Best places to live in the Asheville metro area

Written by:
July 8, 2025
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Best places to live in the Asheville metro area

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in the Asheville metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses 15 weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on cost of living, higher education rate, housing, public schools, diversity, and crime. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

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#25. Waynesville

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 10,408

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#24. Hendersonville

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 15,253

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#23. Marion

- Niche grade: B
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 7,594

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#22. Brevard

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 7,795

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#21. Fruitland

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 2,417

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#20. East Flat Rock

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 6,468

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#19. Mountain Home

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 3,518

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#18. Fletcher

- Niche grade: B+
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 8,022

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#17. Mills River

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 7,214

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#16. Woodfin

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 7,957

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#15. Tryon

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 1,713

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#14. Asheville

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 94,369

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#13. Swannanoa

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 6,043

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#12. Laurel Park

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 2,391

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#11. Valley Hill

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 2,540

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#10. Lake Junaluska

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: B
- Population: 2,903

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#9. Fairview

- Niche grade: A-
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 2,327

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#8. Avery Creek

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 2,998

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#7. Black Mountain

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 8,462

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#6. Flat Rock

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 3,502

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#5. Balfour

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 1,132

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#4. Biltmore Forest

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 1,536

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#3. Mars Hill

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: B+
- Population: 2,738

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#2. Weaverville

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A-
- Population: 4,618

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#1. Royal Pines

- Niche grade: A
- Public school grade: A
- Population: 4,528

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