North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Type of help
Claims assistance
Location
Canton
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to confirm how to get help.
Area served: Buncombe County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Jackson County, Macon County, Madison County, Swain County, Transylvania County, Yancey County.
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The ACS estimates about 14,200, give or take 982 civilian veterans in Buncombe County.
By ACS estimates, Buncombe County has the 7th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents.
Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
Measure
Buncombe County
North Carolina
United States
Share with a service-connected rating
26 percent
below the North Carolina share; below the national share.
34 percent
30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher
9 percent
below the North Carolina share; below the national share.
18 percent
13 percent
Veterans 75 and older in Buncombe County number about 4,370, give or take 471; their 31 percent share is above North Carolina's 23 percent.
Buncombe County has about 605, give or take 253 veterans under 35, making up 4 percent of its veterans compared with 10 percent in North Carolina.
Buncombe County has about 1,470, give or take 263 women veterans, making up 10 percent of its veterans compared with 12 percent in North Carolina.
Income, work and education in Buncombe County
Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
Measure
Buncombe County
North Carolina
United States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$46,549 ± $3,974
$52,418 ± $511
$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$37,302 ± $910
$38,302 ± $191
$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over
7.0% ± 1.5 points
7.3% ± 0.3 points
7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over
30.7% ± 2.7 points
30.1% ± 0.5 points
30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64
67.2% ± 6.3 points
71.6% ± 0.7 points
73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64
7.4% ± 4.8 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over
97.7% ± 0.8 points
95.8% ± 0.2 points
95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over
42.4% ± 3.3 points
32.2% ± 0.6 points
31.8% ± 0.2 points
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035: about 14,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 15,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA disability compensation in Buncombe County
VA reports 5,088 veterans in Buncombe County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating group
Recipients
0 to 20 percent
1,169
30 to 40 percent
582
50 to 60 percent
647
70 to 90 percent
1,484
100 percent
1,206
FY2019: 4,045 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,043.
In 2025, lenders reported 244 VA-backed home loans out of 5,578 home loans made in Buncombe County (4.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 5,080, give or take 594) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 2,470, give or take 531).
Outside North Carolina, in Johnson City, TN, Johnson City Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Buncombe County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 52 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Winston-Salem RO (station 318); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Swannanoa (unincorporated community): about 6,901 residents
Weaverville (town): about 4,687 residents
More places (8)
Royal Pines (unincorporated community): about 4,325 residents
Avery Creek (unincorporated community): about 2,887 residents
Emma (unincorporated community): about 2,657 residents
Fairview (unincorporated community): about 2,298 residents
Biltmore Forest (town): about 1,587 residents
Bent Creek (unincorporated community): about 1,384 residents
Montreat (town): about 630 residents
Barnardsville (unincorporated community): about 445 residents
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
Qualifying North Carolina veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability receive a $45,000 homestead assessed value exemption.
North Carolina offers Class I-B scholarships to eligible children of veterans receiving compensation for a 100 percent wartime service-connected disability.
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