Buncombe County, North Carolina
23 ZIP codes · Avg score 62/100 · Grade C · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Buncombe County: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
While Buncombe County avoids the worst tiers, a portion of its 23 ZIP codes have logged violations.
How Buncombe County Compares
How Buncombe County Compares
Buncombe County scores 16 points below the North Carolina state average (78/100) and 11 points below the national average (73/100).
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Buncombe County, North Carolina
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.5 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 10.9%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,705, driven primarily by flood
52.4% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Buncombe County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 65 violations. Past 5 years: 72 total (72 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,705
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
128,352 housing units in Buncombe County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Buncombe County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Buncombe County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Buncombe County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Buncombe County
8 community water systems serving Buncombe County.
- C
- C
- C
- C
- D
Show all 8 water systems
- C
- C
12 total water systems serve Buncombe County.
Systems with the most violations in Buncombe County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
- C
- D
- D
- C
All ZIP Codes in Buncombe County
23 ZIP codes tracked in Buncombe County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28704 | Arden | 65 | C | 3 (1 health) | $344K |
| 2 | 28715 | Candler | 65 | C | 3 (1 health) | $292K |
| 3 | 28730 | Fairview | 65 | C | 3 (1 health) | $357K |
| 4 | 28805 | Asheville | 65 | C | 3 (1 health) | $361K |
| 5 | 28803 | Asheville | 64 | C | 6 (2 health) | $409K |
| 6 | 28801 | Asheville | 63 | C | 8 (3 health) | $481K |
| 7 | 28804 | Asheville | 63 | C | 8 (3 health) | $529K |
| 8 | 28806 | Asheville | 63 | C | 8 (3 health) | $336K |
| 9 | 28778 | Swannanoa | 61 | C | 14 (2 health) | $274K |
| 10 | 28711 | Black Mountain | 59 | C | 19 (3 health) | $358K |
| 11 | 28701 | Alexander | 54 | D | 19 (4 health) | $291K |
| 12 | 28787 | Weaverville | 51 | D | 25 (5 health) | $379K |
| 13 | 28709 | Barnardsville | — | — | $360K | |
| 14 | 28728 | Enka | — | — | — | |
| 15 | 28748 | Leicester | — | — | 12 (3 health) | $298K |
| 16 | 28757 | Montreat | — | — | 14 (2 health) | — |
| 17 | 28770 | Ridgecrest | — | — | 11 (1 health) | — |
| 18 | 28802 | Asheville | — | — | — | |
| 19 | 28810 | Asheville | — | — | — | |
| 20 | 28813 | Asheville | — | — | — | |
| 21 | 28814 | Asheville | — | — | — | |
| 22 | 28815 | Asheville | — | — | — | |
| 23 | 28816 | Asheville | — | — | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Buncombe County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location - driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 52.4% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Buncombe County, North Carolina
Overview
Buncombe County in North Carolina covers 23 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (62/100) across 12 scored records.
15 of 15 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
← Back to North Carolina Home Safety Profile
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
- Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.