# Richmond Fed finds signs of stabilization in western North Carolina housing after Helene > Population growth and housing demand weakened in western North Carolina after 2024’s Hurricane Helene; a Richmond Fed analysis published 15 October finds some indicators beginning to recover in 2026. - Canonical URL: https://newsverum.com/en/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data - Publisher: Newsverum - Section: Economy - Country: United States - Published: 2026-10-16T10:36:25+00:00 - Updated: 2026-10-16T10:36:25+00:00 - Event / data period: 2026-10-15 - Other editions: [Türkçe](https://newsverum.com/tr/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data.md), [العربية](https://newsverum.com/ar/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data.md), [Français](https://newsverum.com/fr/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data.md), [Español](https://newsverum.com/es/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data.md), [Deutsch](https://newsverum.com/de/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data.md), [Português](https://newsverum.com/pt/news/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data.md) A 15 October analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond tracks slower population growth, home-price growth and rental demand in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024. The state budget office estimated direct storm-related housing damage and needs at $13.5 billion, within a total damage-and-needs estimate of $59.6 billion. Using FEMA damage per housing unit, the Richmond Fed identifies Yancey, McDowell, Avery, Mitchell, Ashe and Buncombe as the hardest-hit counties for its analysis. From June 2010 to June 2024, western North Carolina’s population grew 6 percent, compared with 10 percent for the United States and 15 percent for North Carolina. The six hardest-hit counties had grown 12 percent over that period. Collectively, those counties lost population between June 2024 and June 2025, and Buncombe County recorded net domestic out-migration of 7.4 percent year over year. Regional home-price growth turned negative from July 2025; Buncombe prices fell 4.4 percent from July 2025 to July 2026. Annual housing-inventory growth peaked at 48.5 percent across western North Carolina and 78.1 percent in the hardest-hit counties, then slowed in 2026. In the Asheville metro area, year-over-year rent growth bottomed in October 2025 at 0.02 percent for single-family rentals and minus 3.2 percent for multifamily rentals. Rental-demand measures also fell after the storm. The article finds signs of stabilization but says demand remained 43.2 percent below pre-Helene levels for single-family rentals and 70 percent below for multifamily units. These are market indicators; the author does not present recovery as settled. ## Data ### Helene housing damage estimate The state budget office estimate cited in the Richmond Fed analysis. Methodology: This is an estimated direct housing damage and needs figure, not verified spending. | label | value | unit | period | basis | |---|---|---|---|---| | Reported estimate | 13500000000 | USD | 2026-10-15 | observed | Sources: · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data/data/helene-damage-estimate-usd?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data/data/helene-damage-estimate-usd?lang=en&format=csv) ### Population and migration indicators Population changes reported in the article. Methodology: Rates and percentage changes as reported by the Richmond Fed, using the stated comparison periods. | label | value | unit | period | basis | |---|---|---|---|---| | Population growth, western North Carolina | 6 | % | 2024-06 | observed | | United States population growth | 10 | % | 2024-06 | observed | | North Carolina population growth | 15 | % | 2024-06 | observed | | Population growth, six hardest-hit counties | 12 | % | 2024-06 | observed | | Net domestic out-migration, Buncombe County | -7.4 | % | 2025-06 | observed | Sources: · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data/data/population-dynamics?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/richmond-fed-helene-housing-market-data/data/population-dynamics?lang=en&format=csv) ## Sources - [Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond]() (Source checked: 2026-10-16; Published: 2026-10-15) --- Cite the canonical URL above. [Editorial standards and corrections](https://newsverum.com/en/editorial)