain closed post-Helene, especially those positioned along the winding riverbanks, such as French Broad River Park and Recreation Park. Asheville Botanical Garden on the University of North Carolina Asheville campus and the North Carolina Arboretum are back open, drawing in residents and tourists for their cultivated gardens.
Outdoor recreation is enjoyed in all four seasons. The city’s elevation makes for warm summers that aren’t as hot as in central North Carolina. Winters are cool and come with snowfall.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway constructed in 1936.
Fishing is a popular pastime at the Beaver Lake near Beaverdam.
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Neo-historic charm and an unprecedented time for real estate
Asheville’s neighborhoods have been in various stages of repair since Helene. Low-lying areas were hit the hardest, but no neighborhoods were immune to falling trees and wind damage. “There are still people living in tents. It’s extremely sad,” says Julie May, a Realtor with Keller Williams Professionals Realty who’s lived in the city for nearly 40 years. “We had inventory that got damaged or destroyed. We have no way of knowing how to navigate through this.” However, she says buyers shouldn’t be discouraged. “Neighborhoods are recovering quickly. And now is a good time to buy because pricing will not be like this when we recover.” The median price for a home in Asheville is roughly $500,000, topping the national median of $409,000. The market has moved slowly post-storm, with properties typically selling after nearly 50 days. The national average is 44 days.
Asheville’s architectural blueprint is rooted in old-world opulence. It’s home to the famed Biltmore country estate, America’s largest private residence, and the extravagant Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa, a historic vacation getaway for the elite. Both sustained damage during Helene but have since reopened. The striking Art Deco styles marking Downtown Asheville sit just south of historic Montford’s turn-of-the-20th-Century Victorians and west of Grove Park’s storybook Tudor Revivals. In the suburbs, Biltmore Park features turnkey 2000s builds, and quirky bungalows fill West Asheville. Town Mountain’s alpine offerings hide high in the hills.
Large homes with room for families can be found in Biltmore Park.
A tantalizing variety of architectural gems abound in Grove Park.
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A flourishing foodtopia, craft beer mecca and hard-hit Biltmore Village
This farming region is known for its local ingredients, plucked from fertile Appalachian soil, making Asheville a destination for farm-to-table cuisine. A self-titled “Foodtopia,” Downtown Asheville is home to a burgeoning batch of decorated chefs, including James Beard finalists Katie Button of Curate, John Fleer of Rhubarb and Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani. The community also offers a broad culinary canon, ranging from indie-mex and Indian street food to new barbeque and contemporary Southern flavors.
A nationally recognized craft beer powerhouse, Asheville is ranked top in the nation for its number of local breweries per capita, positioning most thirsty residents close to a taproom. The famed South Slope District is home to 9 of the city’s 40-plus breweries, including Wicked Weed, which gained global notoriety for its barrel-aged sours.
Some businesses remain closed months after Helene, especially those along the riverfronts. The beloved Biltmore Village, known for its high-end boutiques and cozy cafes in Victorian stucco cottages, is far from recovered. “Biltmore Village looks nearly identical to the day the storm hit with debris higher than two-story buildings,” says May, who adds that the community’s fierce support for shopping small is helping offset the loss of tourism since the storm. “On Small Business Saturday, you couldn’t find a parking space downtown. Everybody was shopping local,” May says.
South French Broad locals can head into Downtown Asheville to explore.
Some areas like Biltmore Park in Asheville are still just as damaged and face an uphill struggle.
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The River Arts District perseveres
The Western North Carolina region’s raw materials and natural beauty inspire artists of all mediums. The city’s trendy River Arts District, where artist studios and collectives breathe new life into mural-clad brick warehouses along the French Broad River, is one of the reasons why Asheville is known as the Paris of the South. The floodwaters caused by Helene nearly destroyed the RAD, but this enclave is resilient. Today, the northern section is back open, allowing people to see visual artists busy at work or catch a local band at The Grey Eagle Music Hall and Pub.
Creativity flows uphill into Downtown Asheville, which features institutions like the Asheville Art Museum. It honors the area’s Indigenous roots by displaying works by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Folk Art Center of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the oldest craft retailer in the nation, highlights the works of Appalachian artisans.
From GRINDFest, which celebrates Asheville’s Black Wall Street, to the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, showcasing the region’s passion for bluegrass, the community event calendar is packed year-round. While many are notable, the National Gingerbread Competition has long been one of Asheville’s holiday season traditions. Held at the Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa for more than 30 years, the competition draws visitors from around the country to view whimsical, detailed gingerbread displays by talented bakers. Following the hurricane in 2024, the competition was canceled, and organizers opted for a Gingerbread Trail of Giving instead. Nearly two dozen gingerbread houses were displayed at businesses around Asheville throughout the holidays to lift spirits during a difficult season.
The Grey Eagle has reopened providing food and music to the Arts District of Asheville.
The Asheville Art Museum sits in the heart of downtown and features many local artists.
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Highly rated school districts and the University of North Carolina Asheville
Two school districts serve Asheville. Most students attend Asheville City Schools, earning an A-minus overall rating from Niche. Asheville High is an iconic landmark with a clay tile roof and a prominent central tower. It shares a campus with the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville, which integrates off-campus activities and project-based learning into a college-ready curriculum. Some parts of the city attend Buncombe County Schools, which gets an A-minus from Niche.
The University of North Carolina Asheville is centrally located immediately north of downtown. It’s recognized for its Pell Grant success, placing among the nation’s top 100 for social mobility, a category that rates success in advancing economically disadvantaged students.
Grace is less than 5 miles from the campus of UNC at Asheville.
Many local students attend Asheville High School in North Asheville.
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Quick access to Interstate 40, Mission Health Hospital in town
Many residents of Downtown Asheville live car-free lifestyles, with easy access to the Asheville Rides Transit bus system and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Asheville is also a bike-friendly area with lanes built into many main roads. As a hub for the region, the city is hugged by highways, including Interstate 40, which stretches from Tennessee to the Carolina coast. Interstate 26 heads south into South Carolina, passing by Asheville Regional Airport, about 15 miles south of the city center. It offers direct flights to major hubs like New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
While tourism and hospitality are a big part of Asheville’s economy, it also runs on healthcare, retail and manufacturing. The city hosts several of Buncombe County’s top employers, including Mission Health Hospital and Biltmore Workforce Management Inc.
Crime decreasing overall, but rates are higher than average
According to the 2023 Asheville Crime Report Overview from the Asheville Police Department, crime is trending downward. After a record spike in 2022, violent crime declined by more than 18% in 2023. Property crime decreased by about 13% and has steadily dropped since 2019. However, FBI statistics show that violent and property crime rates remain well above state and national figures.
On average, homes in Asheville, NC sell after 65 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Asheville, NC over the last 12 months is $493,890, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
