The Town FilesBiltmore Forest, North Carolina
Town in Buncombe County · population 1,409 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,333,300
- Household income
- $169,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 52.6
Biltmore Forest is a town of 1,409 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $1,333,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more upscale than 99% of North Carolina towns, better for families than 98% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 96% of North Carolina towns.
How Biltmore Forest 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 Biltmore Forest is worth $1,333,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 7.9 times the median household income of $169,167, which is more affordable than 1% of North Carolina towns. 97.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Biltmore Forest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,333,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $169,167 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.9× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 97.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Biltmore Forest
| People | Biltmore Forest | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.6 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 87.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 89.5% |
Weather in Biltmore Forest
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 52.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Biltmore Forest since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 6, 1999 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 1999.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 1, 2012.
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 Biltmore Forest itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Biltmore Forest
- Asheville, NC2.6 mi · 94,589 people · home $440,000
- Royal Pines, NC4.4 mi · 4,127 people · home $400,200
- Bent Creek, NC4.7 mi · 1,402 people · home $404,000
- Avery Creek, NC5.2 mi · 2,241 people · home $412,900
- Emma, NC5.7 mi · 2,174 people · home $92,300
- Fletcher, NC7.3 mi · 7,987 people · home $331,100
- Fairview, NC7.7 mi · 2,771 people · home $439,600
- Woodfin, NC8.2 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
Biltmore Forest questions
Is Biltmore Forest, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Biltmore Forest scores better for retirees than 96% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 90%. 32.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.6).
How much does a house cost in Biltmore Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Biltmore Forest is valued at $1,333,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $169,167, so homes cost about 7.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Biltmore Forest?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.0 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Biltmore Forest get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Biltmore Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 6, 1999. 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)