The Town FilesEmma, North Carolina
Community in Buncombe County · population 2,174 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $92,300
- Household income
- $43,907
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 29.7
Emma is a community of 2,174 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $92,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 97% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 96% of North Carolina towns.
How Emma 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 Emma is worth $92,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $43,907, which is more affordable than 97% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,064 a month. 71.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emma | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $92,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,064 | $969 |
| Median household income | $43,907 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 71.8% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emma
| People | Emma | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.7 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 0.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Emma
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 40.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emma since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 6, 1999 about 1.5 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 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 16, 1998.
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 Emma itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Emma
- Woodfin, NC3.1 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
- Asheville, NC3.2 mi · 94,589 people · home $440,000
- Biltmore Forest, NC5.7 mi · 1,409 people · home $1,333,300
- Bent Creek, NC6.4 mi · 1,402 people · home $404,000
- Weaverville, NC7.1 mi · 4,567 people · home $463,700
- Avery Creek, NC9.6 mi · 2,241 people · home $412,900
- Royal Pines, NC10.0 mi · 4,127 people · home $400,200
- Swannanoa, NC11.7 mi · 5,021 people · home $287,500
Emma questions
Is Emma, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emma scores better for retirees than 8% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 2%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.7).
How much does a house cost in Emma?
The median owner-occupied home in Emma is valued at $92,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,907, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,064 a month.
What is the weather like in Emma?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.6 inches of precipitation a year and 11.5 inches of snow.
Does Emma get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emma 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)