Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Bridgeport, CT
🏆 Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Bridgeport
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ 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 5.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,370 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,369)
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
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($227,200 vs $376,800)
51% less violent crime than Asheville
Cons
Median income trails Asheville by $9,370/yr
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Asheville
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.1%)
Higher rents — median is $1,369/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Median Income
$9,370
$63,810 vs $54,440/yr
Asheville
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
51% lower
392.9 vs 796.1 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$150k less
$227,200 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Bridgeport, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $227,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,369⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $54,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 24.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 80.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Bridgeport School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 44.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 148,470 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 45.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Bridgeport's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 15 and Bridgeport wins 8. 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 Bridgeport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $227,200 median home), income ($63,810 vs $54,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Bridgeport, CT are about 638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.