NAICS 51

Information in Asheville, NC

Metro Market Score 64.8 (Difficult), ranked #257 of 294 metros. 476 establishments, 2,251 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 64.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

💰High-Cost Market

Market conditions for information in Asheville are tougher than average. The 64.8 market score reflects a combination of high labor costs, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #257 of 294 metros.

Industry Concentration
74.5
LQ: 0.65
Rank #219 of 294 metros
Wage Competitiveness
83.3
$114,272 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 34.7
Employment growth index
Rank #193 of 294 metros
Wage Pressure
28.7
YoY wage change index

476 Information Firms in Asheville

476
Establishments
-2.1% YoY
2,251
Total Employment
-4.5% YoY
$114,272
Average Annual Wage
+12.7% YoY
0.65
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Asheville vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's information market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #28/51 for entry risk.

Measure Asheville NC Statewide
Overall Score 64.8 Difficult 45.3 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #257 of 294 metros #28 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Asheville

Construction 56.7 Finance and Insurance 59.2 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 65.0 Retail Trade 72.8 Other Services 75.1 Accommodation and Food Services 85.4

Information in Other North Carolina Metros

Goldsboro 10.2 #2/294 Fayetteville 26.9 #45/294 Winston-Salem 34.6 #81/294 Jacksonville 36.4 #92/294 Pinehurst-Southern Pines 37.9 #102/294 Rocky Mount 44.4 #148/294 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 45.4 #157/294 Greenville 46.9 #169/294 Greensboro-High Point 49.0 #185/294 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia 56.8 #220/294

+ 2 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Asheville's information sector, the wage competitiveness component (83.3) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.