Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Austin, TX
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
Rent averages $299/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,549)
Homes cost $85k less ($376,800 vs $461,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $22,746/yr
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
Austin, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $22,746 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Home Value
$85k less
$376,800 vs $461,500
Austin
Median Income
$22,746
$86,556 vs $63,810/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
41% lower
466.9 vs 796.1 per 100k
Austin
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Austin, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $461,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,549⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $86,556 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% | 22.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | AUSTIN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 958,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 34.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Austin's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 9 and Austin wins 14. 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 Austin or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $461,500 median home), income ($63,810 vs $86,556), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Austin, TX are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.