We moved to Asheville in 2019 and have never regretted that decision. Learn why we love living in Asheville, NC and have all of your questions answered about things to do, best neighborhoods, the weather, pros and cons, and so much more.
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It’s no secret that we moved to Asheville, North Carolina on a whim. With our long weekend plans to Puerto Rico thwarted, we needed a back-up plan. Why not head to Asheville? We both had never been and had heard only wonderful things.
What started as a whirlwind 3-day tour turned into the start of our move to Asheville in under two months. Who knew? NOT US!
What pushed us over the edge to move? For one, we were New Englanders living in Florida, and Florida was just not for us. Florida is hot, humid, and a little lacking in the culture we crave.
Two, we could both easily work in Asheville based on our jobs.
And three, THOSE gorgeous mountains.
Not to mention that we loved the foodie scene, endless hiking, BEER, and mild seasons, including a vibrant fall.
Now that we’ve bought a house and have been living in Asheville for quite some time, I get a ton of emails asking us what it is like living in Asheville, NC. Why move here? Where should people live? What do we do for fun? Is it expensive?
After answering these questions individually over and over again, I figure it’s time for a post. Below find out why we love living in Asheville and our recommendations, advice, and experience.
The Down Low On Living In Asheville, NC
Here are some of the most pressing questions that I received in my inbox.
Please keep in mind that these are just our opinions and experiences. Yours may not be remotely the same.
We also do not have children and chose to buy a house before moving here. We flew up one weekend alone just to house hunt with an Asheville-based realtor. Our jobs remained the same with the relocation.
Why Move To Asheville, NC?
We have always lived around the United States and elsewhere due to the nature of our jobs. For me, I’ve lived in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Indonesia, Florida, and now North Carolina. My husband can add Virginia and New York.
I’m not going to lie: so far I love living in Asheville, NC, and of course, I loved CT–where I was born and raised. I am a sucker for seasons, outdoor sports, and a mix of city and country life.
So why would anyone move to Asheville, North Carolina, like us and others? Based on the emails I’ve received, people love the appeal of the mild climate, great outdoors, and hip and growing city.
There is pretty much a craft brewery on every corner, if you have food preferences or intolerances, restaurants will easily cater to you without rolling their eyes, and Asheville is full of tolerance for all communities. There is a vibrant LGBT+ community.
Don’t get me wrong: you will run into a grumpy local here and there or see a Confederate flag on your way to Ingles. This is rarer in Asheville than FL.
Plus, we have the Biltmore, an arts district, and a liberal town in a fairly red state. I’m not sure we’ll ever eat at all of the cafes and restaurants.
You can read more why we moved to Asheville here, on my other site, The Uncorked Librarian.
Why Live In Asheville?
Along those lines, why would anyone live in Asheville over another rocking and growing city like Nashville, Knoxville, Austin, Greenville, or Dallas?
I would advise you to visit the places you are comparing and spend as much time there as possible. Get a feel for the culture, the people, and whatever you personally value most.
Some places will have more traffic, fewer jobs, a higher cost of living, and different things to do for fun.
For us, we had some expected as well as oddball musts: We wanted a two-story home with a basement (Florida, remember?!). Because I have ulcerative colitis and my husband has Celiac’s, we wanted a town that respected food intolerances; we love eating out every week. I also needed a GI office nearby.
After living in such a flat state filled with suffocating heat and swampy gross humidity, we wanted to see light snow again–but not CT blizzard-level. We also didn’t want to have to drive 1 to 2 hours to get somewhere like the dentist.
We love the outdoors and wanted to spend our falls and summers hiking. I won’t lie, though, we questioned if we could live 4+ hours from the beach.
Plus, we wanted a city with a diverse population. We found all of this in Asheville, along with endless things to do. This sounds cheesy, but we just knew in our hearts that Asheville, NC felt right for us.
Is Everyone A Hippie? Who Lives In Asheville?
I mean, if you aren’t at Trader Joe’s battling the crowds on a Friday night, you probably voted for Trump and hate polar bears. I’m kidding. Whole Foods and The Fresh Market are right there too on Merrimon Ave.
But no, not everyone is an *awesome* hippie or even young, a digital nomad, a liberal, or a retiree. Truth bomb, though: Around 2019, U.S. News ranked Asheville as the 4th best place to retire. We do have a lot of golf courses… Man, I am so good at making raging stereotypes today!
Asheville has quite a bit of diversity with a metro population estimated to grow to almost half a million by 2025. And yes, people both love and hate–really hate–this fact–and argue fiercely about it on FB threads. U.S. News also reported that the median age in Asheville is 44.
Plus, we have the University of North Carolina Asheville–a liberal arts college–responsible for about 3,600 young adults.
Throughout the year, you will find a growing tourist population, too, and snowbirds.
You can read more Asheville, NC demographic information from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Census.
Are The Locals Friendly?
Which always brings me to the uncomfortable question: Are the locals friendly toward newbies living in Asheville, NC? Do they want us there? Is there visible tension?
I had always heard that locals resented the influx of people moving in, the overdevelopment, and, rightfully so, the increased traffic. There will always be heated debates over housing and congestion.
We have never met anyone face-to-face that expressed any concern for having us here. Luckily, new friends embraced us with open arms and tons of booze, transplants and locals alike.
We purchased a home in an established neighborhood–a home that needs major updating–and we work, eat, and spend our time and money in Asheville, giving back to local businesses and the economy.
The only time I ever had someone say anything negative to us was on my other site, The Uncorked Librarian. Melissa told us to go back where we came from (um, do you mean my family’s homeland of Italy?) and that she didn’t want people like us here. The rhetoric of our leadership, I’d say…
But don’t forget that it’s super easy to hide behind a keyboard and an anonymous “f*[email protected]*ck.com email address (not kidding) to troll and be ridiculously and unproductively mean.
Many appreciate the tourism that allows businesses to grow and thrive while having such an eclectic gaggle of residents. Yes, like anywhere, places get crowded, but with that comes positives, too.
What Is The Real Estate Market Like In Asheville?
When we first thought about living in Asheville, NC, we had no idea where we should live. Due to work, we only had one weekend to figure it out. Let me tell you, the real estate market in Asheville is hot. Homes go fast.
In fact, we were touring a home when another realtor started yelling at ours because she jumped our time slot to put in an offer on the house for her clients… We didn’t want the house, but I had never seen anything quite like it.
Our realtor warned us that we only had a few days to make decisions, and she was right: houses we toured that weekend were off of the market by Monday morning.
We had 4 amazing houses that we loved out of the 15+ we looked at. Luckily, we got our first choice, no bidding war, and for a price that was fair…for Asheville. Overall, we had a lot of options with little stress.
Please also remember that we don’t have kids–school districts didn’t matter to us–and we never considered renting. I have FOUR CATS. Plus, we owned a home in Florida and have a lot of shit.
What Are The Best Neighborhoods To Live In Or Look At In Asheville?
We looked at downtown Asheville, Fletcher, Arden, Weaverville, Black Mountain, North, West, and East Asheville, and Biltmore Forest and Village along with a few other obscure neighboring towns.
We did not look at Montford or Grove because I have a feeling our budget was lower than those gorgeous beasts. You can also find 1 to 2 million+ houses in Asheville.
As for the suburbs, Fletcher and Arden have great houses for slightly less–the ones we saw tended to be more up-to-date, and you got more for your buck. Those are under a 15-minute drive into the downtown area.
Hendersonville, which we love, is a great option too, but it’s about 45-minutes away from parts of Asheville with the costs and crowds slowing increasing. If you work in the city, the commute will suck. Traffic has been hideous out that way lately.
We ended up close to downtown, which meant we paid for it–and snagged a beautiful house that needs hellll…I mean, love.
Is Living In Asheville, NC Expensive?
According to the U.S. Census from 2014-2018, the median house costs $242,500. Mmmm, I think that’s changed a lot in the past two years…
The Census also pegged the median income around $48,000–I cannot attest to this one; our salaries are independent of location.
We know people who rent both houses and apartments. It’s doable, and it’s not CT. When people complain about how pricey it is here, I think about my CT nonprofit salary, renting there, and taxes…
Plus, it depends if you have a job already. Some people move here in the blind: no home, no work, no clue… We prefer to know our budget and look around.
If you don’t have these luxuries of already having work lined up or the chance to find housing beforehand, you can still find a mix with an open mind.
How Do You Get Around In Asheville?
While Asheville has some form of public transportation–a bus system–most people get around by car. If you live and work outside of the city, I’d say it’s fairly essential that you have a car. Most of America is like this, though.
We always half-heartedly joke that the older city structure is not prepared for our big SUVs. Some of the streets are super tiny with thin lanes, the parking spots are impossibly small, and those hills get me.
People drive pretty INSANE here too–it’s not MA, but it’s close. Add in a parking lot, and they love to speed and weave.
You will use your parking (emergency) brake in Asheville. Hills are plentiful.
Note that within my first two weeks of living in Asheville, NC, my car had been scraped from other’s doors and bummers. It’s become a fact of life.
OK, and yup, I accidentally scratched some dude’s illegally parked, oversized tow truck once too–he was in a very small and hilly lot where he shouldn’t have been, and I was stuck. I thought I had room, and didn’t see the extra (unmarked) piece hanging off his tow. Never in my life have I knicked someone’s car before.
I will also add that when you head to downtown, you will end up paying for parking in a lot, at a meter, or in a parking garage. They are fairly priced.
In tourist season and on weekends, spots fill up, but usually, we find something without having too much road rage. You just need to learn where to go and where not to go.
What Is The Weather In Asheville and North Carolina Like?
We love the weather in Asheville. We’ve seen every season now and find it to be pretty mild. I am not going to go all Weather Channel stats on you because that is boring.
This winter, we saw flurries as early as October–they were beautiful. Our cats were mesmerized with their first snow.
We haven’t had snow stick for more than a few hours. Occasionally, you will see more snow, especially in the mountains.
It also gets icy in the winter, and while we have had a few nights drop into the 20s, the 30s to 50s are our usual Asheville winter weather. Parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway will shutdown.
The spring and fall are pretty mild. Compared to Florida, it still rains here a lot. We did feel the gloom of less sun.
The fall in the mountains and along the Blue Ridge Parkway matched our New England home. STUNNING. You can check out our favorite Asheville fall hikes here.
Summer can hit the high 90s, but again, it’s not Florida.
For us, the North Carolina weather is a mix of New England meets Florida. Sign me up!
What Can You Do For Fun In Asheville?
Gosh, what can’t you do in the city of everything? Living in Asheville means that we are NEVER bored.
We are annual passholders to Biltmore. When not visiting the house, we go for their great exhibitions–they just showcased Downton Abbey period clothing–the trails, winery, and dining. Biltmore also hosts concerts and seasonal events.
Of course, we eat out a lot and love hitting up the boozy scene. Yes, there are breweries, wine bars, dive bars, and places to sip craft cocktails like the Grove Park Inn. You have Sierra Nevada and New Belgium as bigger names, too. Many breweries have live music on the weekends.
Hiking in the gorgeous mountains is a must, and DuPont–home to The Hunger Games waterfalls–is nearby. We love the Blue Ridge Parkway and all of its picnic and mixed-level hiking grounds.
We headed to the North Carolina arboretum this winter for their winter lights festival on the grounds.
The River Arts District is home to local art shops, urban street art, breweries, and a winery.
Plus, you can drive to Hendersonville for their three big wineries and amazing downtown. We still need to explore all of our neighboring towns.
For our Asheville fall bucket list, we love picking apples, eating cider donuts, and getting lost in a bamboo forest.
Basically, I sum up our experience as hike, eat, drink, repeat.
What Are The Pros and Cons Of Living In Asheville, NC?
What Are The Cons of Living In Asheville?
The Airport
The regional airport is great, but we are used to MCO and direct international flights to Dubai, Reykjavik, and Dublin. We travel a lot so AVL adds time and layovers.
You can drive to Charlotte, but you’ll still find yourself with an extra leg–and sometimes it’s cheaper to fly out of AVL. Newark is also one of our newer international options, but you have to fly there first.
For domestic flights, we’ve added some stops and driving, too.
The Traffic & Congestion
I-26 always seems to be under construction. Sometimes traffic can be horrific. There are a ton of trucks at the craziest hours of the day.
During rush hours and prime times, the roads get congested, as well, and parking can be harder.
Tourist Season
We love that tourists add a vibe to Asheville and put money into the city. But, they do clog up and swarm the downtown too.
Overall, we just know to make reservations in advance, go out on ‘off’ nights or times, and avoid certain areas at particular times. The Grove Park Inn in December is like Disney on Christmas Day.
What Are The Pros of Living In Asheville, NC?
Culture
We just love the culture and diversity in Asheville. You can enjoy the art museum, learn about the history of Biltmore, and eat and drink locally. The community is educated, active, and engaged.
Things To Do
As mentioned above, there are tons of things to do in Asheville for everyone. I barely scraped the surface. Find hiking, live music, art, educational lectures, food, theater…you name it!
We’ve also traveled over to TN for day and weekend trips to places like Clarksville (5.5 hrs), Nashville (4.5 hrs), Dollywood (2 hrs) and Knoxville (2 hrs). We’ve been meaning to get out to the beach to see places like Hilton Head and revisit Charleston, too.
The Mountains
Lastly, we love living in Asheville for those stunning mountain sunsets. George Vanderbilt built his retreat here and put Asheville on the map because he thought the mountains were healing and peaceful. He was so right.
What Did We Miss About Moving & Living In Asheville, NC?
I love living in Asheville–and I say this often. Moving here was the perfect choice for our family.
Do you have any more questions about what it is like living in Asheville or North Carolina? Did we miss anything that you want to know? We still need to explore more of NC, for sure.
We have also tried our best to answer the questions we get from readers, and I hope these FAQs help you evaluate your moving and living options. You may have a completely different experience living in Asheville, but we wanted to share ours to help guide you.
Where Should You Head Next?
If you are planning a quick trip, check out this short Asheville itinerary.
This is such a great post! Obviously we loved Asheville when we were there – we always considered moving to the Blue Ridge mountains. Originally we were looking at northern VA and Asheville. We have family in Nellysford and you’d love it. So many wineries tucked into the mountains. I so agree with what you say about coming from the Northeast. We hear similar notions about Dallas getting expensive but compared to NY and having no state income tax, we’re saving much more. Hubby’s salary is pretty standard Nationwide though since everyone works for a CA based tech company anyway! Glad you guys are still Loving it!!
Tom used to live in VA–but only for a short time. He liked it while there, and my dad sometimes talks about retiring in VA, NC, or FL. We hope they come to Asheville, of course.
Wineries tucked into the mountains sound amazing!! We cannot wait to get out to Dallas (and Austin) sometime soon. Those were also cities we debated looking at for our move. Asheville stole us first.
In Florida, there was no state income tax, which was great. I think people expect FL to be super cheap–but what they fail to see is that it’s a big (wealthy) retiree population moving down south. A Florida salary, for many, barely covers the cost of living (you know my laughable library salary)–and the older crowd drives up prices even more. With a northern (experienced) salary and 401k, yup, it’s cheap since you barely pay in taxes (plus, they never registered their cars and stuff with FL).
We saw the Asheville housing market as being slightly more in certain areas, but for in-city property and a much bigger house, I don’t think it was wildly expensive compared to anywhere else these days. And in CT, omg the taxes plus everything else…yea, you might make a tad more to help offset but again, it all equals out. Of course, this seems like this might change in the next 5 years with our predicted population boom. St. Pete, Florida was like: an influx of people that did drive up housing super high and pretty fast. It just depends. Nashville seems to have gone wild fast, too, but they also have a booming music industry.
Yes, we are super happy with our choice! I hope you are too.
This is such a fantastic post!!! I’ve admittedly been jealous of your “let’s-up-and-move” decision since you announced it; it’s so exciting to do that and experience something new!! And to have the balls to do it, which I don’t think I do, hahaha. I’m adverse to change, and the idea of leaving what I know on a permanent basis fills me with a sense of dread.
That said…life is tough lately. I live in the NYC/NJ area, where traffic is horrendous, work schedules are demanding, the work/life balance is non-existent, and everything costs a bloody arm and a leg. I love the little house my husband and I have in NJ, but if I want to ever quit my job in the city to avoid the commute, I’ll earn about half what I make now…and that makes paying the large mortgage on my little house impossible. So, we’ve been toying with the idea of up-and-leaving, too, to somewhere more affordable and with a better cost of living. But. we don’t know where to go, haha.
I’ve been wondering about Asheville since you first mentioned it, so this post was PERFECT for me to read! Asheville sounds amazing; I’m with you on the mountain views, having all four seasons in a milder form, and enjoying lots of food, culture, things to do, etc. I also love that there seems to be more of a work/life balance and encouragement to get out into nature…something that my husband and I want to embrace but rarely get the chance to.
That said…Asheville doesn’t sound like the place for us. 🙁 For one, the housing is too expensive. The housing info you provide here is golden. We probably could have afforded a house in Asheville 10 years ago, but not since the prices have started going up. We’d end up paying similar to what we pay now, and that’s not what we’re after. I also have no idea what we could do for jobs, haha. My husband could probably find one down there given his industry, but I couldn’t, and it seems like we’d need two salaries to live there, even in the ‘burbs.
So, it’s back to the drawing board. But I’m so glad you posted this info!!! It really helped me out, and also made me realize all the things I should take into consideration when looking at major moves. 🙂 Thank you!!! I’m so glad you’re loving your new home and your decision to change your lives!
Also: that blue and white dress you’re wearing in a few photos is GORGEOUS on you. 😀
Haha, we sat on that choice for 8 years, and it is so hard to make. Florida just never felt right, and I was shocked when we bought a home there–but it just made more sense since in FL there is no rent control. I think, for us, we just finally hit this point of OK, ENOUGH! We were traveling SO MUCH, and I think it was truly to get away; we just weren’t happy where we were. We had a small town and the beach. Something (lots of somethings) were missing from our lives. The second we moved, we both felt like why didn’t we do this sooner?
Like you, too, the traffic was killer. My job was super stressful, and I was already making very little money to go home in tears half the time. I didn’t think I was getting the best GI care, and driving 1hr just to find a decent doctor was ridiculous. While we had good things in FL (friends, grad school, TUL), too, and I don’t regret my time there, I also wasn’t truly happy. And that whole “you make your own happiness” and can change your reactions is just garbage sometimes. Sometimes you know that something isn’t right and you need a complete change. I needed to move to make my own happiness.
Moving is so hard, though–you are right. It is emotional, stressful, and exciting. We have been laying low for the past half-year, and I think it’s because we are so exhausted from moving. We didn’t even make it home to CT last year. It was a lot–a great change, but just A LOT. You know, too: the second we moved, everything in the house blew up at once (expensive fixes and endless workmen) along with pancreatitis and the fact that our cat needed emergency surgery. We have no regrets, but it definitely comes with highs and lows at first. Tom says that besides to retire, we are never moving again. lol– but he’s not kidding.
Asheville is so perfect for us, and I am glad that we moved at just the right time, too. I think housing costs might continue to surge for a bit and then eventually stabilize and even drop. We will see–I think it depends on business here and where some of the retirees head.
Thank you so much!
Enjoyed reading your post! I love NC– lived in Charlotte for 15 yrs. My husband and I visited Boone during the fall and fell in love with the beauty of the mountains. Like you, we dropped everything and moved to NC. No regrets. Thank you for sharing your perspective on Asheville. It must be a wonderful place to live.
Thanks, Ana! We’ve been meaning to get out to Charlotte this year.
Yes, we love living in NC–every time I drive through the Smoky Mountains around sunset, I am blown away by the peace and beauty. We love the vibe in NC. I’m still amazed with the weather–full seasons that aren’t super harsh.
Thanks for stopping by, and you’ll have to share your Charlotte favs with us sometime!
As you know, hubby and I are ready mentally ready and leave Los Angeles. While I do love the West Coast for all its beauty and beautiful weather (no humidity), we are ready to be on the East Coast again. I am hoping that during our travels in the US that we end up having a similar experience like you guys did with Asheville. You just knew and made it happen. Right now, the only places I’ve ever said, “oh I can live here” require long plane rides and it’s just not practical for us or family at an older age. We shall see what happens. I do know I need someplace that is more on the warm side than cold. Hopefully, wherever I move is more welcoming than not.
Asheville does sound amazing. My sister that lives in Charlotte had only great things to say about it. Of course, I think all she did was the Biltmore. My boss was just there this past summer and he said it was a cute town with great eats.
I can’t wait to visit! And I hope this helps everyone thinking of moving to Asheville.
Yes, I know that you guys have been wanting to escape LA and are thinking about future plans, which is great! We are still thinking or at least considering retiring abroad, but Asheville should be our home until then.
…Although I always say stuff like that, and then, you just never know what life will throw your way. I still cannot believe that I lived in Florida and Indonesia…and now live in Asheville, North Carolina.
I need to get out to the West Coast–wine country is calling me.
As we get older, most of us prefer the warmer places and not shoveling, haha. Plus, island life sounds wonderful, too.
We can’t wait to see you in NC. You’d love the food and coffee…and drinks!
I loved this post! Ever since you moved there and have been posting more & more, it really makes me think about it. It seems so beautiful, plenty of great things to do, and sounds like pretty decent weather. Sounds like a dream! I want to go hiking and then head to a brewery. The food options also sound perfect for me. They probably have lots of vegetarian options.
And being around all that nature is so nice! We can’t forget about the bears! I hope they are having a good rest.
I didn’t forget about that terrible comment you got. Glad you called her out here! She does sound like a Trumpeter.
I love all your pictures here! So beautiful. This was a very comprehensive post that really tells all the ins and outs of living here. I love your detail- scraped cars. You painted the whole picture. Okay, I’m moving. First, I need to get my license again.♀️
I’ll move if you can send me a long list of books set in Asheville and NC so I can continue my literary dates there.
Aw, thank you so much!
The weather has truly been fantastic here: we get all of the seasons, but all have been super mild. This past week was the most snow that we’ve ever gotten (maybe about 2-3 inches), and it semi-stuck on the grass but not the pavement. It was so funny, though, since we are from CT and get WAY more there. Everything in Asheville shut down, ahaha. It does get slippery, though, with these mountain hills and winding roads.
Asheville is full of vegan and veggie options–probably more than most of the places that we have been to. It makes it super easy for us, too, with food intolerances and GI issues.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget that awful comment. I didn’t take it personally, but it just reminds me so much of the AWFUL rhetoric going around that is so unwelcoming and lacking of empathy to humanity (esp towards immigration/migration). Melissa was truly one miserable person.
I had SUCH a hard time picking pictures. My phone is filled with hikes, mountains, waterfalls, and beer.
Yes! The Uncorked Librarian currently has a ‘books set in NC’ book list up, and YES, I have been meaning to write one for Asheville on this site. There is this adorable kids’ series that takes place at the Biltmore that I’ve been meaning to read.
I hope you get to visit one day soon…and never leave! (not in a creepy way lol)
I am so interested in that area but I was wondering about the bugs. I want to be able to sit outside without fighting mosquitos. Are they a problem there?
I think it depends where you live, but we definitely see them at sunset.
We live in Portland, OR, and for family reasons are considering moving back East. Asheville is a contender but we’ll miss the gorgeous Oregon summers and scenery. Is the summer rain in Asheville more on and off or does it stay socked in? (Like Portland winters.) We’d ideally like a Portland type of city but smaller with less rain in the winter. (Here it’s mud or dust!)
Also, what’s the deal with the lack of garages and driveways? Seems like many homes in town just have gravel spots out front or street parking… not even a driveway.
Hey Janet,
Our rain is more like a FL summer — on and off and unpredictable. We’ll get showers next door to us, but they won’t always reach us. We might be hiking in the sun and a random sun shower hits for 5 minutes. Usually, they aren’t too bad, but we will also see a week straight of clouds and mild rain. Plus, there is the fog.
There is a lot of gravel here. Haha. We personally have a driveway and garage. They do exist! A lot of places have gravel at the bottom (or top) of their driveways because in the winter — with the snow — you cannot get safely up or down the steep ones. We looked at houses like that, and it was a turnoff, for us. But, the views in those same houses were STUNNING. I just cannot imagine going down those hills with snow with my trash cans.
Closer to the city downtown (we do live in the city), there tend to be fewer driveways.