Is Bingham Heights safe?
Woodfin, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Bingham Heights as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Bingham Heights
“Go. Bingham Heights is a peaceful, hilly residential neighborhood in Woodfin with very low rates of violent crime. Visitors will find a quiet, scenic environment, though personal transportation is required given the mountain terrain and lack of pedestrian infrastructure.”
Following severe flooding from Tropical Storm Helene in late 2024 along the nearby French Broad River basin, local infrastructure and park recovery efforts have been active in the Woodfin area.
About the area
Bingham Heights is an elevated, wooded enclave in Woodfin, perched just north of Asheville near the French Broad River corridor. The area features a mix of mid-century homes and newer mountain properties set along winding residential roads. Its peaceful setting makes it a serene base for exploring the greater Asheville and Blue Ridge region.
- Wooded & Scenic
- Quiet Residential
- Mountain Vibe
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Bingham Heights
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 15/100
No bike-share services operate here, and riding on steep, shoulderless roads requires strong hill-climbing skills, though the French Broad River Greenway is reachable nearby.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low violent crime compared to metro Asheville core
- High homeownership rate and quiet, well-maintained residential parcels
- Scenic mountain and river-valley setting with low vehicular congestion
Cons
- Steep, winding roadways lacking sidewalks, shoulders, and streetlights
- Occasional opportunistic property theft and vehicle break-ins
- Completely car-dependent with virtually no walk-in commercial retail
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in the residential hills of Bingham Heights. Panhandling and encampments are largely confined to major transit and commercial corridors in urban Asheville.
What Bingham Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and safe, with occasional residents walking dogs along narrow neighborhood lanes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Serene and low-traffic, feeling exceptionally safe and quiet throughout the hills.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Peaceful as daylight fades, though lack of street lighting makes nighttime walking difficult.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Pitch-black and quiet with almost zero foot traffic and minimal safety risk.
Transit, parking and getting around
Bingham Heights lacks direct public transit; the closest Asheville Rides Transit (ART) bus lines run along Riverside Drive (Route N2) and Merrimon Avenue (Route N1), requiring a drive or long uphill hike.
Free private off-street parking and driveways are standard across the neighborhood; on-street parking is minimal and discouraged due to steep, narrow grades.
Things to do in Bingham Heights
- Enjoy scenic mountain drives and river valley overlooks along Bingham Road
- Relax along the riverbank at nearby Woodfin Riverside Park
- Sample craft beer and riverfront seating at adjacent Woodfin taprooms
Local favorites
- Zillicoah Beer Company · Brewery · 4.8★ (850)Rustic riverside craft brewery known for lagers, open lawns, and rotating food trucks.
- Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company · Brewery · 4.7★ (165)Cozy neighborhood taproom offering small-batch ales and regular live acoustic music.
- Bae's Burgers · Hamburger Restaurant · 4.8★ (540)Acclaimed casual eatery serving signature smash burgers, fries, and shakes.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.