Asheville, NC Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Asheville, NC Crime

Is Asheville, NC safe in 2026?

Asheville earns an overall crime grade of B- and a city-wide safety rating of B (Safe), making it one of the more secure mid-sized cities in the Southeast. Across 59 analyzed neighborhoods, 87% are graded A or B — meaning the vast majority of Asheville residents live in low-crime areas. Specifically, 76.3% of neighborhoods hold an A grade and another 10.2% hold a B grade. Only 5.1% of neighborhoods fall into the D range, and not a single neighborhood received an F. Areas like Town Mountain Preserve (A+), Bent Creek (A+), and Lakeview Park (A+) consistently rank among the safest. Even the neighborhoods with the highest relative crime — South French Broad and East End / Valley Street, both graded C- — do not represent extreme danger but do warrant more situational awareness.

What is the crime rate in Asheville, NC?

Rather than a single number, Asheville's crime picture is best understood through its grade distribution across 59 neighborhoods. 45 neighborhoods (76.3%) earned an A grade, 6 neighborhoods (10.2%) earned a B grade, 5 neighborhoods (8.5%) landed in the C range, and 3 neighborhoods (5.1%) received a D grade. No neighborhood received an F. The higher-crime pockets include South French Broad (C-), East End / Valley Street (C-), and West End / Clingman Avenue (C+). Downtown Asheville grades out at a B, which is notably solid for a city center. With a poverty rate of 13.3% and an unemployment rate of 3.7%, Asheville's socioeconomic profile is moderate — factors that correlate with its mid-tier overall crime grade of B-.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Asheville in 2026?

Ten neighborhoods stand out as the safest in Asheville, all earning A or A+ grades. The top performers are:

• Town Mountain Preserve — A+ grade, median income $85,351
• Bent Creek — A+ grade, median income $86,667
• Blake Mountain — A+ grade, median income $87,500
• Oak Forest — A+ grade, median income $87,495
• Mountain Meadows — A+ grade, median income $78,696
• Lakeview Park — A+ grade, median income $100,453 (highest income among top-10 safest)
• Beaverdam — A+ grade, median income $88,297
• Parkway Forest — A+ grade, median income $60,433
• Lakeshore Heights — A+ grade, median income $83,341
• West Asheville Estates — A grade, median income $80,792

Notably, all nine A+ neighborhoods have median household incomes above $60,000, well above the city median of $53,621, reflecting a consistent relationship between economic stability and safety in Asheville's residential areas.

Which neighborhoods in Asheville have higher crime?

Out of 59 neighborhoods analyzed, only a small share — 8 neighborhoods, or about 13.6% — received grades of C or D. The neighborhoods with the highest relative crime levels are:

• South French Broad — Grade C-
• East End / Valley Street — Grade C-
• West End / Clingman Avenue — Grade C+
• Historic Montford — Grade B-
• Downtown Asheville — Grade B

It's worth noting that even Downtown Asheville — often the highest-traffic area in any city — grades out at a B, which is above average nationally. Historic Montford, a popular tourist destination, sits at B-. South French Broad and East End / Valley Street carry the lowest grades at C- each, meaning they account for some of the city's crime concentration despite representing a small fraction of Asheville's 312,618 residents.

Is Asheville a good place to live in 2026?

By most measurable indicators, yes. Asheville's unemployment rate of 3.7% sits below the national average, and the median home value of $290,368 remains accessible relative to many comparable mountain and arts-destination cities. The median rent of $1,084 is moderate for a city of this profile. Crucially, 87% of Asheville's neighborhoods are graded A or B for safety — a strong majority that gives most residents access to low-crime living environments. The poverty rate of 13.3% is a factor to consider, as it is slightly above the national average, but it is concentrated in specific areas rather than spread city-wide. For families, retirees, or remote workers prioritizing safety, neighborhoods like Beaverdam (A+), Oak Forest (A+), and Lakeview Park (A+) offer both security and quality of life in Asheville's scenic Blue Ridge Mountain setting.

How does Asheville's crime compare to other North Carolina cities?

Asheville's overall crime grade of B- and city-wide safety rating of B place it in favorable standing compared to many urban centers in North Carolina. The fact that zero out of 59 neighborhoods received an F grade is a meaningful data point — it indicates no extreme crime hot spots of the kind seen in larger metros. With 76.3% of neighborhoods at the A level, Asheville's distribution skews heavily toward safety. Its population density of 783 residents per square mile is relatively low, which tends to correlate with lower crime exposure compared to denser urban environments. Visitors and prospective residents can use the Asheville crime map on DoorProfit to compare specific neighborhoods side by side and identify which areas best match their safety priorities.