Discover Conditions Ideal for Growth

Ranked as one of the country’s “Best Places for Business and Careers” by Forbes Magazine, Asheville successfully embodies a fresh mix of eclectic sophistication within a culturally and economically diverse community. The city’s location in the spectacular mountains of Western North Carolina makes it especially attractive to business as a place where lifestyle meets business opportunity, and technology meets creativity.

Asheville’s consistent and steady growth is the result of the cooperative and collaborative vision of multiple economic development organizations. The EDC's research team serves as a central point of information for the latest regional data and resources.

Asheville Metro Economic Data
Find information on governmental affairs and business incentive programs. Get detailed reports on the metro area’s industry information, economic indicators, workforce employment, wage data, transportation, and retail sales.

Current Economic Indicators (PDF) December 2009	Industry Employment (PDF) Growth by Industry
Building Activity & Housing (PDF) Housing Permits & Appreciation	Major Employers in Buncombe County (PDF)
Taxable Sales (PDF) Area Sales & Breakdowns	Business Patterns (PDF)

Asheville Metro Region Demographics
See for yourself why Asheville is a growing community. Get all the latest information on population density, growth rates, education levels, and household income, along with a host of reports on cost of living, housing, healthcare, and education.

Detailed County Demographics (PDF) Detailed demographics for the Asheville Metro Counties	Local Population (PDF) Asheville City, Buncombe County & Metro Area
Regional Population (PDF) Surrounding Counties	Zip Code Demographics (PDF)
Income (PDF) Per Capita & Household Income

Asheville Quality of Life
Asheville offers an unparalleled quality of life, with its combination of small-town charm and extraordinary urban sensibility. There is no end to the range of offerings here, from arts and culture to outdoor sports, all played against the rich backdrop of Appalachian tradition and history.

Cost of Living (PDF) Comparisons with other Southeastern Cities	Transportation (PDF) Facilities
Asheville Area Rankings (PDF) Recent Ratings & Rankings	Taxes (PDF) State, County & City Rates
Crime (PDF) Area Rates	Climate (PDF) Averages & Monthly Averages
Education (PDF) Schools & Scores

More Detailed Reports

Occupations (PDF) Annual Wages & Total Employed	State of the Workforce Report 2008 (PDF)
In-Migration (PDF)	Asheville Economy Outlook (PPT) July 2009
Interactive Industry Cluster Map
Click for more information about services offered by the EDC's research team.

Click to purchase the Business & Industry Directory, The Guide Book for Asheville Communities, or other useful resources.