The Town FilesRoyal Pines, North Carolina
Community in Buncombe County · population 4,127 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $400,200
- Household income
- $107,885
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 41.0
Royal Pines is a community of 4,127 people in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $400,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 94% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 89% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 82% of North Carolina towns.
How Royal Pines ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Royal Pines is worth $400,200, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $107,885, which is more affordable than 52% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,596 a month. 88.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Royal Pines | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $400,200 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,596 | $969 |
| Median household income | $107,885 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 88.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Royal Pines
| People | Royal Pines | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 57.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 28.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 89.5% |
Weather in Royal Pines
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 28.6°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royal Pines since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 6, 1999 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 1999.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 1, 2012.
Severe weather in Buncombe County since 1996
Buncombe County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Buncombe County
Buncombe County had 136,495 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,785 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Royal Pines itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Royal Pines
1 public school with 471 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Arden Elementary | PK-4 | 471 | 13.1 |
Towns near Royal Pines
- Fletcher, NC3.2 mi · 7,987 people · home $331,100
- Fairview, NC6.4 mi · 2,771 people · home $439,600
- Asheville, NC7.0 mi · 94,589 people · home $440,000
- Mountain Home, NC7.5 mi · 3,490 people · home $400,000
- Mills River, NC8.3 mi · 7,078 people · home $436,100
- Swannanoa, NC10.6 mi · 5,021 people · home $287,500
- Hendersonville, NC11.0 mi · 15,137 people · home $317,000
- Woodfin, NC12.5 mi · 7,936 people · home $366,700
Royal Pines questions
Is Royal Pines, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Royal Pines scores better for retirees than 73% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 33%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Royal Pines?
The median owner-occupied home in Royal Pines is valued at $400,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,885, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,596 a month.
What is the weather like in Royal Pines?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 28.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.6 inches of precipitation a year and 10.3 inches of snow.
Does Royal Pines get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Royal Pines since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 6, 1999. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)