Asheville is No. 1 in our hearts — but a little external validation never hurts.

Last year may have been a challenging year for the 828, but over the course of 2024, many aspects of Asheville life were praised on a national level. Let's check out some of the lists that showed Asheville love last year.

Life in Asheville

Living in Asheville is great for people, but it might be even better for dogs. According to LawnStarter the city ranked as the No. 2 most dog-friendly city in the US — and we can see why.

People love living in Asheville too. U.S. News & World Report placed the city at No. 17 on its ranking of the best cities to live in the US. The publication also listed Asheville as a great place to retire, naming it the No. 4 city in North Carolina for retirees.

Asheville for the holidays

If you spent your holiday in Asheville, consider yourself lucky. BetMCM Casino named the city the No. 5 destination for a Christmas getaway, not just for its scenic views, but also for its number of Christmas markets.

According to WalletHub, the average Ashevillian had a $879 holiday budget. This places the city at No. 453 on its ranking of US holiday budgets, but that doesn't mean the holiday season in Asheville isn't top notch.

Asheville eats

When it comes to eating, Asheville's barbecue gets an A+. The city placed No. 69 on LawnStarter's list of best cities for the cuisine. The publication also ranked Asheville the No.168 city to buy local food — not bad considering both lists assessed 500 cities.

Where Asheville was tops

Early last year, Careerminds ranked Asheville No. 1 on its list of top cities for a career change, noting healthcare, education, and tourism as key industries. While Helene's impacts have significantly changed the job market, unemployment rates have started to come down.

It seems Asheville is on track to rank highly in 2025. The New York Times has already recognized the city, ranking it at No. 16 on its "52 Places to Visit in 2025" list.