Asheville, NC Demographics

A map of Asheville's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	75,465	70,252	79.8%	74.3%
Black	7,672	9,752	8.1%	10.3%
Hispanic	6,264	7,657	6.6%	8.1%
Multiracial	3,517	4,315	3.7%	4.6%
Asian	1,021	1,504	1.1%	1.6%
Native American/Other	596	1,109	0.6%	1.2%

Asheville, North Carolina has an estimated population of 94,535, a less than 1% change from the 94,589 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 79.8% White, 8.1% Black, 6.6% Hispanic, 3.7% Multiracial, 1.1% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Asheville, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Asheville has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Asheville, that probability was 42.9% in 2020 and 35.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Asheville is ranked the 11th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Asheville was ranked the 11th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Asheville's White Population

75,465 residents of Asheville, or 79.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Asheville is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Asheville ranks 346th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Asheville's White population has grown by an estimated 7.4%. White residents' share of Asheville's population has increased from 74.3% to 79.8%.

Asheville is more White than neighboring Emma (34.9% White), and Woodfin (76.2% White). Asheville is less White than neighboring Biltmore Forest (97.2% White), Bent Creek (99.2% White), and Royal Pines (90.7% White).

Asheville's Black Population

7,672 residents of Asheville, or 8.1% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Asheville is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Asheville ranks 415th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Asheville's Black population has declined by an estimated 21.3%. Black residents' share of Asheville's population has decreased from 10.3% to 8.1%.

Asheville is more Black than neighboring Biltmore Forest (0.2% Black), Emma (0% Black), Woodfin (3.4% Black), Bent Creek (0.1% Black), and Royal Pines (0.8% Black).

Asheville's Asian Population

1,021 residents of Asheville, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Asheville is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Asheville ranks 153rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Asheville's Asian population has declined by an estimated 32.1%. Asian residents' share of Asheville's population has decreased from 1.6% to 1.1%.

Asheville is more Asian than neighboring Biltmore Forest (0% Asian), Emma (0% Asian), Bent Creek (0% Asian), and Royal Pines (0.5% Asian). Asheville is less Asian than neighboring Woodfin (5.5% Asian).

Asheville's Hispanic Population

6,264 residents of Asheville, or 6.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Asheville is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Asheville ranks 274th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Asheville's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 18.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Asheville's population has decreased from 8.1% to 6.6%.

Asheville is more Hispanic than neighboring Biltmore Forest (1.8% Hispanic), Bent Creek (0.7% Hispanic), and Royal Pines (3.1% Hispanic). Asheville is less Hispanic than neighboring Emma (63.8% Hispanic), and Woodfin (8.6% Hispanic).

Asheville's Native American/Other Population

596 residents of Asheville, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Asheville is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Asheville ranks 200th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Asheville's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 46.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Asheville's population has decreased from 1.2% to 0.6%.

Asheville is more Native American/Other than neighboring Biltmore Forest (0% Native American/Other), Woodfin (0.4% Native American/Other), Bent Creek (0% Native American/Other), and Royal Pines (0.2% Native American/Other). Asheville is less Native American/Other than neighboring Emma (0.8% Native American/Other).

Asheville's Multiracial Population

3,517 residents of Asheville, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Asheville is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Asheville ranks 195th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Asheville's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 18.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Asheville's population has decreased from 4.6% to 3.7%.

Asheville is more Multiracial than neighboring Biltmore Forest (0.8% Multiracial), Emma (0.6% Multiracial), and Bent Creek (0% Multiracial). Asheville is less Multiracial than neighboring Woodfin (6% Multiracial), and Royal Pines (4.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.