Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Beaumont, TX
🏆 Asheville leads 13 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Beaumont
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
30% less violent crime than Beaumont
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,065 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
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 6% higher than Beaumont
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($150,400 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($992 vs $1,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Asheville by $10,065/yr
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$10,065
$63,810 vs $53,745/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
30% lower
796.1 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Beaumont
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$226k less
$150,400 vs $376,800
Beaumont
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Beaumont, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $150,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $992 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $53,745 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 242⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 299⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 25.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | BEAUMONT ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 65.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 114,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Beaumont's 90.2 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 13 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 13 and Beaumont wins 10. 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 Beaumont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $150,400 median home), income ($63,810 vs $53,745), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Beaumont, TX are about 772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.