Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Brockton, MA
🏆 Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Brockton
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
104,713 ✓ 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 4.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Rent averages $196/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,446)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Brockton by $10,206/yr
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Brockton, MA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Asheville
Households earn $10,206 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Asheville
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Asheville
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.2% unemployment
Brockton
Median Income
$10,206
$74,016 vs $63,810/yr
Brockton
Violent Crime
25% lower
599.2 vs 796.1 per 100k
Brockton
Median Home Value
$12k less
$364,700 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Brockton, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $364,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,446⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $74,016 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 64 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 20.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 81.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Brockton |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" ✓ Drier | 50.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 104,713 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 36.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Brockton's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Asheville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 15 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 15 and Brockton 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 Brockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $364,700 median home), income ($63,810 vs $74,016), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Brockton, MA are about 765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.