$128,979/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $430,056 home in Asheville, NC at today's 6.67% rate — about $3,010/mo. The local median household ($69,236) falls $59,743 short.
The math (shown)
430,056 price − 10% down (43,006) = 387,050 loan
30-yr fixed at 6.67% on 387,050 = 2,490/mo principal+interest
+ 520/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
3,010/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 10,748/mo → 128,979/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-06 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 6.67% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-08-13). Local median income: $69,236 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford Asheville, NC on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in Asheville, NC?
To buy the typical home, about $128,979/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the Asheville, NC metro (2026-06): $430,056.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 6.67% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-08-13).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.