Best In North Carolina Real Estate™: Asheville

Asheville ranks #7 of 15 North Carolina metros in commercial builders — not because it’s leading, but because it’s building differently. With only 36 nonresidential construction establishments, the city is avoiding the sprawl of Charlotte or Raleigh, instead investing in adaptive reuse, mixed-use spaces, and flexible work environments. This is a model of smart growth that prioritizes affordability and community integration over scale. The data comes directly from ALEX Intelligence’s analysis of U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2022: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-07-asheville-istand-2362-msa. How is your market balancing growth with sustainability? Let’s discuss. Commercial Builders, top 10 (ALEX Intelligence — U.S. Census Bureau 2022) #1 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC — 360 #2 Raleigh-Cary, NC — 212 #3 Greensboro-High Point, NC — 87 #4 Winston-Salem, NC — 75 #5 Wilmington, NC — 56 #6 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC — 53 #7 Asheville, NC — 36 #8 Fayetteville, NC — 36 #9 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC — 27 #10 Burlington, NC — 23 Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Slide 1: eurimaco (CC BY-SA 3.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=57320276; Slide 2: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142946713; Slide 3: w_lemay (CC BY-SA 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=142946738; Slide 4: bobistraveling (CC BY 2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/?curid=166215319 Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-11-07-asheville-istand-2362-msa View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request. Real Estate Strategy & Intelligence Leader. Democratized Blue Ocean Strategist & Operator. Diane Hart Alexander, MBA, MHA Chair & CEO, ALEX Companies Designated Broker, Alexander Tiffany Southwest, LLC dba ALEX.realestate, et.al. Texas License #574877-B · Broker License #565194-BB [email protected] · +1 713.591.9902