Asheville is a haven for outdoor adventurers. While there are lots of things to love here, hiking the mountain trails like Craggy Gardens, Graveyard Loop, Art Loeb Trail, & Linville Falls (did we mention all the waterfall hikes?) is tops on most resident and visitor lists. When you’re done with your trek you’ll also find a great foodie scene and plenty of amazing wine and craft beer, so don’t go thinking this is a one-note city.

Note from local about the best thing about Asheville: *Best: The scenery. I love how you can be on the interstate (and elsewhere, of course) and have an incredible view of the mountains appear out of nowhere. I also love how the scenery changes with the seasons and position of the sun throughout the year. Oh, and when the clouds partially block the sun, so one patch or ridge of mountains is in shadow, while the next ridge over is lit up and bright.*

Mountain Living

The Best Thing About Asheville? 

The surrounding mountains act as a giant funnel delivering water into Asheville and causing river and creek banks to overflow. Streets tend to flood and if your home is in a lower valley you can expect some water damage. One word of caution: pick a home that isn’t amidst the low lying land.

Local note about the impact on her home: *got flooded out of my home in 2017 thanks to the heavier than normal rainfalls during a hurricane and told it was now to be expected as the new normal. home not in a flood zone now and never was - but will be when they redraw the maps.*

To see more reviews from locals check out: [**The Reviews**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/asheville/reviews).

When It Rains, It Floods

The Worst Thing About Asheville? 

Asheville is “nestled” in the Blue Ridge Mountains and no matter where you live that feeling dominates your sense of place.

The Central Business District has a lot of condo options if you favor downtown living. If a good walkscore to restaurants, shops and art galleries is your thing then you’ll be fine here. Outside of downtown are beautiful neighborhoods like Montford, North Asheville & Grove Park that have large historic homes or Arts & Crafts bungalows. Retirees should check out Beaverdam, while hipsters or artsy-folks should look at West Asheville, which is home to the arts scene, and has its own downtown area with music, bars and great restaurants.

If you want to see what kind of fun and culture happens here check out the [**calendar of events**](https://www.exploreasheville.com/all-asheville-events/): https://www.exploreasheville.com/all-asheville-events/

Nestled

Lifestyle of Asheville

This is primarily a point for those looking for a place to retire. They say that you’re either a Villages person or you’re not (Google The Villages in Florida to see what we’re talking about). If you think of Florida as a giant version of The Villages and you decide there is no way you can handle that, then consider Asheville. Pre and Post-Pandemic moving trends are driving growth here so if you’re considering the move we’d recommend doing so post-haste.

It Ain’t The Villages (or Florida for that matter)

Why You Should Move Here Now? 

**The Best Thing About Asheville?** Mountain Living

Asheville is a haven for the outdoor adventurer. While there are lots of things to love here, hiking the mountain trails like Craggy Gardens, Graveyard Loop, Art Loeb Trail, & Linville Falls (did we mention all the waterfall hikes?) is tops on most resident and visitor lists. When you’re done with your trek you’ll also find a great foodie scene and plenty of amazing wine and craft beer, so don’t go thinking this is a one-note city. 

**The Worst Thing About Asheville?** When It Rains, It Floods
The surrounding mountains act as a giant funnel delivering water into Asheville and causing river and creek banks to overflow. Streets tend to flood and if your home is in a lower valley you can expect some water damage. One word of caution: pick a home that isn’t amidst the low lying land. 

**How You Living?** Nestled

Asheville is “nestled” in the Blue Ridge Mountains and no matter where you live that feeling dominates your sense of place. 

The Central Business District has a lot of condo options if you favor downtown living. If a good walkscore to restaurants, shops and art galleries is your thing then you’ll be fine here. Outside of downtown are beautiful neighborhoods like Montford, North Asheville & Grove Park that have large historic homes or Arts & Crafts bungalows. Retirees should check out Beaverdam, while hipsters or artsy-folks should look at West Asheville, which is home to the arts scene, and has its own downtown area with music, bars and great restaurants.  

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** It Ain’t The Villages (or Florida for that matter)

This is primarily a point for those looking for a place to retire. They say that you’re either a Villages person or you’re not (Google The Villages in Florida to see what we’re talking about). If you think of Florida as a giant version of The Villages and you decide there is no way you can handle that, then consider Asheville. Pre and Post-Pandemic moving trends are driving growth here so if you’re considering the move we’d recommend doing so post-haste. 


Asheville is kind of the anti-Florida for retirees. More people retire here and choose to live in traditional neighborhoods than in more 55+ exclusive communities. Black Mountain, Weaverville, and Biltmore Park are popular choices for those who want to live independently and be a walk from Downtown. 

Biltmore Lake is a more structured community among these with some of the subdivisions gated but most open. All are served by the incredible amenities that surround the actual lake including a community clubhouse where activity groups meet to socialize and presumably play a lot of pickleball. 



Retirees

Black Mountain/Weaverville/Biltmore Park

As with most smaller cities Downtown is the center of action for Young Professionals. It has the highest concentration of bars, breweries, restaurants, theaters, music venues and community events all within walking distance of the apartment and condo living options in the neighborhood. What makes Asheville unique isn't just bars and restaurants though, it's the artisan shops in the Grove Arcade, the local art studios/galleries, the amazing Asheville Pinball Museum and a number of other truly one-of-a-kind spots that make this city standout.  

West Asheville also gets a fair share of Young Professionals/DINKs/SINKs looking for a more laid-back neighborhood but still want a walkable social experience. Filled with small shops selling vintage clothing, books, and records as well cool music spots, and Carrier and French Broad River Parks, which are perfect for picnics and hikes. 



Young Professionals/DINKs/SINKs

Downtown/West Asheville

West Asheville is the groovy/hipster neighborhood in Asheville. Filled with boutique shopping, eclectic restaurants/cafes and a big arts district. It’s also the center of the LGBTQ+ community in the city with owned and supportive businesses throughout. 



LGBTQ+

West Asheville

Montford is a historic district in Asheville filled with beautiful homes that sits alongside downtown. It’s perfect for families who want big homes, yards, and outdoor play but also want to be close to the commercial district for social and cultural experiences. North Asheville is another great option if you want to be out a bit farther from downtown and get more of the amazing outdoor experiences Asheville offers. It also has its own commercial district amidst beautiful old Tudor-style homes. 
- Montford
- North Asheville 
- South Asheville


Families

Montford

Asheville

**Thoughts on Asheville moving and living?**

I will comment on a few items:

Job Market: It is pretty abysmal here. There is no real industry, it is all tourism. Mission Health is the biggest employer, and The Biltmore Estate is the 2nd largest. There are some who would like to bring the Tech scene into Asheville, but it just isn't hear yet. Even if you do find a job as a dev, you won't be making nearly as much as you could somewhere else. Most of the Developers I know work remote jobs.

Cost of Living: Problem isn't so much cost of living, but that housing pricing don't match the Job Market. Property owners are renting to tourism, driving up the cost of rentals. If you want your own place for two people, ballpark is $1000 a month. On $120-$160k a year that should be fine, but I wouldn't count on making that much here, unless you bring your job with you.

Local Culture: Unfortunately, the local population is struggling to keep up because of the Job Market and Cost of Living. Tourism is making this more difficult, and you will meet a lot of people that are new in town.

Diversity: Downtown is white-washed.

If this all sounds pretty negative...it kinda is. I love Asheville, but my wife and I are struggling. We lived in Atlanta, but I took a job here through a connection while I was unemployed. I am college educated, and used to make about $70-$75k a year. Now I make $38k. Almost wish I risked remaining unemployed in Atlanta because of the job market. We are considering moving to Raleigh or Charlotte because thats where all the recruiters are contacting me from.

**Thoughts on Asheville moving and living?**

I grew up near Asheville, went to college there, and lived there as an adult for about 10 years. The high cost of living, gentrification, and poor job market issues there have been problems for at least 20 years. When I'm there now visiting family, I read pretty much the exact same articles and letters to the editor in local publications about those things as I was when I lived there. I don't foresee it changing at all, and it just seems to worsen with each passing year.

When I left Asheville for a better job a few hours away, it was with a very heavy heart, because I loved (and still love) that town and felt at home there. There is a certain level of acceptance required to stay there a long time. There are sacrifices involved with living in a place where the emotional benefits can outweigh the financial detriments.

I think many people who stay do so because they feel that the intangible things Asheville and its culture has to offer are more important than money. I'm a totally nonmaterialistic person, and even I came to realize there's a big difference between greed and comfort. I felt like I was barely surviving. For ten years. It's hard to go out and take advantage of the many things that make Asheville awesome when you can barely afford basic needs.

As a note on the diversity (or lack thereof): when I moved away, I felt a huge sense of rejoining the real world. That can be positive and negative at different times, but when I go back now I still feel like I'm entering and exiting a kind of fantasy land.

Also, it depends on what kind of diversity we're talking about. Racial/ethnic diversity - not much. But so many people move there from other places that there's always someone around you who's had diverse experiences, and that's good.

All that said, I think living in Asheville at least for a little while is something anyone who feels drawn to the area should absolutely do. It will change your perspective on life in general, mostly in positive ways. You may luck into a great job, or you may move on to somewhere else after a time. But either way, it is a place worth experiencing, as much as you are able to. Can't wait til my next trip to NC to "visit family" (AKA have a reason to go to Asheville). 😁

**Thoughts on Asheville moving and living?**

Late, but here goes:

Diversity: This area is mostly caucasian with some other groups mixed in. (link)[https://suburbanstats.org/population/north-carolina/how-many-people-live-in-asheville]

Markets: There are a few here, they're OK. I shop at Lee's in South Asheville every few weeks. Couldn't feed the fam out of there but they have decent stuff. We don't have anything like Super G Mart (an Asian market that is the size of a normal supermarket).

Family: Ours was in a private school until 6th grade. Most of her friends she met in public school. If I had to do it over again, I'd keep her in a public school. They're not great but they're not bad, either. A few kids in our area when she was growing up, we did a lot of play dates that involved driving.

Arts: This is where asheville shines IMO.

Local Culture: There are a lot of transplants here. I've seen my neighborhood go from quiet middle of the road to louder and more "in your face".

Job market: Medical is big. Tech is out there but not as big. If you can work remotely, great. Competition is really high and people will work for less to live here. I talked with someone a year or so ago who was ready to take a cut from 150k to 60k just to live here.

Cost of living: We're in the upper end of that range, which makes it easy for the most part. Home prices are high for what you get, esp in comparison to salaries, which are lower than other areas I've been looking at relocating to. I live in a popular part of town, homes are now breaking 500k. Gas and groceries aren't too bad. Taxes in the city are high IMO (I'm up to paying nearly 5k/yr now).

I like it here but it is getting expensive. Strongly considering a move in a few years, prob to Raleigh.

**What is it like to live in Asheville, NC?**

Expensive! That’s how it is here. With all, it’s little shops and what not it is the most expensive place to live. If you go outside of the city rent is cheaper. It is mostly due to people from California, New York, Florida, and other places who move here. They then buy up the land and rent to people at prices that are comparable to big cities. Asheville is a small town or was until all the movers and shakers got here.

Don’t expect to find reasonable rent. And by reasonable I mean working a job and renting an apartment or house. If you don’t own your own business or aren’t someone living on an inheritance consider your options to live in Asheville very limited. Many friends of mine have several roommates who pay 300 a piece for a room in a house. This means 4 people paying 1200 rent each month, and that is being the low end. If you want to rent a house with 4 bedrooms expect to pay 2k to 3k for a house. Condominiums are just renovated apartment buildings here and people pay outrageous prices for them because they want to live in this “artsy town”…

Think of Boulder with more mountains.

I’m not knocking it but it is expensive and people from other places ask me if there are bartender openings. In a word… No. Unless you know someone or open your own brewery it is very hard to get a job. Mostly the only jobs in Asheville for people without Doctorates or Masters are fast food, hospitality, nurses, lawn care, Walmart, and working for cable companies or phone companies. You can try putting an app in at Duke Energy but even then you need a degree. So, there are more people than jobs here in Asheville.

People move here because they fall in love with the mountains, the hippy type atmosphere, and the food. No one will talk about the blatant homeless problem Asheville suffers. Many homeless people live in the woods in shanty towns or set up tents off the Blue Ridge Parkway or along the french broad river. It is very disheartening to see them and know if they stay in this town they’ll never have enough to get home because the rent prices are outrageous. We have a few outreach groups like Homeward Bound and places that help, but help can only go so far when there are no jobs for anyone, and those jobs that do exist usually get snapped up very quickly. Without phones, there’s no real way for employers to call these folks back.

We have vast numbers of galleries and before COVID there were more bars than people. (A joke… Lighten up.)


The blatant bear problem no one likes to talk about is that the bears actually do outnumber the people. The city is more inclined to give the mayor, police chief, and everyone else a raise instead of buying bear-proof trash cans. We need them. Bears have learned that green cans mean food and will tip them over and spread trash everywhere. When I go down some streets I’ll see what I call “bear garbage” everywhere. Some residents and out of towners feed the bears and that also causes dangerous situations and behaviors, because a bear that becomes reliant on people for food and then someone doesn’t give it food… That makes for one angry bear and one running person. We need people to just take pictures and not try to bait the bears in order to get close to them. It’s dangerous and people think that because they’re smaller than grizzly bears that they are less dangerous. So, a word of warning… Keep your pets inside at night here. Bears are dangerous.

Other than that the festivals are full of fun and music. Some great music downtown, and most areas it’s safe to walk at night, but don’t be stupid about it and go looking for trouble. We do have our share of problems but all in all, it’s a great place and a lot of fun, but if you want to live here it’s better to visit and live outside of town than inside of town. It’s cheaper although bears might be your next-door neighbors you learn to live with them.

**5 Pros and Cons of living in Asheville NC**

Yes, there are pros AND cons of living in Asheville NC. Although it’s a beautiful place, It’s not for everyone! Some pros might outweigh the cons, you just gonna have to decide for yourself. As for me, I look at it this way: just like trying to find a perfect house- it’s nearly impossible. You gotta decide for yourself what items on your list are non negotiable. 

Asheville, North Carolina

Land Of The Sky

Looklyloo Score: 84