Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $13,318 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $235k less ($141,900 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $13,318/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$13,318
$63,810 vs $50,492/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.3% unemployment
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$235k less
$141,900 vs $376,800
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Augusta-Richmond County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $1,023 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $50,492 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 23.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Richmond County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 44.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 201,615 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 51.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Augusta-Richmond County's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 11 of 20 categories. Asheville wins 9 and Augusta-Richmond County wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Asheville to Augusta-Richmond County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $141,900 median home), income ($63,810 vs $50,492), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Augusta-Richmond County, GA are about 155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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