River Arts District

Asheville, NC

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River Arts District - Asheville, NC

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The coolest neighborhood in Asheville is RAD

Artistic Galleries Studios Riverfront Trendy Historic

The River Arts District, or RAD, is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Asheville -- but it didn’t start out that way. The historic and aging warehouses on the east side of the railroad tracks and along the French Broad River offered up an inviting and affordable option for artists, and many took up residence here to open studios and galleries. Today, the brick and perfunctory warehouses are adorned with vibrant murals and funky outdoor sculptures.

Several events are held in the RAD. Living here means having quick access to the "A Closer Look" event, held the second Saturday of each month from May through December. The historic warehouses along the river really come alive during the Bi-Annual Studio Stroll, one of the region's largest walking tours of art studios and galleries. Demonstrations and hands-on activities take place all weekend. In addition to the galleries and studios, the River Arts District offers a farmers market, several restaurants, bars, and antique stores.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in River Arts District is $1,449 for a studio, $1,807 for one bedroom, $2,263 for two bedrooms, and $1,717 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in River Arts District has decreased by -0.3% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 470 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,449/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 820 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,807/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 1,173 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $2,263/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,399 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,717/month

    Average Rent

Transportation

63

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

47

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

66

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Colburn Earth Science Museum
  • Biltmore
  • Botanical Gardens at Asheville
  • Western North Carolina Nature Center
  • Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

Airports

  • Asheville Regional

Top Apartments in River Arts District

Houses for Rent in River Arts District

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.