Whether you want to call it by its nickname, “The Land of the Sky,” or just by its name, Asheville, NC, is one of the many great destinations to live in the Southeast. With its natural views, outstanding restaurants, and infinite ways to spend your days, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that close to 94,100 people are living in Asheville.
And if you’re moving to Asheville, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $435,000, and the average sale price per square foot is $294. And if you’re a renter, the average rent price for a 2-bedroom apartment in Asheville is $1,899.
Don’t worry if those prices don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home or apartment that does. We’ve rounded up a list of the 9 best affordable suburbs of Asheville, NC, to consider living in – and they’re all under a 45-minute drive from the city. You’ll be close enough to explore all of Asheville’s best activities, without paying the price of city life.
#1: East Flat Rock
Median home price: $305,000
Average sale price per square foot: $194
Driving distance from Asheville: 35 minutes
East Flat Rock, NC homes for sale
East Flat Rock, NC apartments for rent
With a median home sale price of $305,000, East Flat Rock comes in at number one on our list of most affordable suburbs of Asheville, NC. About 5,800 people live in this suburban area and you’ll only be about a 35-minute drive away from downtown Asheville. Living in East Flat Rock, you can explore everything that this suburb has to offer its residents.
#2: Hendersonville
Median home price: $352,500
Average sale price per square foot: $222
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,715
Driving distance from Asheville: 35 minutes
Hendersonville, NC homes for sale
Hendersonville, NC apartments for rent
Taking the second place on our list is Hendersonville. Just about 35 minutes from Asheville, you can explore downtown Asheville and see the museums and galleries in no time. Living in Hendersonville, you’ll want to visit one of the many museums like Henderson County Heritage Museum, hike along the Oklawaha Greenway Trail, or explore the historic districts. When living in this Asheville suburb of 15,100 people, you can also spend the day checking out the charming downtown.
#3: Swannanoa
Median home price: $388,500
Average sale price per square foot: $277
Driving distance from Asheville: 15 minutes
Swannanoa, NC homes for sale
Swannanoa, NC apartments for rent
Just 15 minutes away, you’ll find the suburb of Swannanoa. Even with a population of about 5,000, there are plenty of fun things to do in Swannanoa. If you find yourself moving here, make sure to spend some time outdoors or camping at one of the campgrounds.
#4: Etowah
Median home price: $400,000
Average sale price per square foot: $239
Driving distance from Asheville: 40 minutes
Etowah, NC homes for sale
Etowah, NC apartments for rent
Only slightly more expensive than Swannanoa is none other than Etowah. There are several top attractions you may want to check out in Asheville suburb and make sure to have a meal at one of the great local restaurants.
#5: Woodfin
Median home price: $410,000
Average sale price per square foot: $323
Driving distance from Asheville: 10 minutes
Woodfin, NC homes for sale
Woodfin, NC apartments for rent
Drive 10 minutes outside of Asheville and you’ll find the suburb of Woodfin, another great area to add to your list. Home to 7,900 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking to remain close to Asheville without paying the price for a home in the city. In Woodfin, you can go camping, check out the views of the French Broad River, or visit Craggy Mountain Line museum.
#6: Brevard
Median home price: $435,000
Average sale price per square foot: $234
Driving distance from Asheville: 45 minutes
Brevard, NC homes for sale
Brevard, NC apartments for rent
Another one of the well-known suburbs of Asheville, NC, is Brevard, where the home prices are $435,000. With roughly 7,700 people calling Brevard home, it’s a great area to consider moving to. Make sure to visit Deer Lake, check out the charming downtown area, explore Bracken Preserve, or hike up Kagel Mountain. You won’t get tired of this great suburb.
#7: Fletcher
Median home price: $455,000
Average sale price per square foot: $274
Driving distance from Asheville: 25 minutes
Fletcher, NC homes for sale
Fletcher, NC apartments for rent
Seventh on our list of affordable Asheville suburbs is Fletcher, which is about a 25-minute drive into the heart of the city. With a population of about 8,000, you’ll be living in a smaller area, but there’s no shortage of things to experience in Fletcher. If you’re going to call this area home, plan time to spend the afternoon at Bill Moore Community Park.
#8: Black Mountain
Median home price: $530,000
Average sale price per square foot: $272
Driving distance from Asheville: 20 minutes
Black Mountain, NC homes for sale
Black Mountain, NC apartments for rent
If you’ve lived in or around Asheville for a while, you may know our eighth suburb – Black Mountain. This affordable suburb is home to approximately 8,400 residents, so you’ll have a fraction of Asheville’s population while remaining close to the city and its attractions. Once moving to Black Mountain you’ll want to visit the scenic Lake Tomahawk Park where you can fish or walk along the trail, check out the charming downtown where you’ll find historic buildings, and grab some great barbeque.
#9: Mills River
Median home price: $725,000
Average sale price per square foot: $263
Driving distance from Asheville: 30 minutes
Mills River, NC homes for sale
Mills River, NC apartments for rent
Finishing off our list of affordable suburbs of Asheville, NC, is none other than Mills River. About 30-minutes away from the city-center, you may just want to consider relocating to Mills River. Roughly 7,100 people live in this suburb, but you’ll find plenty to do in Mills River.
Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Asheville and under a 45-minute drive from downtown Asheville. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
This post first appeared on Redfin.com. To see the original, click here.