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Living in
Hendersonville.
About
Life in Hendersonville
Living in Hendersonville means settling into a quietly growing mountain town where you're genuinely connected to neighbors rather than swept up in sprawl—the population is just over 15,000, with a median age near 50, so this skews toward retirees and older families rather than a college-town vibe. Jobs exist here—unemployment sits at a healthy 3.5%—but the economy is what it is in a small county seat; if your career requires specialized opportunities, you're 22 miles from Asheville's larger job market via an easy Interstate 26 commute that typically takes under 20 minutes. The real draw for people who stay is the outdoor access and mountain setting: you're sandwiched between the Blue Ridge Parkway (17 miles away) and solid hiking country, with the French Broad River watershed running through the area, so weekends naturally pull you outside, though the southern mountains climate means hot, humid summers and frequent rain year-round—it's not a trade-off everyone loves.
Hendersonville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
53.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
7.4%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.4% foreign-born, most often from Colombia
Who lives in Hendersonville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hendersonville, the largest foreign-born group is from Colombia (18.8%), and 4.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.3%
of residents
65 and Older
33.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
15.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
47.3%
of households
Married Couples
35.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.85
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Hendersonville
In Hendersonville, rent runs 8% above the NC average, and home values are 10% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,398
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $406,006 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Hendersonville
Unemployment in Henderson County, which includes Hendersonville, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Hendersonville: Henderson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Henderson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hendersonville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.2 min avg
How Hendersonville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hendersonville, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Small hub1.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 86 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hendersonville is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
323.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,853.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hendersonville Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Henderson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Henderson County, which includes Hendersonville, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Winter Weather | $221.1M |
| 2023 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $127,000 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Flood | $211,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $57,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,500 |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Weather | $28,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Henderson County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Buncombe County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 20 miles from Hendersonville) is typically good — 268 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
268
per year
Moderate Days
97
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Buncombe County, NC (20 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hendersonville has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
50°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
59.1"
Annual Snowfall
6.7"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
88
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 27°F | 5.28" |
| Feb | 52°F | 29°F | 4.26" |
| Mar | 59°F | 35°F | 4.95" |
| Apr | 68°F | 43°F | 4.84" |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.40" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 4.95" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 5.79" |
| Aug | 83°F | 63°F | 5.73" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 4.97" |
| Oct | 69°F | 45°F | 4.06" |
| Nov | 59°F | 34°F | 4.55" |
| Dec | 51°F | 29°F | 5.27" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hendersonville
Hendersonville has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Pardee Hospital Henderson County
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventhealth Hendersonville
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Hendersonville
Advent Health Polk
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Columbus
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hendersonville
Hendersonville's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 38.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hendersonville (within 15 miles)
Galen Health Institutes-Asheville
12.5 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 253 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hendersonville
Hendersonville has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
4 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
17 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
39 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
61 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
62 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
62 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hendersonville
Henderson County Public Library
301 N Washington St, Hendersonville
Cities Near Hendersonville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hendersonville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hendersonville FAQ
Is Hendersonville, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Hendersonville's median rent is $1,332/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $53,449/year. Median home value is $317,000.
Is Hendersonville, North Carolina safe?⌄
Hendersonville's violent crime rate was 323 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2854 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hendersonville, North Carolina?⌄
Henderson County, which includes Hendersonville, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hendersonville, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Hendersonville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,332/month and median household income is $53,449/year. The median home value is $317,000. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hendersonville, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Hendersonville is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from