East Asheville
Strip malls, car lots, and hidden gems. It's Asheville's working-class neighborhood that everyone drives through but few consider living in. That's starting to change, and prices are following.
The East Asheville Overview
East Asheville is Tunnel Road—a miles-long commercial corridor of aging shopping centers, fast food, and auto dealerships. But beyond the uninspiring main drag are quiet neighborhoods, affordable homes, and some of the most diverse communities in Asheville. It's not pretty, but it's real, and for many, it's the last affordable option close to town.
Dylan's Take:
East Asheville is having a moment, and I have mixed feelings about it. Five years ago, I'd never show houses here unless clients specifically asked. Now? Artists priced out of RAD are moving here. Young families who can't afford North Asheville are finding deals. The Vietnamese restaurant scene is incredible. But let's be real—it's still Tunnel Road. It's still strip malls and traffic. Some clients see potential, others see depression. I've started calling it "Austin 15 years ago"—you either see what it could become or you don't.
Perfect For
- •First-time buyers on tight budgets
- •Artists/creatives needing cheap space
- •Immigrants and diverse communities
- •People who prioritize affordability over aesthetics
- •Investors seeing gentrification potential
- •Food lovers (seriously, the ethnic food is amazing)
- •Those comfortable in transitioning neighborhoods
Not Ideal For
- •Anyone seeking walkability or charm
- •Those wanting established community feel
- •People needing top schools
- •Anyone bothered by commercial sprawl
- •Those seeking mountain town vibes
- •People uncomfortable with economic diversity
Housing & Real Estate Pricing
East Asheville is still affordable, barely. You're buying potential here—the neighborhood is changing, but slowly. Check crime maps and flood zones carefully.
$450,000
$300,000 - $700,000
$1,300 - $2,400/month
What You'll Find Here
Market Trend: Accelerating appreciation as people discover it. 8-10% annually in some pockets.
Dylan's Buyer Tips
- →Location within East Asheville matters hugely
- →Beverly Hills area is most desirable
- →Check crime statistics by specific area
- →Some streets flood—investigate carefully
- →Swannanoa River properties need flood insurance
- →Great flip potential if you have vision
That $325k ranch that needs everything? In 5 years it could be worth $500k. Or not. East Asheville is a gamble on Asheville's continued growth. I've seen both wins and losses here.
Location & Getting Around
East Asheville stretches along Tunnel Road (US 70) from downtown to Swannanoa. It's actually huge and varies dramatically by pocket.
Distance to Downtown
2-6 miles
Drive Time
8-20 minutes
Getting Around
Car absolutely essential. Tunnel Road is a nightmare. No walkability except within subdivisions.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Parking: Abundant free parking everywhere. Every business has a massive parking lot. Your own driveway guaranteed.
The East Asheville Vibe
East Asheville doesn't have a vibe—it has multiple personalities. Immigrant communities creating little Saigon. Working families just trying to get by. Artists colonizing cheap spaces. Developers seeing dollar signs. It's messy, diverse, and real in ways that prettier neighborhoods aren't.
Who Lives Here
The most economically and ethnically diverse neighborhood in Asheville. Vietnamese families, Mexican families, elderly on fixed incomes, young artists, service workers, and increasingly, young professionals priced out of everywhere else.
Weekend Scene
Pho for breakfast, shopping at Asian markets, families at the mall (yes, Asheville has a mall), church on Sunday. It's not hip weekend scenes—it's real life. The Storm Rhum Bar gets wild on weekends though.
LGBTQ+ Scene
Present but not organized. Working-class queer folks live here because it's affordable. No specific venues or community spaces. You're more likely to meet other LGBTQ+ folks at Food Lion than any organized event.
Dog Life
Dogs are just dogs here—no scene, no culture, just pets. Some neighborhoods have decent walking. The Azalea Park area is nice for dogs. Less precious about dogs than other Asheville neighborhoods.
Dylan's Story:
Showed a house near Tunnel Road to West Asheville clients. They were horrified by the Burger King view. Six months later, after being priced out everywhere else, they bought two streets over. Last month they told me about their favorite pho place, their sweet elderly neighbors, and how they're never moving. East Asheville converts you slowly.
Local Spots I Love
Coffee Shops
Farewell Coffee
Vibe: Hip spot in unlikely location
Must Try: Specialty coffee and pastries
The beginning of East Asheville's transformation
Ginger's Revenge
Vibe: Meadow Street oddity
Must Try: Coffee and stay for the vibe
Restaurants
Pho R Us
Authentic, cheap, incredible
Tacos Jalisco
Real deal Mexican food
Itto Ramen
Best ramen in Asheville
Storm Rhum Bar
Party spot with great food
Bars & Nightlife
Storm Rhum Bar
Scene: Caribbean party vibes
Best For: Dancing, rum, late nights
Highland Brewing
Scene: Meadow campus location
Best For: Tuesday volleyball, weekend hangs
Shopping & Retail
Kim's Asian Market
Groceries
Incredible selection, great prices
Asheville Mall
Mall
Sometimes you need a mall
Habitat ReStore
Thrift
Furniture and building supplies cheap
The Real Talk: Pros & Trade-offs
The Good Stuff
Still Affordable
Last place near town where normal people can buy.
Incredible Food
Best ethnic food in Asheville, no contest.
Real Diversity
Economic and ethnic diversity that's rare in Asheville.
Investment Potential
Gentrification is coming—get in early or feel guilty later.
Central Location
Close to downtown, airport, and Black Mountain.
The Trade-offs
Ugly Main Drag
Tunnel Road is soul-crushing sprawl.
No Walkability
You're driving everywhere, always.
Crime Concerns
Higher property crime than other areas.
No Community Feel
Neighbors keep to themselves mostly.
Transition Tension
Gentrification creating friction.
Your Questions Answered
Is East Asheville safe?
Depends on the specific area. Some pockets are perfectly fine, others have property crime issues. The Beverly Hills area is generally safe. Near the mall can be sketchy. Check crime maps for specific streets. I tell clients to visit at different times of day before buying. Most issues are property crime, not violent crime.
Why is it so much cheaper?
Aesthetics and reputation. It's not pretty, it's not walkable, and it has a working-class reputation that keeps the Instagram crowd away. Also, genuinely higher crime rates in some areas and worse schools. But mostly? Snobbery. East Asheville works fine for thousands of families.
Is it really gentrifying?
Yes, slowly. Artists and young professionals are moving in. New coffee shops and restaurants are opening. Investors are buying and flipping. But it's early stages—nothing like what happened to West Asheville. You have maybe 3-5 years before it really changes.
What about the schools?
Honestly? Not great. Test scores are lower, resources fewer. Some families make it work, others go charter or private. If schools are a priority, look elsewhere or budget for alternatives.
Should I invest here?
If you can handle a long game and some risk, maybe. The bones are good—close to town, decent housing stock, room for improvement. But it could take 10 years to really pop, or it might not happen. Don't bet money you can't afford to have tied up.
How East Asheville Compares
vs. South Asheville
Similar: Both have strip malls and affordability
Different: South is newer, more suburban; East is grittier, more diverse
vs. West Asheville
Similar: Both have diversity and food scenes
Different: West is walkable and trendy; East is neither
Dylan's Insider Tips
- 💡The Vietnamese food scene is incredible—explore beyond pho
- 💡Beverly Hills (yes, really) is the nicest pocket of East Asheville
- 💡Storm Rhum Bar on Saturday night is an experience
- 💡The Meadow Road area is starting to get interesting
- 💡Highland Brewing's volleyball is where gays gather Tuesday nights
- 💡Asian markets have better produce prices than anywhere
- 💡Some Tunnel Road motels are sketchy—avoid those areas
- 💡The mall actually has decent food court options now
The Bottom Line
East Asheville is Asheville's reality check. It's where service workers live, where immigrants build communities, where artists find cheap rent. It's not pretty or walkable or trendy. But it's affordable, diverse, and changing. If you can see past Tunnel Road's ugliness and don't need your neighborhood to impress anyone, there are deals here. Just understand you're betting on potential, not buying paradise.
Ready to explore East Asheville?
I'd love to show you around or answer any specific questions. No pressure, just real talk about what it's actually like here.