Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
93,695
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Asheville, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 28°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 6% higher than Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($167,900 vs $376,800)
67% less violent crime than Asheville
Rent averages $364/mo less ($886 vs $1,250)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 82.8°F
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Income
$3,085
$66,895 vs $63,810/yr
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
67% lower
261.5 vs 796.1 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$209k less
$167,900 vs $376,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 | $66,895 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 17.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 136,929 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 9 and Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $167,900 median home), income ($63,810 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.