The Town FilesBarnardsville, North Carolina
Community in Buncombe County · population 559 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,000
- Household income
- $97,610
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 59.2
Barnardsville is a community of 559 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $153,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 90% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 81% of North Carolina towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in North Carolina
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in North Carolina
- #38 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #38 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Barnardsville ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barnardsville is worth $153,000, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $97,610, which is more affordable than 99% of North Carolina towns. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnardsville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,000 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $97,610 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Barnardsville
| People | Barnardsville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 4.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | — min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Barnardsville
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 53.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.0 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnardsville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 6, 1977 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 8, 2024.
Severe weather in Buncombe County since 1996
Buncombe County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Buncombe County
Buncombe County had 136,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,785 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Barnardsville itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Barnardsville
1 public school with 109 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnardsville Elementary | PK-4 | 109 | 9.9 |
Towns near Barnardsville
- Mars Hill, NC6.1 mi · 2,007 people · home $294,700
- Weaverville, NC8.0 mi · 4,567 people · home $463,700
- Woodfin, NC11.9 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
- Marshall, NC12.6 mi · 777 people · home $282,100
- Montreat, NC12.7 mi · 901 people · home $606,400
- Burnsville, NC12.8 mi · 1,614 people · home $243,500
- Swannanoa, NC13.1 mi · 5,021 people · home $287,500
- Black Mountain, NC13.7 mi · 8,426 people · home $358,900
Barnardsville questions
Is Barnardsville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnardsville scores better for retirees than 97% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 77%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.2).
How much does a house cost in Barnardsville?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnardsville is valued at $153,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,610, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Barnardsville?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.8 inches of precipitation a year and 35.0 inches of snow.
Does Barnardsville get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnardsville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 6, 1977. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)